Tara Tries a New Food

A story about trying new foods, healthy habits and being brave at the table.

Tara had one big rule about dinner. She did not eat anything orange. No carrots, no sweet potato, no pumpkin. “They look strange,” she said, “and I am sure they taste strange, too.” Her mother sighed every night.

At school, Tara’s class started a garden. Each child got a patch, and a packet of seeds. Tara’s packet said “Pumpkin,” and she groaned. But she planted it anyway, and watered it every day, because she did not like to let a plant go thirsty.

The vine grew and grew. It crept across her patch with big, floppy leaves and bright yellow flowers. By the end of term, there was a round, fat pumpkin sitting in the middle. “I grew that,” said Tara, and she was proud.

Her teacher said, “Let us cook it.” Tara frowned. “I will not eat it.” “You do not have to,” said her teacher. “But you can help to make it.” That seemed fair.

In the cooking club, Tara peeled and chopped the pumpkin. It smelled warm and sweet, a little like autumn. She stirred it into a pot with onions, a pinch of herbs, and some stock. It bubbled and filled the room with a lovely smell.

When the soup was ready, everyone took a bowl. Tara looked at hers. It was golden and smooth, with a swirl of cream on top. “I did make it,” she thought. “And I grew it.” She picked up her spoon.

She took the tiniest sip. Her eyebrows went up. It was creamy and gentle, with a little sweetness. “Hmm,” she said. She took another sip, and then a bigger one. By the end, her bowl was empty.

“Well?” said her teacher. “It is not strange at all,” said Tara. “It is lovely.” That night, she told her mother that she would try a carrot. Her mother nearly dropped the saucepan.

Tara now eats most things, orange or not. She says that if you grow a food yourself, you know it is your friend.

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