A few years ago, my daughters received a wonderful storybook for their birthday entitled “Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun: Having the Courage to Be Who You Are”. This story by Maria Dismondy, with its quirky title, finds itself on regular rotation as a bedtime story. I absolutely delight in reading this book to my girls because of the positive messaging conveyed by the author in recounting the tale of Lucy with her big hair and eclectic lunch menu.
The book tells the tale of a little girl who learns from her grandfather the importance of treating others the way you would want to be treated, and that it’s okay to be different. When Lucy’s classmate Ralph starts teasing her at school, Lucy makes a very courageous decision to stand up for herself and what she believes. It is a charming story that empowers children to always do the right thing and be proud of themselves, even when they are being bullied.
I clearly recall pondering further on the messages impressed upon me over the course of 28 pages after my first reading. Initially it made me feel fortunate to have been raised in a predominantly Italian-Canadian community, where the foods found in my lunch bag were similar to those of my peers (this may not have been the case had I perhaps been living elsewhere). Suddenly, I began to empathize with a friend’s young daughter who came home from school in tears because of her school lunch. In her neighborhood, she was a minority and her seemingly normal lunch of pesto pasta was grounds for ridicule. This poor little girl received looks of disgust and a few snide comments about her green Martian pasta.
While this story dates back a few years, the unfortunate truth is that situations like this still exist, despite advancements towards understanding and appreciating diversity. In this age of the Food Network, the barrage of food porn on social media and gourmet taste experiences at every turn it seems hard to imagine children still giving each other odd looks over the content in their lunchboxes.
For this reason I have tried to instill in my daughters a love and appreciation of all food, not just the traditional Italian fare that is predominately featured on our plates. Mealtime is an opportunity to educate on the distinctions that make us all unique and I make a point of frequently introducing global flavors to them, whether dining in or out. I encourage them to try everything before forming an opinion and on those instances when their taste buds don’t embrace the food choices in front of them, it is also important to explain that others do, and they should never judge based on that. They should also never allow themselves to be judged based on their selections and to be proud of them, at the table or in life.
In Dismondy’s own words “Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun teaches children to respect each other’s differences while dealing with adversity, self-confidence and courage”; a message that stems beyond that of the plate (one that seems to be more and more relevant with the passing of time). When so much of what is seen, heard and read is filled with negativity, this book communicates positivity and in my humble opinion, is a must on the bookshelf. Happy reading and Buon Appetito!
