Mar 19, 2019 3 min read

I think it is fairly common knowledge that I have three children. They are very, very different people. There are many similarities among them, but there are many areas where I could point out a lot of differences. For today, I’ll just pick one.

My eldest child, a daughter, is a very adventurous eater. My youngest, a son, doesn’t enjoy as many things as my oldest, but still eats a variety of things. That middle child, though, has taste buds like her dad. They both like basic recipes – meat and potato-type stuff – and once a recipe has been prepared in a way that they enjoy, they believe there is no reason to tweak it, try to improve it, or use any type of substitute ingredients.

She will choose to go hungry as opposed to eating something she doesn’t like. She has done it repeatedly. One time, a few years ago, I made ham and bean soup for supper. She was young enough that I was still trying to instill in her what I believe is a valuable life lesson: If someone else is cooking for you, eat what has been prepared.

That night, after everyone else had finished supper and dessert, she remained at the table to eat the six bites of soup I had ladled out for her. I was prepared to make her sit for a while, but in a very short time she told me she was finished, and when I checked her bowl it was indeed empty.

The following morning when I was cleaning the dining room, I discovered all of her beans and carrots from her soup. They were lined up underneath the table leg. My initial irritation gave way to mirth at how incredulous and incredible a discovery I had made. After a few years, I decided it wasn’t worth the fight, and nowadays when she doesn’t care for what I have made, she is free to eat something else, provided that she prepares it for herself. I still don’t do special requests.

Fast forward to today, and somehow we have ended up with two dogs who have similar proclivities with their food. They like our leftovers stirred over their kibble, but only certain leftovers. However, rather than walk away from the entire pan of food, they somehow manage to pick out what they like and leave the rest. Last night, I gave them some beef tips from the crockpot, some mashed sweet potatoes, and some homemade onion soup. All in one bowl, mind you.

When I left for work this morning, I discovered that the bowl was empty. Well, nearly empty, I should say.

Right in the middle of the pan was a perfect pile of cooked onions. Somehow, they had eaten all the broth, the beef and gravy, and every vestige of sweet potato, including the oatmeal topping. And yet, not one onion passed their lips.

I laughed all the way to the car at both their skill and their boldness. I guess at least my daughter had the manners to hide her food and attempt to spare my feelings.

Laura Zoeller can be reached at zoeller5@verizon.net.