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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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"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.)
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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.
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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!"
Karen says
Like (:
Emily says
Like!
Kat says
Like on FB! :)
Tawni says
Keep trying in different settings.
Karen says
I'll pair new foods with familiar ones and/or cut them into fun shapes
Emily says
My fiance and I are both pretty picky about different things. For example, I can't stand onions and peppers that aren't cooked. To get past that, we always cook them, but we also pair them with stronger flavors (spices, etc.) that help balance out whatever it is about them that I loathe so much. ;) The cooking helps with texture issues. My fiance is squeamish about leftovers and reheating. Whenever he works from home, I encourage him to reheat in the oven or on the stovetop, rather than nuking the heck out of last night's dinner. :P If he weren't willing to do at least that, we'd lost a LOT more money to wasted food than we already do.
Amy says
LIKE!
Michelle says
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Jennifer Engel says
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Kat says
My parents instilled in my the "three bite rule". I didn't have to like anything on my plate, they certainly didn't cook to please me all the time, but I had to have three bites of everything that was on my plate no matter what. This was also true for any outsiders who came over for non-special dinners, otherwise it wouldn't have been fair to me.
(And, by the way, this rule has lived through to adulthood - I'm almost 30. If it weren't for those three bites in adulthood, I would've never realized my tastes changed and that I now like brussel sprouts!)
Megan D says
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Amy says
Picky eater tip: One of my kids has issues with ingredients that are mixed up together. So, if we have a big salad with grilled chicken, he gets the grilled chicken by itself, salad on the side or maybe just carrots with ranch dip. I won't make a separate meal but I have found if the same components are presented separately, he is more likely to eat it. Weird, I know. I also point out to him that he is in fact eating the same thing as the rest of us, so he knows.
Amanda says
In our house we've implemented a one bite rule. Everyone must take at least one bite of whatever is served to us. This has brought my very picky eater around to liking carrots, grapes, and so many other foods I didn't think he would ever eat.
Belinda says
Like!
Maggie says
My kids are grown but I do have grandkids. So I tell them how great the foods make me feel, how I am still strong and flexible, and I can do a headstand and touch the floor...why? Because I love my body and put good things in it. I get love back!
Michelle says
We let each child choose aaron course for the week so even the picky eater knows they will like one dinner!
Laura says
I have my son help me cook. He usually wants to try what he prepared.
Megan D says
I don't have much experience, my oldest is almost 2. But he eats pretty much any vegetable because we started him with veggies. And we give him fruit and veggies as a snack instead of cheerios. I've notices that the more time he spends at grandma's house where he gets fruit snacks and lots of Popsicles and other sugary snacks he doesn't eat as well when he first gets home.
Belinda says
I introduce the food to my daughter and eat it with her. She likes copying the things that I do, so in essence it's a 'Practice What You Preach" approach!
Jennifer Engel says
I always enthusiastically commend my boys on making healthy choices. And I ask them to take one "no thank you bite."
Cassie Howard says
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Jessica says
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Sharlie says
Like you on FB!! :)
Cassie Howard says
I have an extremely picky eater, we are actually at the point of seeing if she has a true food aversion. I need all the help I can get!
Jessica says
My picky eater tip is persistance. My 17yo DD is my picky eater. She cannot handle certain textures of foods so it takes much time to convince her to even try a food.
Sharlie says
I do a fine dice on veggies, if the dish allows it. I also make a vegetarian spaghetti where I roast veggies with pasta sauce. I puree the kids' veggies and sauce in a food processor.
Michelle C says
I'm a fan on Facebook, too!
Leslie says
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Michelle C says
My guy is very little still (9 months), but I am feeding him what we eat in hopes that he will develop a great palate.
Denise says
I like you on Facebook!
Rich says
I might be a little on the dictator side, but I find that lack of choice is the best way to get my kids to eat certain things. I just give them what I prepare. If they choose not to eat it (after some encouragement),then I just put their plates in the fridge. I don't give them something else though. If they get hungry later, they can reconsider the dish that they passed on. It will be waiting on them.
Amy Williams says
well done, Rich! Us too!
Leslie says
I have a picky husband, and I sometimes have to treat him like a child :) Every 6-8 weeks, I roast a big batch of vegetables, and I include all the colors of the rainbow. I puree them down and sneak them in wherever I think I can get away with it! Sauces and stews are perfect veggie hiders!
The important thing is to make sure to tell them later that they enjoyed the vegetable addition. It will hopefully make them more agreeable to eating the vegetables out in the open!
Beth says
"LIKE"
Jessica Hilt says
Like!
Denise says
We allow my picky son to TRY foods off of Daddy's plate then we will put some on his plate. For some reason, it tastes better off of Daddy's plate :)
Dene' Godsey says
I would lovetot get this book! Thanks for the give away!
Kim Blair says
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Beth says
I try to make sure that I eat everything I want my kids to eat - even if it is not my favorite dish. There have been times they have told me something was yucky but once mommy took a bite and said yum they decided they liked it.
Miranda says
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Alaina says
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