Gordon Ramsay has interesting advice on getting kids to eat vegetables

by Jennifer Jordan (Subscribe to Jennifer Jordan's posts) Jun 3rd 2008 9:00AM

Categories: Kids 8-11, Teens & Tweens, Just For Dads, Eating & Nutrition, Development, Life & Style, Celeb Parenting, In The News, Weird But True, That's Entertainment, Home Remedies, Mealtime

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I'm sure by now you've heard of Gordon Ramsay. He's the British head chef and star of television's reality show "Hell's Kitchen." He's also something of a world-class chef, from what I understood. From what I understand now, he's also a father.

And this father has some unusual suggestions regarding getting his children--his daughter, to be exact--to eat vegetables. According to Chef Ramsay, he gets his daughter to eat her leafy greens by telling her they'll make her boobs get bigger! Ramsay admits he tells his ten-year-old daughter, Megan, this story, and that she believes him. His proof? He claims she eats whole heads of lettuce and says, "Dad, look!"

Before I know it, I will have a daughter on my hands. Eventually, she will be old enough to wonder such things as what might make her breasts bigger. I'm more inclined to leave such things to the schoolyard than try this trick. I'm not sure what freaks me out more--Gordon talking to his daughter about her boobs (which shouldn't really be such a big deal), his assistance in helping her think they need to be bigger, or the fact that he refers to them as 'boobies!' Ah, to each their own I suppose.

Gordon Ramsay(click thumbnails to view gallery)

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Comments (55)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

ame s 6-03-2008 @ 11:22AM

Hmm, I don't quite know how I feel about a dad discussing the boobies with his daughter.
My 10.4 year old is in a B cup and is a good veggie eater, although she doesn't like lettuce. DD8.4 doesn't eat any plant life at all and doesn't even need a training bra yet, though her sister did at her age. Maybe he has a point! :)

mamaloo 6-03-2008 @ 12:40PM

Not a great approach at all! The last thing our daughter's deserve is to be told that the size of their bust has any actual significance in life.

I wrote about the topic of getting kids to eat more/new veggies here: http://vegetarianmoms.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/helping-kids-change-their-eating-habits/

shannon 6-03-2008 @ 8:18PM

awww...come on. how many people have told their boys if they eat their vegetables they'll put hair on their chest. it's all in fun & i'm certain his daughter is fully aware that her dad is only teasing.

Nancy 6-03-2008 @ 11:38PM

You truly see no difference between "hair on your chest" and "big boobs". That's a really obnoxious thing for a dad to say to a 10 year old.

PC 6-03-2008 @ 10:27PM

I'm looking for something that will make my breasts fall off! They are worthless bits of fat and flesh, kept sexualized by the media. Poor girls today think they have to be utter sluts to be accepted. No wonder the fundamentalists hate us!

SheShe 6-03-2008 @ 10:46PM

Lighten up. It's not as if he said he'd buy her a thong and some pasties if she ate her veggies : )

john 6-04-2008 @ 8:35AM

Worthless bits of fat and flesh? So breast feeding is stupid? And sexuality shouldn't exist? Is that what you're saying? you need to get in touch with the many uses of mammary glands...do your homework and then reply....and while you're at it, change your self-image because even if you have the worlds most beautiful "worthless bits", I'd be surprised if you can get a decent man (or woman) with your attitude about the female form....

ddplc 6-05-2008 @ 6:52PM

I don't find it that inappropriate. I'm guessing his tween was probably already wanting to get boobs and harassing mom to get her a training bra, and he just exploited that a bit to get her to eat healthier. Parents do stuff like that often enough. I have a friend who gets her tot to get off his trike and pick up toys by telling him "the trycicle wants you to pick them up."

les 6-03-2008 @ 8:37PM

my mom always told us that about sweet potatoes. i at lots of them and believe me, it didn't work.

Sheila 6-03-2008 @ 8:57PM

Everybody knows that if you want a toddler to eat green beans you just put them in the carpet!! Anything on the floor goes in their mouth!

Karina 6-03-2008 @ 8:59PM

Ame S.
You are not sure how you feel about Mr. Ramsay discussing his own child's breast size with her, yet you posted your 10 year olds breast/cup size. I'm sure your daughter would be thrilled know her Mom discussed her size with the Internet.

I find it all in fun. We tell boys all the time to eat their spinach so they can have big muscles or a hairy chest. Everyone is making a big deal out of harmless intentions.

Nancy 6-03-2008 @ 11:38PM

But do you tell your sons to eating well will make their penises bigger? I'm guessing not. Why? It'd be inappropriate. When on earth will women, and now little girls, stop being sexualized? Probably never. Sad.

Sunny 6-03-2008 @ 9:00PM

It's no worse than our parents telling us not to smoke because cigarettes would stunt our growth.
i acutally think it's kinda funny.
I don't think he is 'discussing" boobs with a 10 year old.

Angel 6-03-2008 @ 9:02PM

It would creep me out if my dad had any oppinion whatsoever about my breast when I was that age.

VOLFAN9957 6-03-2008 @ 9:06PM

Who among us has not said something 'off the wall' to their kids? And if you jump up and say 'I never!' ...you need to get a life. Kids need a little off the wall humor from their parents now and then. Makes kids think their parents are semi-human. I like Chef Ramsey. I could give him a few cooking tips, but hey! We all have our quirks.

nic 6-03-2008 @ 9:03PM

america reveals yet again her puritanical heritage- its no big deal and kind of cute/amusing

and guess what- she doesn't get the idea from her dad- she gets the idea looks are significant from life

lori 6-04-2008 @ 4:06AM

Thank you!!!!!

sherry 6-03-2008 @ 9:43PM

Shannon, you're exactly right! What 10 year old little girl doesn't wish for boobies. I remember the first time I discovered my "knots" when I was 11, I ran so fast jumping for joy telling my mother "Mom, I got knots!!!!" His mischief is with good intentions and it's something they will look back on in years to come and have a good laugh : )

Just ME 6-03-2008 @ 9:43PM

What is the big deal ? My father used to tell us it would grow hair on your chest... so what... And all fathers should be comfortable enough to talk to ALL of their children Boys and Girls about their bodies and sex....My father was a farmer and he had no problems telling his 8 children ...5 daughters and 3 sons the facts of life. Not one of us got preagnet before marraige. And now that we have young daughters and sons we speak to them about everything and anything... get over it ... He must be a good dad to be able to have the confidence of his 10 year old daughter..

Sister 6-04-2008 @ 10:37AM

My mother told me the same thing about meat when I was younger and decided to become a vegetarian. I was about four at the time.

I'm still a vegetarian, and just barely a B-cup.