I have recently read several articles, mostly from India, that you shouldn’t eat cucumbers and radishes together. I eat them together at least twice daily and was wondering if there’s substance to their claim that you shouldn’t. Thank you.
The health concern about eating radishes and cucumbers together seems to stem from cultural practices. Current scientific research does not show a nutritional or health reason that these two foods shouldnât be eaten together.  Â
Cucumber and radishes are delicious vegetables that can be enjoyed in many ways, both together and separate. Check out Mitten Eats for recipe ideas and let your own likes and dislikes, and your cultural traditions guide the way!Â
My kids will eat very few vegetables. How do I get them to eat more?
Most kids, especially young children, go through periods where they may become picky or cautious about food, especially unfamiliar foods. This can lead to refusing to eat new foods, eating only small tastes of foods, food âjagsâ where they will only eat one or a few foods for a period of time, or even rejecting previous favorite foods. Studies have shown that it may take trying a new food 8-10 times for your child to accept it. So, keep trying! But skip pressuring, as most kids will see through even sneaky pressure, such as bribes. Offer vegetables alongside favorite foods and encourage your kids to explore them with their senses, even if they donât want to taste them yet.
The best way to promote eating veggies is by modeling that behavior for your kids. Eat and enjoy your own vegetables in front of them! Get your kids involved in the process by letting them help select recipes to try, including them in shopping for vegetables, letting them help prepare meals, and serving them vegetables at meal and snack times, even if they go untouched.
Lead by example, and your kids will assume âsomeday I will eat vegetables, too.â Visit www.ellynsatterinstitute.org for more information and childhood feeding resources.