Most kids I know would be thrilled to live off of hot dogs, mac’n and cheese (as my Godson Reece calls it), Spaghetti-o’s, chicken nuggets, grilled cheese sandwiches and Jell-O.

Some, if they never had to try anything else in the world, would be pretty happy with that.

Thankfully, there are parents out there who require their kids to at least try different foods. My younger brother and sister-in-law are among them.

As we gathered down at the farm Saturday evening, nephews Blake and Reece each had a small dollop of squash placed on their plates. Both whined and complained … and one may have even had some sympathy tears run down his cheek.

I, the lucky auntie, had to sit between them and make sure Grandma’s baked squash with butter and brown sugar was eaten. I started with the four-year-old first … and I almost had him tricked.

With Reece paying more attention to everything around him but his food, I scooped up the squash and headed straight for the open mouth. I managed to get the spoon within a couple of inches of its destination before Reece looked down, saw the orange-colored mound and clamped his mouth shut.

When I finally coaxed him to take a bite, his facial expression was such that everyone else around the table started to laugh. Imagine tasting the most bitter of all dill pickles and I think you’ll get the expression right! There might have even been a spine shiver as he swallowed the delicious dish!

Then it was on to Blake, the eight-year-old. After much ado about nothing, I’ll just say there was a little fatherly intervention and Blake grimaced and groaned, then swallowed, cried and complained.

"I told you I don’t like squash," he said, wiping away what I’m pretty sure were real tears this time.

I imagine we’ll go through this entire scene again in a couple of weeks, when the dish of yams gets placed on the dinner table for Thanksgiving.

I just hope I don’t have to sit between the two of them next time … I fear making them eat foods they don’t want to eat will jeopardize my "favorite auntie" title!