Don't eat me!

I used this technique a few times in the past couple weeks.  This is usually my last resort.  Now, you may not want to do this in public, unless you don't get embarrassed easily. 

A couple weeks ago we had a picnic and made a black bean salad with sardines.  The kids weren't trying it, so I pretended to be the voice of the little fish.  I started talking to the kids in a little funny voice.  "Hi, I'm the sardine on your spoon.  I just wanted to ask that you not eat me.  I'm very very nice and want to be your friend.  So please don't eat me."  OK, that's about as far as I got since the kids took the bite with gusto.  It's a little bit of reverse psychology and a little bit of play, but it seems to never fail.  Try it the next time you are stuck with a food.