Spotlight on: sugar snap peas

Sugar snap peas and snow peas are different varieties of Pisum Sativum from the pea family, bred to be eaten, pod and all. Hence – as the French say – ‘mange tout’.

I have been thinking about them recently because we have a new family project on the go: a veggie patch. My husband and I have always enjoyed growing veg but somehow, in the chaos of the last few years with three children, full time jobs, building work and… you know, life, we haven’t found the time to ‘grow our own’.

When we were choosing which seeds to buy, I knew sugar snap peas HAD to be on the list. I remember as a child, how much I loved to pick the whole, tender pods from the garden and eat them like sweets (candy). I thought I was getting away with murder and my mum wasn’t looking… She was probably well aware of my thievery and was happy to see me enjoying them!

Sugar snaps are especially wonderful when it comes to helping children branch out towards new foods because – as the name implies – they are super sweet. Children are naturally drawn towards sweet tastes and they often find bitter flavours tricky. In fact, a high degree of bitter sensitivity may be part of what underpins ‘picky eating’ for some kids.

Sugar snaps are high in sugar and don’t taste bitter, making them a great first vegetable for avoidant eaters to learn about. This is especially true for children who are comfortable with fruit but not vegetables. Sugar snaps can form a sweet, crunchy bridge for children to tip-toe over, helping them get over the idea that all veggies are inherently scary.

 

Small steps with sugar snaps

 

1. Familiarity

Do you have a pet that likes green stuff? Does your neighbour have one you can borrow? Sugar snap peas are great for rabbits because they contain vitamin A. Guinea pigs can eat them too. Feeding an animal (as long as it’s safe for the animal AND the child) is such a lovely way for children to ‘meet’ a new food. They will be focused on the interaction with the  animal and there is zero pressure on the child to try it.

 

2. Engagement

Even if you don’t have a garden, you can grab a pot in a small corner and sow a couple of sugar snap peas seeds. It’s really fun to watch how the plant will climb up its support, helped by delicate tendrils which you can eat along with the tasty shoots. Children will love watching the pretty white flowers develop before magically turning into tiny pods. They can help water it and can help harvest the pods when they are ready.

 

3. Exposure

Next, serve sugar snaps fairly often, leaving them on a plate in the middle of the table so that your child can interact with them on their own terms. Serve them raw at first as they are easier to eat this way. Never try to persuade your child to try one – this is not the route to happier mealtimes.

 

4. Safe interactions

I call the opportunity to engage with a food in a zero pressure way, a ‘safe interaction’ because it is all about children having autonomy and children taking the lead. Away from meals, maybe as you harvest the peas or put them out on a plate before a meal with your child’s help, just model how you can make a big loud crunch by biting the pea then taking it out of your mouth again. Don’t suggest they do it to – if your child is ready, they will copy naturally.

Another aspect of psychological safety is children knowing they can engage with a food without having to chew and swallow it. You can show your child how you can pop the pod open, find the baby peas inside and feel how round and tiny they are. Maybe you can see who can find the biggest pea! For young children, be mindful that raw peas could be a choking hazard.

 

5. Baby steps forward

If your child has decided to eat raw sugar snap peas, the next step could be dipping them VERY briefly in some boiling water before serving. They will still have that all important crunch, but will be warm. Or you could do this before plunging them in cold water if your child is not okay with warm foods. You might need to serve them many, many times this way before your child accepts them.

For lots of very avoidant eaters, they won’t get to a place where they are eating sugar snap peas. However, helping them feel that this adorable veggie is a friend not a foe will lay some valuable groundwork for when they are ready to branch out.