Want to Save this Recipe? Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you'll get great new recipes from us every week!
Now I will say, as motivated as I felt after reading the book, there's one huge component we’re lacking here in America. Apparently, in France, their schools, governments, and communities all work “together to create food and education systems that support parents in feeding their children well.” I don’t know about you, but I oftentimes feel like others are working against me (not with me) when it comes to feeding our next generation well. My daughters eat more junk food at school than I would ever dream of giving them at home. I can’t imagine how much easier things would be if everyone in our society was on the same page like they appear to be in France.
But rather than waiting around for that to happen we must just take matters into our own hands. And what I have learned from my own children is that converting a picky eater requires a gentle, yet persistent approach and LOTS of patience! Winning over a picky eater is not something that will happen overnight, but if you really make it a priority in weeks, months, or even a year I guarantee you will start to see some of the dramatic changes you are hoping for. And in the end it will of course be worth the effort.
-
10 great takeaways (the “French Food Rules”) from the book French Kids Eat Everything:
- Parents: You are in charge of your children’s food education.
-
Apparently the French think us Americans cram our schedules so full with activities (like sports, art, music, dance, etc.) that it leaves little time to teach our children "some of the most basic, important things they need to know, like the proper way to prepare, cook, and eat healthy food." You have to admit it's hard to argue with that criticism. And I just love the analogy the author uses when she says, "French parents think about healthy eating habits the way we think about toilet training, or reading." If your child had trouble learning to read or using the potty would you just give up? Same should go for eating a variety of healthy foods...I know, they are right and it stings.
- - Avoid emotional eating. Food is not a pacifier, a distraction, a toy, a bribe, a reward, or a substitute for discipline.
-
I feel like we are so far down this rabbit hole it might be hard to get out, but let’s face it they have a good point here! Food is for nourishment, hunger, and nutrition...not for being a good listener.
- - Parents schedule meals and menus. Kids eat what adults eat: no substitutes and no short-order cooking.
-
If this were a reality for everyone it would certainly make life a lot easier!
- - Food is social. Eat family meals together at the table, with no distractions.
-
How you eat can be as important as what you eat.
- - Eat vegetables of all colors of the rainbow. Don’t eat the same main dish more than once per week.
-
I agree that variety is extremely important, but I am personally a little stumped when it comes to the second half of this rule. We love leftovers at our house and feel they are such a time saver...but that certainly means eating the same main dish more than once, or in some cases, more than twice per week!
- - For picky eaters: You don’t have to like it, but you do have to taste it.
For fussy eaters: You don’t have to like it, but you do have to eat it.
-
When considering these statements it's also VERY important to remember that "you're not going to convince the kids to love food by being too strict with them. It has to be enjoyable. Not necessarily loads of fun, but simply pleasurable." This takes us back to that "gentle persistence" I mentioned above.
- - Limit snacks, ideally one per day (two maximum), and not within one hour of meals.
-
Now, I know out of all the rules on this list that "no more constant snacking" will likely cause the most uproar. But according to the author it's okay to feel hungry in-between meals and guess what...your kids might eat a better dinner if they are actually hungry!
- - Take your time, for both cooking and eating. Slow food is happy food.
-
"North Americans associate food most with health and least with pleasure. The French are at the opposite extreme: they are the most pleasure-oriented and the least health-oriented about food." And ironically enough "20 percent of kids in the United States are obese, but only 3 percent in France." Now if that doesn't send a message, I don't know what does.
- - Eat mostly real, homemade food, and save treats for special occasions. (Hint: Anything processed is not “real” food.)
-
See...I am not the only one preaching this statement! :) But "so much of what French people eat is, by default, 'real food'" so I'd have to say they don't exactly face the same challenges we do when it comes to encountering junk food on almost every corner. The French do have an admirable approach though when it comes to the processed, junk food their kids may want to eat on occasion. They do not police their children's food intake (or ban all junk food), but instead attempt to "train their children to eat a balanced diet and to realize how much healthier they feel if they eat mostly 'real food.'" I've always said that if my daughters only avoid processed food "because mommy said so" then it's not going to get us very far.
- - (The Golden Rule) Eating is joyful, not stressful. Treat the food rules as habits or routines rather than strict regulations; it’s fine to relax them once in a while.
-
I couldn't agree more with the importance of this rule, but striking the perfect balance between "good nutrition" and "relaxing the rules" is no easy task. And maybe that's because most American children are faced with processed, junk food on a regular basis (at birthday parties, friend's houses, church events, soccer practice, school celebrations, etc.). As I mentioned above, our society is (unfortunately) not exactly working together on these issues like they are in France. Regardless though, I agree it is not "healthy" to constantly be stressed out about the food you eat.
In addition to this list of rules there were so many other startling facts and insightful statements that I took away from this book. I wish I could share them all here, but since that's not a very practical idea I will instead just highly recommend that everyone go out and read the book yourselves! I promise you won't regret it...not to mention there are a handful of kid-friendly recipes in the back.
*THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED*
The winners are:
- Ann - "I abide by the kids eat what adults eat rule and don’t offer other options. We also stick to real foods, minimal sugar. So I think that helps kids eat real food without complaint."
- Emily - "My husband can be a picky eater, so my trick is preparing the same food a number of times. He may not like everything, but perseverance pays off!"
- Nicky - "Rule #6 is the big one in our house….even if you’ve tasted it 50 times, taste it again!"
Elizabeth says
Love the blog and would love to read this book!
Sarah VanderVort says
This is another tip I just thought of is the dice trick. My kids always say they don't want to eat any more of something. We have him roll a die and he has to have as many bites as is rolled. He knows its a chance (maybe only 1-which is less than Mommy would say OR it could be 6-more than I would probably have told him). For some reason the thrill and that he is in control gets him to eat more without complaint!
Vicki says
As parents, we try new foods and it is just expected our kids will also try new foods. We don't make a fuss about it and don't allow our children to either. We try new foods, new ways of preparing foods, and new combinations, and we encourage a variety of colors and textures at our table. My husband is very good about not saying when he doesn't like the taste or texture of something. I am more adventurous, so there is very little food that I actually do not like, but I don't let on either.
Ashley says
Like!
Yasmin says
like
emily says
I am always switching up what I put on salads and how I make vinegarette to keep that from getting boring.
Ashley says
Try new fruits and vegetables even if you think your kids won't like them. My picky eater tried roasted asparagus (thanks to our "you have to taste everything" rule) and she loved it and asks for it all the time now!
Yasmin says
I offer a fruit and a veggie in every meal and snack, i also try to cook with her a few times a week, i have never given any sugary drinks and she only has water or homemade smoothies (without sugar), We also try to be an example and eat healthy food because she loves to have the same thing that mommy and daddy are eating. And she has to have at least a bite of somehing new when offered
Alejandra says
Like
stephanie says
Like
Alejandra says
I always try to serve veggies in different ways that are fun. My toddler really likes dipping, so I make homemade cheese spreads and ranch dressing for her. Also hiding veggies in dips is a great way to get her to eat them.
Ali says
Like!
Shireem Rich says
Like
Amy says
Like!!
Therese says
Like
Ali says
We require our daughter to take 3 bites of everything on her plate before she can be done. It actually works pretty well. Putting fruit and veggies on sticks has also worked well. Makes it a little more fun!
Amy says
I involve my kids in the prep of the food and they are much more likely to try it. When they feel like they are "making" the food, they are proud to try it. (Most of the time) :)
Megan G. says
LIKE!!!!!
stephanie says
I would love to read this book. My only tip is to just keep presenting the food over and over and eventually you might change their mind on it.
georgia says
Like!
Megan G. says
My 3 year old daughter is not that picky, but if we are having a hard time with dinner, my husband will let her use his fork for awhile, and somehow that does the trick. But we eat dinner together every night, we NEVER make her something different, and we make her try everything!!!
Stacy says
I won't cook a separate meal,
georgia says
If I am offering something new I will put bite sized portions on the plate. If they want more of the desirable food then they need to eat all the bite sized portions and then I'll put a bit more on the plate. That way they are tasting it, but not overwhelmed by a lot of food.
Therese says
Two bites. One for texture and how it feels, one for taste.
nancy says
Like
nancy says
our kids must taste the food twice during the meal if they don't like. we try again another day.
Angi says
Liked
Angi says
My kids have always ate what we eat. I still have one picky eater but he does eat everything we eat & sometimes it is just a bite, so he does choose to leave the dinner table hungry often. He does like salad now because of trying it two or three times a week for dinner.
Sarah VanderVort says
I actually have a question: You said most French diet is whole food. I find this to be true for numerous amount of reasons. However, what do you think about French bread (baguettes)? I adore it and know they eat it. I am assuming it is made with refined flour (which is processed). The lack of French bread is one thing I have the hardest time adhering to while eating "real food"
Samantha Kania says
I was the worst picky eater as a kid. My poor mom now I eat 10x the foods she does (I married a chef lol) but my aunt would paint a fingernail for every piece of broccoli or carrot I would eat. As an ill child whatever worked to get the vitamins in without a feeding tube they would take!
krystal boudreau says
I say if you cut anykind of food with fun cookie cutters, kids are always more willing to try - Also, staging food is great - like broccoli trees, dinosaur cheese , etc. :) make eating fun instead of a chore! - takes more time for parents but we might as well have funmaking it too.
Jodie says
Like!!
Jodie says
I would love to read this book. I don't know that I have any new tips as I have tried to get my 4 year old to try new things and she still is pretty picky. She is getting a little more adventurous, but there are some things she refuses to try. I have tried to let her help, let her pick out the food, fun plates, different ways of serving, etc. Sometimes it works, most times it doesn't. My 2 year old is starting to fall in big sister's footsteps and on top of that, she loves loves loves sweets (ugh). I am hoping our 4 month old will be the best eater of them all? Lets hope :)
Stephanie says
LIKE!
Jennifer says
If I am making something totally new for dinner I always have my pickiest eater help me make it. It helps them let down their guard about what is in the food.
Stephanie says
Smoothies are the best way I get my picky boys to eat a variety of fruits and veggies. I sneak spinach in them and they don't even know it's in there!
Sarah VanderVort says
Like
Peggy says
like
Sarah VanderVort says
My kiddos/husband are all picky eaters. My littlest is SPD with food aversions. However, I don't short order cook and they have to try one bite-no matter what. I try to hide vegetables in bread/muffins, spaghetti sauce, tacos, and green smoothies. I also found that they will eat a lot of vegetables and meat if it is in a soup form-go figure.
mary ann says
like!