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!"
Stephany says
Melted cheese! It seems like if I melt cheese on a veggie or new hotdish, they will be more apt to try it!
Janette Fitzgerald says
Like!
Melody says
LIKE!
Janette Fitzgerald says
I let my daughter help me pick out food, make the meals and we ways eat together as a family.
Melody says
My daughter is actually a wonderful eater. Except for squashes and melons. It's a texture thing. But it doesn't stop me from putting it on her plate. She has learned to like zucchini with Parmesan on it. But that's it so far. But she still has to try them. She knows and doesn't say a word anymore except for after she tries and then she's says "nope. Still don't like it". Just keep putting them on the plate. Exposure is the key.
Kristel says
liked
Kristel says
I let my kids "snack" right before dinner when they are super hungry. Only catch....colorful fresh cut veggies on a pretty plate and they think it's fun! Even if they don't like dinner they filled up on veggies first.
Jill says
LIKE!!!!
Leah Hudgins says
Let t
Jill says
We make smoothies in our blender - as long as there is one banana, 1 cup blueberries, and 1 cup Almond/Hemp milk, then I can fill it with all other sorts of stuff my kids don't know! Like carrot juice, kale, hemp nuts, spinach and more!
Jamie says
Like!
Nicole says
Be a good example!
Like
Jamie says
Eating it myself, then offering it.
melissa says
liked!
Jodi says
LIKE
Sara says
My DH kids (from previous marriage) are picky eaters. His daughter is getting a lot better at trying new foods and has taken a BIG interest in helping us out in the kitchen especially with things made from scratch! His son on the other hand has been a little more challenging... He has a sensory processing disorder and because he was on a feeding tube for the first few years of his life, he never really experienced the joy of exploring food in the toddler days... What I have found to work best is to have a rule that you must try 3 bites (unless it causes his gag reflex) and he has to explain what he didn't like about it (taste/texture). This has helped me figure out how to make the same foods differently so that he can enjoy them along with us! Surprisingly he has started eating a lot more foods and even healthier options. Needless to say we were so excited it brought us to tears!
melissa says
"you have to try everything" is my mom to kids food creedo.
Jodi says
There are a few things that seem to open new horizons. If the children are involved in preparing AND growing the foodthey are more interested in trying it. we encourage, but do not force, "courtesy bites." Often it is only a single bite but it has opened doors and we praise our kids anytime they do try new things that they are not excited about.
Michele Nelson says
Like
Sandra Duran says
I second the "no thank you bite" rule. It's been very useful with my students!
karen says
like
Michele Nelson says
3 "try it bites" for each new food & if at first they don't like it, try, try again!
karen says
Patience, trying foods over and over, and having them take a bite
Christin says
We've been growing a garden this year and I've found that the kids have been really interested in helping with it and proud of the results. They don't always like everything we grow, but they're much more willing to try it now, especially if they help with the cooking/prep too.
Desiree says
Like
Desiree says
Introduce new food in style that's familiar
P
Jennifer says
Liked!
Jennifer says
I let the kids help me make dinner. The more they help, the more likely they are to eat what is served.
angie h says
like!
Anna says
Like
angie h says
I am big on you have to try 2 bites at least. I think getting the kids involved in the kitchen is helpful in getting them to eat the food you cook.
Anna says
At least one bite of all the food on your plate!
Melissa says
Like.
Melissa says
With my 2-year-old I have found that she is sometimes afraid to try something. If I feed her a piece on a fork, she will often decide she likes it and want more.
Leah says
Like on FB
Charissa says
Like (Facebook)
Marie says
Like
Karen Backman says
like!
Jackie says
I seem to be having more of a problem with my 95-year-old mom than I ever did with my children. I often just have to put things in front of her and tell her this is what we are going to have for breakfast, lunch, dinner, without giving choices. She does enjoy soups and stews, no casseroles, so I can get healthy nutrition in her that way. I think the book would help me immensely in dealing with this situation as it is so similar to "picky children".
Leah says
My best picky eater tip ... Try, try again!!!