I wrote this for Sarah when she was a toddler:

One night at dinner not that long ago,
My dad served zucchini but I said N-O

“Just one bite”, my mom said; “Just try it”, said dad;
I closed my lips tight and I made my face mad

I like macaroni and fish sticks and cheese
But I will not eat weird stuff in spite of their pleas

“You’ll like it”, my mom said, “It’s yummy”, said Dad
I shook my head no and they both looked so sad

I like peanut butter on apples and bread
I’ll eat that all day and each night before bed

Jell-O and French fries and chocolate cake
Will all make me smile until my cheeks ache

But liver or spinach or a lone Brussel sprout
Can make me throw tantrums and glower and pout

One evening my mom made me Salisbury steak
I turned up my nose and demanded a shake

When Grandma tried serving me eggplants in stew
My only recourse was the Dinnertime Flu

I’m thrilled with the prospect of alphabet soup
But Dad’s seafood gumbo sure makes my face droop

One day I requested bologna with cheese
Mom held her spoon up and said, “Try this.  Please.”

I gulped down my panic and opened my mouth
So sure this experiment would quickly go south

I held my nose closed and my eyes were shut tight
Determined whatever it was would cause fright

She slipped in the spoon and I swished it around
It was GOOD and I ate it without making a sound

“Can I have MORE”, I requested, “I like it”, I said
With a smile on her face, Mom scooped more and fed

“What is it?” I asked her, “What did I just eat?”
“Let’s not be concerned, let’s just call it a treat.”

Maybe it’s mushrooms, it might have had chives
Whatever was in it, it caused me no hives

Perhaps it had broccoli, or olives, or snails
Or maybe some oysters or a fish with its scales

Whatever was in it, I might never know
But I am quite certain it helped me to grow

Today I try new things when I get a chance
Like my aunt’s jambalaya or cheeses from France

Some things are yummy and some things are not
But the list of my favorites has grown by a LOT!

I now enjoy sushi and moo-goo-gai-pan
And pies like rhubarb, and good ol’ pe-can.

So when you are faced with a new food to try
Confront it with courage, your head held up high

One little bite and you’ll know in a jiff
Much more than you would by a look or a sniff

One thing that I’m sure of as time passes by
I won’t miss a good thing ‘cause I didn’t try!