There were lots of colorful descriptions (thankfully PG) of pattypan squash this week. There was some debate, some tasting, and for the first time in weeks….a hit, a hit everyone! We’ve got ourselves a winner. Despite not enjoying zucchini and yellow squash (except in noodle form), pattypan was a success. Which goes to show that with kids, introducing a vegetable with a funny shape and an even funnier name is half the battle. I don’t often include the audio but when it’s a good discussion, I can’t help but share it, so be sure to click the audio link below if you want to hear the conversation live.
SAM: What’s that?
ME: What do you think it is?
LAUREN: I know what it is. I think it’s a tomato.
ME: Do you guys all want to hold it?
EMMA: I wanna hold it!
ME: OK, don’t fight over it. Lauren’s first. Lauren?
EMMA: [crying]
ME: She’s going to pass it to you next.
ME: What is it?
SAM: No, I’m next!
LAUREN: Smells like some green.
ME: Smells like a green?
LAUREN: Yeah.
ME: OK. Who’s holding it next?
SAM: ME ME ME!
EMMA: [crying]
ME: OK? What does it smell like?
SAM: Banana
LAUREN: It smells like kind of a leek.
EMMA: [still crying]
ME: Sam’s turn. You have to tell me what it smells like.
SAM: It smells like radishes.
ME: What does it look like to you guys?
SAM: It looks like a star!
ME: That’s a great description!
LAUREN: I think it looks like a yellow snowflake with green… and it twirls.
ME: Interesting…Do you guys want me to cut into it?
LAUREN: Sure.
SAM: Is this mystery food?
ME: Yes, it’s mystery food. What do you think it’s going to look like on the inside?
SAM: Uhhh…
LAUREN: YELLOW!
EMMA: GREEN!
ME: You think green? OK.
SAM: I think yellow.
LAUREN: Yellow or green… or… white.
ME: Lauren, you’ve got to just choose one. You’re choosing a million colors. So, of course you’ll be right!
LAUREN: Just white…yeah…white.
ME: Yeah.
LAUREN: White, yellow, or green.
ME: Well, that’s three colors. What do you think the most it’s going to be?
LAUREN: White.
ME: Don’t touch the knife!
LAUREN: White or green.
ME: OK. Let’s see.
LAUREN: Or yellow…
[cutting]
[loud gasps]
SAM: Green!
SAM: I’m right! It’s… wait, you’re right.
ME: It’s white.
LAUREN: White.
ME: So, because Lauren was right, she’s going to get the first taste. But don’t, don’t taste it yet.
LAUREN: Wait, we could eat the skin?
ME: Yeah.
EMMA: Nooo I don’t want the skin.
ME: You can eat it all. It’s all edible. OK. Here’s one with less skin.
ME: MMM. What is it?! What’s it taste like?
EMMA: I don’t want skins!
ME: OK.
SAM: MMM. IT’S GOOD!
ME: Do you love it?!
SAM: Buy it again!
ME: Buy it again?
SAM: I love it!
ME: OK. Here you go. Let me try a little piece too…
LAUREN: Can I have another one too?
ME: Yeah, you can have another piece. There you go.
SAM: Another one?
ME: Another one! Oh my gosh! Are you guys going to have this for dinner instead of dinner?
ME: Maybe, you didn’t really like my soup that I made for you. There you go. You can actually cook this and put it in your soup, if you want.
ME: Sam, you want another piece?
SAM: Yep.
ME: There you go.
SAM: Now hand it over!
ME: OK.
ME: OK. I’m going to have my first piece.
ME: Yeah, it’s good. It’s kind of sweet. OK, can I tell you something crazy?
LAUREN: What?
SAM: What?
ME: This is just yellow squash!
LAUREN: Eww.
SAM: Eww.
ME: But you guys all liked it, though. Right?
LAUREN: Yeah.
ME: You liked it. So maybe you do like yellow squash. Right?
EMMA: I like a squash.
ME: Should we get it again?
EMMA: Nooo
SAM: Did you get this from the farmer’s market?
ME: So, you guys like it raw not cooked, right? Do you want me to cook it or do you like it raw?
LAUREN: I like it… raw.
SAM: Raw [laughing]
ME: It kind of tastes like an apple when it’s like this.
EMMA: I want more!
ME: You guys all want more? OK.
EMMA: I said NO skin!
ME: Actually this has a silly name. It’s not just regular yellow squash. It’s got a certain name. You know what it’s called?
LAUREN: What?
ME: It’s called Pattypan Squash. Isn’t that interesting?
SAM: Pattypan Squash?
ME: Yeah. Isn’t that so funny?
[laughter]
ME: So, now I know that you guys don’t like the green squash. Which is also called… What’s the green one called?
LAUREN: I don’t know.
ME: Zucchini.
SAM: Green squash.
ME: No, Zucchini is the green one. Right?
LAUREN: Yeah. We don’t like that one.
ME: But you guys like Pattypan. How interesting is that?
EMMA: I don’t like Pattypan.
ME: Everyone else does.
SAM: I want Pattypan! I want more Pattypan!
ME: All right. Good, I’m glad we found something you like.
What a great post Jess. It was great hearing the kids as they experienced both the taste of the squash and its name! I’m so impressed that they liked it. Bravo for introducing them to new foods every week. And bravo to the kids for being so receptive to new food experiences.
Thanks so much! It was a fun challenge for them- they loved it!
Pattypan squash! Such a fun name!! Glad they loved it and I think I may pick some up for fun to have Michael try.
Isn’t it funny how a weird name gets them more engaged? Good luck with it!