My five-year-old Halloween had all the ingredients to be the best ever. At the time, however, it felt like the worst. And in the end, it probably was one of the top "teachable" moments of my childhood.
This was the Halloween my mom made me the costume of all costumes. I was a bunny. (And before you start making jokes, let me remind you that Bugs Bunny was very popular back then!)
I still remember going to Woolworth's with my mom to pick out the bunny costume pattern, select the light blue soft fuzzy fabric and a softball-sized furry bunny tail to finish off my back side. Mom worked for days to stitch my trophy costume together. And in the end, with floppy feet and floppy ears, I was destined to be the cutest Trick-or-Treater west of the Mississippi.
Being a kindergartener, I wore that costume to school all day. And while the other kids were dressed like football players or hobos, it was pretty obvious who rocked the costume award in Mrs. Newkirk's morning class. I loved my costume so much. I never took it off all day. And like any five-year-old in costume heaven, I couldn't wait to go out that evening with my dad to promenade around the neighborhood.
The only thing standing in the way of my evening of fun was a quick dinner – specially prepared (as my happy mother proclaimed) "for our bunny boy."
That special meal had some of my old familiar favorites including pork chops and mashed potatoes. But it also included this bunny's least favorite of all vegetables. Carrots.
"All good bunnies eat their carrots," said my smiling mom.
I thought I was going to bunny gag. And I refused to try even one teeny, tiny nibble.
Unfortunately, the mama and papa bunny in this story had the upper hand.
"No Trick-or-Treating if you don't eat your carrots," reminded my dad.
But I dug in my hind paws even deeper.
And after several rounds of gentle prodding from my parents, I found myself alone in my room with the potential promise of no Trick-or-Treating that year.
There is nothing sadder than a bunny, laying on his bed, with tears rolling down his furry face smearing the painted-on-whiskers all over bunny cheeks.
Of course, my time in the bunny trap was cut short when my mother came in with a tissue, a bunny hug and a plate with a tiny serving of warmed-up carrots."
"You know what? I made these a special way for you tonight," she told me. "They're 'Trick-or-Treat' carrots and they almost taste like candy!"
I reluctantly succumbed to one baby bunny nibble. Then two. And eventually, of course, I ate the entire serving.
Mama bunny was proud. Papa bunny was relieved.
And this bunny learned an important lesson that evening.
That's a long way of explaining why I wish my parents were still around to see that floppy-eared five-year-old being named to a panel of 12 parents (and two of the first dads!) charged with the mission of helping spread the message of the importance of showing our kids the path to eating healthy and loving their veggies!
Our team of parents will also be involved in an amazing event to benefit the White House-led effort to improved childhood nutrition and school lunches. Hidden Valley Original Ranch Dressing is teaming with the American Culinary Federation and will be hosting the "Lunch Break for Schools" fundraiser in key cities throughout the country early next year. Parents like me will be teaming up with celebrity chefs – including superstar Cat Cora – to host awareness and fundraising programs to support this incredible program. I can't wait to tell you more about who I'm working with in Chicago!
Stop by my website at http://bobbleheaddad.com/children/how-bunnies-learn-to-love-veggies for more on this awesome program plus my FIVE TOP TIPS TO GET YOUR KIDS TO EAT VEGGIES!
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