“Brussel sprouts and baked potatoes,” his mother replied to her son’s inquiry about what side dishes she would be serving with the meatloaf she was preparing.
Ten-year-old Michael made a gag-like gesture, mimicking someone trying to avoid throwing up. “Brussel sprouts?” he shouted out. “Those things are barely edible. And I know Dad doesn’t like them either.”
“He’ll eat them,” she responded, “and so will you.”
“Will not,” Michael said defiantly, stomping his right foot down hard on the kitchen floor for added emphasis.
“You need to eat your veggies,” she insisted. “Brussel sprouts are good for you.”
“I hate any food that is green. Why are all of the things you say are good for me not even edible? Brussel sprouts suck, Mom.”
“They don’t ‘suck,’ Michael. You can’t just eat meats and starches for dinner. You need green vegetables. Would you prefer broccoli?”
“Broccoli is green, too,” Michael protested. “And it’s also inedible.”
“I can make cauliflower instead,” she offered. “Cauliflower isn’t green.”
“Yuck! Not edible!”
“Okay, fine,” his mother said. “You don’t have to eat the brussel sprouts, but then you won’t get dessert, either.”
Michael thought about that for a few seconds before asking, “What’s for dessert?”
“I made key lime pie,” she said with a smile, knowing it was one of Michael’s favorites.
A big grin came to Michael’s face. “Now that’s something green that is definitely edible,” he said. “I’ll eat three brussel sprouts.”
“Four or no pie,” she insisted.
“Okay fine, four brussel sprouts.”
Life with this kid is one constant negotiation, Michael’s mother thought.
This post was written for today’s one word prompt, “edible.”
This, That, and the Other 
Is this happening in your kitchen?
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When it comes to brussel sprouts, yes!
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If I come to your house, just make sure no meat and no brussel sprouts.. Ice Cream will do.. I will survive..
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No meat? Are you vegetarian? You can’t be vegan if you eat ice cream, right?
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Dairy free, egg free ice cream.. Don’t tell me you never tried it..
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I like only REAL ice cream. With REAL cream!
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Hey, I am your guest. I am a vegetarian right since my birth. Yep. Never eaten egg. Never eaten meat. Never eaten cake. Only one in my family. Never even tasted it.. In..my life..
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I find that’s admirable, I do. But it’s not for me. Diff’rent strokes for diff’rent folks, as they say.
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Make sure you buy one or two for me if I ever come around to your humble castle. (Although chances are you will not even open the door).
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I have a sign on my front door that reads, “No solicitors and no vegans.”
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Got foot in the door..
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Looks like those Brussels sprouts were cooked in butter, yum!
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Everything — even brussel sprouts — is better when cooked in butter.
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Or any type of animal fat!
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Butter and bacon always make everything taste better.
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I always referred to brussel sprouts as gas balls and I can explain the reasoning behind that if need be.
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No further elaboration necessary, thank you.
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I can’t bribe my kid with dessert. That’s all he eats. Sweet and savory snacks. Money has been my only option. Don’t judge. I’ll sacrifice jail time for my inner peace any day.
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Right on Aqua! (your nickname! I figured it out!) So unless you tell me your name, that’s how I’ll refer to ya! “myageofacquarius” is much too long to type. And, evidently, I would misspell it (like I just did) – so I say again RIGHT ON- sometimes, parenting is a series of negotiations. For instance, my son like avocado, but not tomatoes. If I insist, he’ll eat tomatoes but for the most part, I don’t make him BECAUSE…his sister detests avocado and will throw herself on the ground and make a huge spectacle over how I’m trying to kill her. To the point, I don’t feel like fighting…so it’s not fair to one to let them get away with not eating…She likes tomatoes – she gets tomatoes with her salad. My son gets avacado. I justify it just fine – both fruit! done! My husband can never remember and is amazed when drama breaks out.
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MAOA, or MAOFA sounds like a cuss word! 😂😂 I like Aqua! Good Job Rizzo! Let’s put an accent on it someplace. It needs a little sass. Oh, the food tantrums! I can so relate. Chuck over here (not really his name, he just acts like he’s a chuck) screams, holds his hand to his mouth and manages to make gagging sounds at the same time. And this kid has a set of pipes on him, like Black Sabbath set of lungs. 😩 Husbands can be clueless sometimes. Sorry. I want one🙁
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I was only going to nick name you because I didn’t have a real (or fake) name! And your title/handle was kinda long. 😉 It’s easier to have a name whether it be real/fake – no one knows but you. Don’t confuse people with blippy #1, sassy pants, and Little M. I swear, half the time, I can’t figure out who is who in a post when people do that. I have no patience for that. Call them Jack and Jill and be done with it. So Chuck sounds like a zombie off the Living Dead? they are quite loud – it’s surprising they “sneak” up and surprise anyone. OMgawd – a zombie! Hiding. You couldn’t hear them stumbling and making sounds?
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I know, right?! I tried to enjoy WD but when those moments appeared…😒 Well, I’m glad I haven’t encountered those types of names. Where have you been, Sandi? To what seedy corners of blog world have you traveled?😆
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I shall NOT speak of such things. Cover your ears and close your eyes, child!
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WORST VEGETABLE EVER. My mom used to make me eat them (my step dad liked them- he called them mini cabbages) thank god no one else liked Okra in my family (another disgusting veggie) – Anyway I would cut that sprout sucker in half and basically try to swallow it whole with milk. I’d go through like 3 glasses of milk! I almost choked on a few occasions. And gagged all the time! I have never made them as an adult, my hubby doesn’t care, and my kids have never had to deal with it. We keep threatening to put on their plates…when they complain about salad…but then, I’d have to eat them too…and that’s not happening!
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Unfortunately my wife is a big fan of brussel sprouts (although not okra, fortunately), and she got our kids to like them. Thus, I’m the odd man out. As usual.
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I wonder if you eat anything beside meat and ice cream.. You aren’t a kid.. Anymore..
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they smell
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Sandy, I am very disappointed in you! (wagging my index finger). Unfortunately, this type of talk and behavior is not tolerated in Magicia Land. I’m afraid I will have to terminate our blogship. What is wrong with you people?! Brussels AND Okra are the super veggies which make the world spin on its axis. Didn’t they teach you that in school?
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blech! or is it belch! ack! all the same
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Eat them with bacon. Bacon fixes everything.
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ohhh, you are going to die…I really don’t like bacon…at all. Once in a very blue moon, I will have a slice at breakfast. And that’s enough to last years.
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Saandeee! Honeee! Why-i-i-i-i I’m Danny, can you tell? This is reference #2 to Grease. Gotta watch the darn movie now to get my fix. “Maybe. One day. When high school is done…”
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