We call pea shoots the "gateway vegetable," because when we grow them in the classroom, children just eat them by the fistful until green juice is running down their faces.

Healthy eating and weight loss requires vegetables. There's no way around it. Some of us would rather fill our plates with meat and bread. If you discover a "gateway vegetable" you'll start eating them more often.

Messing with a stalwart like the spud doesn't go well with the potato industry, school cafeteria directors and legislators from potato-growing regions. They're fighting to see that in schools, no potato is left behind.

As part of the effort, spud sellers are promoting potatoes as a "true gateway vegetable" that could lead kids to broccoli.

Onions are a gateway vegetable, they always lead to more dangerous vegetables.