CHALLENGE........double veggie dare

You are all famous. That is right, every one of you that read about the Nielson family & participated on the auction- you are famous.......in a roundabout sort of way. The story of Stephanie and the blogging world coming to help save the day was on the Today Show today. So cool.

Ok. Back to reality.
I love seeing the fresh produce sold in stands all over town. It all looks just so good. Except, I don't really think it is good. I just can't bring myself to actually go to the farmer's markets and see everything that I should eat- but don't.
Squash? yuck. Pumpkins? only to be carved. Broccoli? the only food that has ever made me puke. Beets? we won't even go there.
I love the look of fresh vegetables. I don't so much love the taste. Actually- that is a lie. I might like it. I don't really know- because I refuse to eat it.
In college, my roommate Angie would eat bowls full of brussel sprouts. disgusting (not Angie- just the brussel sprouts) I have always admired her for it though. I don't have a clue what a brussel sprout tastes like. My sis-in-law makes fancy looking sweet potatoes in hollowed out oranges for the holidays.
We are a steak and potatoes family.
Chicken and rice.
Pasta & meatballs.
PB&J
When I am feeling like a really exotic cook, I might have bananas out on the counter- you know, because they are imported form South America. Sooooo exotic.
Sometimes I even saute' sliced potatoes instead of bake/mash them. (In this case, saute' would be my schmancy replacement for "fry.") I start my children's' dietary needs out with great gusto- all the variety that Gerber & Beechnut have to offer. A few years ago, while in Mexico, I even stocked up on the baby food offered there to add more variety to my then-baby's palate. Papaya, mango, veggies I had never heard of. Once the mush stage of feeding ends though, variety in my home also ends.
This time around however, when it comes to the baby food, I am attempting to go organic. Not organic off the shelf, but organic from the garden. The beans from my garden have already been steamed, smashed & frozen. I even bought a yellow squash last week (gasp). It is still sitting in the crisper, but I have great intentions of baking it, and having it baby ready in nice little ice cube trays in the freezer soon.
Will I try the squash myself? Well.........

CHALLENGE........double veggie dare

We all know that diets and healthy living trends seem to come and go as fast as my sink fills up with dirty dishes. Lately, I have been noticing a lot of vegetarian talk. A lot of emphasis being put on "all things in moderation," especially meats.
I am not necessarily about to ditch the meat from my recipe box- chicken nuggets are a major staple of my children's diet and my husband....well.....the man likes his prime rib- but could I, at least add a little variety to our culinary life?
Could I at least give the squash a little taste test?

The rules:
Try a new vegetable/fruit that you wouldn't regularly.
Try it more than once.

So simple. So easy. So scrumptious.

Ok- scrumptious- that might be pushing it. How about, so healthy?

Anyone in? How do you do when it comes to eating your veggies? What do you think about the vegetarian lifestyle? Could you do it? Would your family revolt?