Who Doesn't Like Options?

When I was a kid, I loved going to Sizzler's. The salad bar was an awe inspiring thing to my young palate. Sure, it was mostly vegetables, but there were so many choices. And who doesn't like having options? We decided to employ this tactic on our kids at home. Normally, salad for dinner was met with much protest. First of all, it was cold. And according to my kids, dinner should be warm. Secondly, it was just vegetables. Vegetables, they informed me, do not fill your belly adequately. And, most importantly, it tasted yucky. But, what would happen if we laid out all the ingredients in separate bowls and let them make their own salad? What if we presented it as a "dinner factory" where they constructed their dinner piece meal? Could we make it delicious by simply keeping everything separate?

The quick answer: Yes. Absolutely. The kids are happy because they get to make their own meal. I am happy because they are eating fresh, crunchy vegetables. It takes no time to throw together and even less time to clean up. And, it turns out it works on grown ups too. I love it!!