Like our bean sprouts experience, watermelon radish was a total surprise hit this week. I had a feeling the kids wouldn’t like it because they didn’t like the red variety that we tried a few months ago. But because watermelon radish is so darn cute, I gave it a try. It’s a little sweeter and mellower than other radish varieties; if you’re not keen on radishes, you might just like this one. If you can find it…they’re not so easy to track down unfortunately, but higher end specialty markets (I got this one at Dean & Deluca) and the farmers’ markets are good places to look.
ME: We’re doing a quick mystery food guys, OK?
EMMA: It looks like canteloupe.
ME: It does a little bit doesn’t it.
SAM: No it doesn’t.
ME: What do you think it’s going to look like on the inside?
LAUREN: Pinkish.
ME: You saw it right?
LAUREN: No!
ME: Oh, I guess there’s a little red on the outside.
ME: Did you expect it to look like that? Do you know what this is called?
EMMA: A cranberry.
ME: It’s not a cranberry. Smell it, you might be able to tell from the smell.
EMMA: I want to hold it.
ME: What does it smell like?
SAM: A banana sauce.
ME: What do you think it is?
LAUREN: I don’t know. Kiwi or something?
ME: We’ve got to cut it now. No, not a kiwi. It’s a type of….radish.
LAUREN: Oh!
ME: What kind of radish do you think it’s called with this color? It’s green on the outside and pink on the inside?
SAM: A banana! A skinana! A skinana! A skinana!
EMMA: It’s not!
LAUREN: I really want to try it. I’m begging to. I’ll try anything! Now I’ll try anything in the school, except from friends.
ME: Awesome! What is it?
SAM: Radish?
ME: Yes, you knew it was a radish, did you remember that?
LAUREN: You just told us. Can I have more?
EMMA: I didn’t like this.
SAM: Can I have more?
ME: You want more too Sam? It’s not that spicy, right?
LAUREN: It’s like a tiny little watermelon.
ME: It is like a tiny little watermelon but it tastes like a radish but it’s not as spicy as a radish.
LAUREN: Can you give me more than one?
ME: Whoa, you guys are wowsers…
SAM: Can I have water?
ME: Yeah, it makes you a little thirsty doesn’t it?
SAM: More please.
ME: More?
LAUREN: What’s wrong with more?
ME: Here’s a big floppy piece. You don’t have to eat the whole thing.
SAM: I ate the whole thing.
ME: Oh my gosh, you really like it don’t you. Now you don’t have to be brave and eat the whole thing in front of me if you don’t want OK? I already think you’re awesome for trying different things. Do you love it?
LAUREN: Spicy.
EMMA: I don’t like it.
SAM: I want a big piece. A floppy one.
EMMA: It’s spicy right?
SAM: You ate the whole thing?
ME: She’s crazy.
LAUREN: More!
And when there’s a chance to audio (read: no fighting) I’ll gladly include the soundtrack, here is this week’s version:
Found your blog via the SITSGirls. Love it blog and the food ideas that you share. Happy New Year 2014!
Thanks so much Yvonne, happy new year to you as well!
Stopping by from SITS to wish you a happy SITS day and a blessed 2014.
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Thanks Rachel, have a wonderful 2014 as well, thanks for stopping by.
I don’t know if I’d be as brave as your kids, even for something with “watermelon” in the name! I’m not sure I’ve even had a real radish before! I always confuse them with turnips for some reason.
Baby steps…we started with easy stuff and worked our way up to more adventurous things 🙂
Like others, here via SITS, but my oh my, going to stay for your stories. We garden with our daughters and try to incorporate elements of the 100 mile diet.
We’ll be on the lookout for these!
That’s so sweet, thanks- glad you like the stories, that’s what makes life interesting right?
Visiting from SITS, what a fun story. I have never heard of a watermelon radish and am intrigued with even trying your ideas with my teens
Go for it, through our challenge I’ve been forcing myself to buy all kinds of new foods and it’s ended up being so much fun. Good luck!
Oh, you are such a wonderful mommy 🙂 Stopping in from SITS and I absolutely LOVE that you try adventurous foods on your kids. It’s so important to keep it fun and exciting and different (and to also tell them that it’s okay if they don’t like it). Good call, momma.
I totally want to try one of these. Wonder if my local Whole Foods carries ’em.
Happy happy SITS day!!!! And a very happy new year to you and your beautiful family 🙂
Thanks Charlotte! We were in the same boat as most people a year ago, stuck in the old food routines and it wasn’t pleasant. It’s been such a fun experience. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Oh that is so cute! I’m so happy your kids are willing to try new things. We are trying to get our little one to be more keen on trying new foods.
Try out the challenge- even if you can’t stick to once a week, once a month is 12 new foods tried per year, which honestly, is more than most families. Good luck!
Happy SITS Day! I’ve never heard of a watermelon radish. Not a big fan of regular radishes but, as you said, this is one I might be able to get behind!
I’m not going to lie, they’re still a little on the spicy side, but they’re so pretty and in small doses on salads, etc, you might like them. Thanks for swinging by…
I love that your kids are so willing to try new things like this 🙂
Thanks Robin, they don’t always try, but my oldest is becoming a pretty adventurous eater and influences the rest of them, I definitely got lucky 🙂 Hope you’re enjoying your weekend…
Ducks rock! I guess that’s why in the game duck duck goose’ it’s always good to get duck.Looks like you’re still doing amweose hanging in there. Keep on truckin’.