Small Bites Adventure Club summer intern, Carolina, reflects on how her mom got a picky eater to love veggies. Carolina is an industrial engineering major at Georgia Tech.

One of my most vivid memories as a child is eating my mom’s vegetable soup. The smell of a homemade meal would fill my nose even before I entered the kitchen. I remember sitting down at the table and a giant, colorful bowl of adventure staring back at me. It was a little scary, but my mom told me to take one spoonful for each year of my age. Suddenly, I wasn’t counting anymore and what had been a bowl of  carrots, onions, and zucchini was now an empty plate. Seconds, please!

While I grew up over the years, I would always remember the magical powers of my mom getting a picky eater to eat veggies. After walking in the door, covered in mud from soccer practice, I would find warmth at the dinner table— with my family and a yummy bowl of soup. With each spoonful after school, I could feel the vegetables fuel up my brain and body. Whenever I was missing my cousins and grandparents in Argentina, I could enjoy my mom’s soup and be reminded of what home tastes like. 

To me, sharing a meal is a tradition meant to be cherished. This simple act has the power to cultivate positive memories that nurture us to grow into the best version of ourselves. By adding color to our plates, we can add color to our lives and our relationships. 

What are your family traditions?

Carolina’s Family Vegetable Soup Recipe

This is not an official recipe, just what I remember with my mom! 

1. Chop vegetables into bite-sized pieces. (Kids can help! Check out our knife skills video here.)

• 4 Carrots = diced

• 2 Zucchini = cubes

• 1 Butternut squash = cubes

• 1 Onion = diced

  2. Find a large pot. Add olive oil and then add onions

  3. Cook for 5 minutes on medium heat. 

  4. Add zucchini and carrots, cook for 5 more minutes. Add water and/or vegetable stock. 

  5. Add spices: salt, pepper, oregano, and let everything simmer for 30 minutes. 

  6. Sprinkle some cheese on top and serve with love. 

Want tips on how to get kids to try new foods? Check out this short video!