In my last post, I told you how my daughter sat on the supermarket floor to read the story of Captain Broccoli. And how, after reading it, she grabbed a bag of broccoli with a huge smile.
That was two months ago. Since then, she has read all 7 Lucy stories. And what has happened has left me speechless.
Not because every story "works" exactly as I expected. But because every child connects differently with each adventure. And that is precisely what makes them work.
The 7 Stories (And What Really Happened)
This is not an ad. This is an honest record of what happened when my daughter (and the children of 3 friends who tested SmartCart) read each story. The good and the surprising.
🥦 Captain Broccoli
"The green superhero who protects your body"
Lucy meets Captain Broccoli, a tiny superhero who lives in the green forests of your plate. His mission: protect your body from invisible villains (germs) and make your muscles grow strong.
My daughter: Now eats broccoli without complaining, but only if she can "count how many captains are on her plate".
A friend's son (5 years old): Does superhero poses after eating broccoli. His exact words: "Dad, do I have superpowers now?"
🍞 Captain Bread's Toast
"The breakfast that prepares you for adventure"
Captain Bread is the leader of breakfasts. Every morning, he prepares perfect toasts for adventurous kids who have an important day ahead: school, the park, or simply being happy.
My daughter: Insists on calling her breakfast "Captain Bread's mission". She takes breakfast much more seriously now.
My neighbor's daughter (7 years old): Started asking for whole wheat toast instead of sugary cereal. Her mom almost cried with joy.
🥣 The Singing Cereals
"The morning concert in your bowl"
In the Kingdom of Breakfasts live the Singing Cereals, tiny musicians who organize concerts every morning. Each type of cereal has its own sound: oats are drums, raisins are violins.
My daughter: Says she "hears" the cereals when she chews. She invented songs for every breakfast.
Another friend's son (4 years old): This was unexpected. Now he eats breakfast while singing. It's chaotic but adorable.
Confession: The Singing Cereals was the story I wrote with the least conviction. I thought it was "silly". It turns out it's the favorite of 2 out of the 4 kids who read it. I learned never to underestimate what connects with children.
— F.🥚 The Dancing Egg
"The party they organize on your plate every morning"
Eggs aren't boring. They are secret dancers who organize parties in the kitchen when no one is looking. Lucy discovers their world of dance and learns that cooking can be as fun as dancing.
My daughter: Wants to "help" make scrambled eggs. The result is a mess in the kitchen, but she eats eggs happily. Now she adds chopped tomato, onion, or tuna because -she says- they are tastier.
My neighbor's daughter: Invented "the egg dance" she does before breakfast. It's her morning ritual now.
🥤 The Revolutionary Smoothie
"The healthy revolution in a glass"
In the land of Drinks there is a revolution: Healthy Smoothies are changing the rules. They don't want everyone drinking soda. They want to prove that natural can be delicious and fun.
My daughter: Now asks to "join the revolution" when we make smoothies. She feels part of something important.
My friend's son: This was the only one that didn't work for him. He prefers the broccoli story. And that's okay.
🥞 Sunday Family Pancakes
"The tradition that brings families together"
Sundays are special at Lucy's house. It's pancake day, where the whole family cooks together. Everyone has a role: Lucy mixes, mom cooks, dad decorates. It's more than food, it's time together.
My daughter: Now Sundays are mandatory "pancake day". She looks forward to it all week.
My neighbor's family: Started their own pancake tradition. She says it's the most beautiful moment of her week.
🍩 Uncle Paco's Magical Churros
"When family tradition becomes magic"
Uncle Paco makes the best churros in the neighborhood. But his secret isn't the recipe. It's the love he puts into every churro, the stories he tells while cooking, and the hot chocolate that makes everything taste like a family Sunday.
My daughter: Constantly asks when we are going to "visit Uncle Paco" (he doesn't exist, but in her mind he does).
Another friend's son: His absolute favorite story. Now he wants to be a "churro maker" when he grows up.
What I Learned (And What Surprised Me)
After watching these 4 kids interact with the 7 stories, there are 3 things that got me thinking:
1. There Is No "Best" Story
Every child had a different favorite. My daughter loves Captain Broccoli. My friend's son lives for Uncle Paco's Churros. My neighbor's daughter can't stop talking about the Dancing Eggs.
The lesson: There is no "perfect story". There is the perfect story for each child. That's why I created 7, not 1. (And I'm going to create more)
2. Stories Change Behaviors (But Not How I Expected)
I thought the stories would make kids eat better. And they do. But they also do something I didn't anticipate: they make meal times happier.
Kids no longer see broccoli as "that green thing mom forces me to eat". They see it as "the Captain who is going to protect me". It's a huge difference.
3. Parents Needed This As Much As Kids
My neighbor sent me a message that made me cry:
My friend told me something similar: "I'm tired of fighting every meal. Lucy's stories make my son want to eat well. For the first time, I feel like I'm being a good dad in the kitchen." My son wants to be the one to press the "Add ingredients to shopping list" button and then in the supermarket he is very attentive not to forget a single product.
Personal moment: When I started this project, I thought I was creating something for kids. It turns out I was creating something for families. For parents tired of battling. For kids who need magic in the everyday. For all of us who believe eating together should be beautiful, not stressful.
— F.The Pattern No One Expected
There is something that happened with all 4 kids that I didn't see coming: now they ask to read the stories in the supermarket.
Not before eating. Not after. In the supermarket.
My neighbor's daughter reads "The Singing Cereals" in the cereal aisle. My daughter reads "Captain Broccoli" in the vegetable section. My friend's son insists on reading "Captain Bread's Toast" near the bread.
At first I thought it was weird. Then I understood what was happening: they are connecting the stories with real food.
It's not theory. It's that broccoli, right there, on the shelf. It's that pack of oats. It's those eggs.
The magic becomes real.
Why Do I Think It Works?
I've thought a lot about this. Why do these stories work when years of "eat your veggies because they are healthy" don't?
I have a theory: because we aren't talking to their logical brains. We are talking to their imagination.
A 5-year-old doesn't understand "broccoli has vitamin K that strengthens your bones". But they do understand "Captain Broccoli is a superhero who protects you".
It's not manipulation. It's translation. We translate complex nutritional concepts into a language kids speak fluently: stories, adventures, magic.
The Unexpected Gift
But there is something else. Something I didn't expect and that is perhaps the most beautiful thing of all:
Lucy's stories teach children to see food as something more than fuel.
They teach them that food has stories. That someone grew it, cooked it, prepared it with love. That every meal is an opportunity to be together, to create memories, to make something special out of the everyday.
That is real food education. Not just "this is healthy, this is not". But "food matters because it connects us".
The Stories Keep Growing
This doesn't end here. I already have more Lucy adventures written that will be published every week or every 15 days:
Tommy, the tomato who wanted to see the world - For curious kids who dream of traveling
Lucy doesn't like candy (or almost doesn't) - About finding balance and not forbidding
Four varied breakfasts - Because variety is important
The fruit truck - The story of where food comes from
Gustavo's Story - [secret for now]
The butterfly who liked the smell of strawberries - About senses and food
The story of the golden magic fish - Because kids should eat fish too
Maduro, the Philosopher Tomato - My personal favorite. You'll see why.
And there are more. Many more. Because there are so many foods, so many adventures, so many lessons to share.
But the important thing isn't the stories I write. It's what families do with them.
My neighbor told me her daughter invented her own story about "The Magic Carrots". My friend says his son draws Captain Broccoli constantly. My daughter does different voices for each character when she reads.
Lucy's stories aren't just mine. They belong to all the children who read them and make them their own.
One last thing: If you have kids and are reading this, I know exactly what mealtime frustration is. Preparing something with love and being told "I don't like it" without trying it. Worrying because they only eat pasta and nuggets.
I don't have all the answers. But I have 7 stories that maybe, just maybe, will make your child see that broccoli differently. And if that happens even once, it will have been worth it.
— F.Do You Want Your Child to Meet Lucy?
The 7 Lucy stories are in SmartCart Family, along with real recipes you can cook as a family. Each story includes a button to add all ingredients to your shopping list.
Read Lucy's Stories →