Even veggie-loving families have their dinnertime fails

Tonight, I made split pea soup. Not just any split pea soup—the split pea soup. The one that’s usually requested, happily slurped, and served with chunks of warm, homemade sourdough. But tonight? It was rejected before the first bite. Not by one, but by two of my kids. And for a moment, it just did me in.

“But They Like This Soup!”

I was excited for this new recipe. It was sweet, savory, thick, and creamy—perfect for dipping into with the fresh, crusty loaf I’d just pulled from the oven. I could barely keep the diced veggies on the cutting board—little hands kept reaching up to snag bits of celery and carrot. I was sure they’d gobble it up.

My 18-month-old devoured hers. My eight-year-old gave me a big thumbs-up, a bite of soup-drenched sourdough still in his mouth. Even my husband, who doesn’t toss out compliments lightly, said it was delicious.

But then… my six-year-old refused to try it.

And just like that, my four-year-old followed suit.

The soup they usually love suddenly felt like foreign food.

It wasn’t about the soup. But man, it still stung.

A Gentle Reminder-

This is the stuff they don’t show in the parenting books. When you’ve worked hard to build a veggie-loving home, when your kids eat a wide variety of whole foods, you feel like you’ve figured it out. But the truth is: I don’t get to choose which vegetables my kids love or when they’ll enjoy them.

Some days, the peas are in. Other days, they’re not even worth a sniff.

And that’s okay.

Trusting the Process-

We follow the division of responsibility here: I decide what to serve, they decide whether and how much to eat. It works. I trust it. But that doesn’t mean I don’t feel frustrated sometimes—especially when the meal was made with love, intention, and a bit of sourdough magic.

Turning “Fails” Into Wins-

Tonight wasn’t a big win in the bowls. But maybe it’s a win for another mom reading this. A reminder that veggie-loving homes aren’t powered by perfection. They’re built on consistency, exposure, trust—and a little humor.

Maybe tomorrow I’ll call it something new—“dragon swamp soup”—and offer it for lunch. Maybe they’ll eat it. Maybe they won’t. But I’ll keep offering. And one day, I know they’ll come back to it.

Want the recipe? Click here!

or try my sourdough recipe!

DIY Sourdough Starter recipe here!

Have a “Real Life Veggie Moment” of your own?

Drop a comment or share with me on facebook. Let’s normalize the messy, funny, imperfect beauty of raising veggie-loving kids—one spoonful at a time.