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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!"
Jen says
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Jen says
My 3 year old daughter is very picky, but we have tried to educate her about healthy foods. We've tried a "new food" to try each day... Sometimes she likes it, sometimes not so much :). It's definitely a struggle, but worth the effort! We've just recently discovered the clean eating lifestyle, so I would love this book to get more recipes and ideas to make this transition easier.
Sandi says
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Jill says
Like :)
Sandi says
My toddler is uber-picky, but tends to eat what's on his plate if he helps make it - from mashing avocados to make guacamole, to spreading hummus on pita.
Jill says
I always have the kids try a bite of everything before they can say they don't like it and I never cook two different meals. We also try to cook together as much as possible.
Jacqueline says
Like :)
joline says
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Jacqueline says
I spent a lot of time with a few of my nephews and niece over the summer. Usually I would have a packed lunch with me so I can stick with specific goals I have for myself. Anyway, when the kids saw something they haven't tasted before they would ask questions. I told them what it was and explained why I ate it - good for my skin, eyes, muscles, etc. Though most of them time they pretended all of them gave them BIG muscles that grew instantaneously.
For the weird foods, to get them to at least try them, I would tell them to close their eyes and open their mouth (because then it didn't seem so gross to them and it was fun). Their moms told me they would do this without prompting at home. A few of them are now addicted to seaweed and the youngest begs for my green smoothies (of course that kid will eat anything).
joline says
OUr motto is TRY EVERYTHING. You must taste everyone that is offered to you. AND, we dont do separate meal for adults and kids!
karen says
my top for very picky eaters is to start with requiring them to touch new foods to their tongue before requiring them to taste new foods.
Mariana says
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Mariana says
My kids have to try everything that is on their plate. If it's a new recipe I will give them a smaller portion but they still need to taste it as well as anything else on their plate. Thankfully they are not too picky about food but I can tell that if I allowed him to, my son would be extremely picky.
Stacie says
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Stacie says
We have a one bite rule in our house. They have to take one bite and if they don't want to eat any more they don't have to. I hope that this will at least expose them to different tastes along the way.
Courtney says
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Kami says
Like!
Courtney says
My daughter is NOT picky at all, but when we do hit a bump I try to make it fun - she want wild about tomatoes until she got a high five for.every bite :)
Kami says
My best tip is don't ever start your kids on "easy" processed food. It is a everyday struggle to get your, my, kid to eat something green. I hope I win the book if not I wil be borrowing or buying it!
Maren says
LIKE!
Maren says
My first toddler was a pretty picky eater. In that early stage, I was still worried enough about her growth that I let her get away with too much. When chicken nuggets became too much of a norm in our house, I put my foot down about food. I had her help me prepare our dinners, and we also made up new names and stories about food (carrot slices were "bunny chips," broccoli was "mini trees," etc.). Those things helped a lot.
I have two more little kids now and am constantly looking for support and resources in teaching them to eat healthily, so I would LOVE to win this book!
Dawn says
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Dawn says
Don't make special meals just for your kids! Expect them to eat the same meal that you eat starting as soon as your child begins eating table foods.
katie@impatientlyprayingforpatience says
liked!
katie@impatientlyprayingforpatience says
I have a picky/fussy eater I am trying the patience method and I have never been a short order cook. So far he is 4 years old and it hasn't gotten better hence me working on my patience.
Alanna says
like!
Alanna says
I'm a teacher with no kids of my own. I am working on the parents of my classroom as well as the kids. In class, we talk about what to eat first in the cafeteria and, if anything, what needs to be eaten at minimum. I have slowly gotten most kids to pick the plain milk over the flavored varieties and I see more of the vegetables being eaten.
Jacquelynn says
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Jacquelynn says
We identify a small number of bites for dreaded food & then talk about the texture, taste and other distracting things about the food so another bite is required to explore that facet of the food. My son is getting older so he is catching on to the game but it can still work with lots of talk at the table!!
Penny says
Two bite club works at our table.
Elvira Kim says
You have to at least take a bite of everything on your plate.
Melissa Lindquist says
Like like like!!
Melissa Lindquist says
Everyone takes at least one bite and then we discuss what it tastes like or reminds us of. We have 5 kids between the ages of 7 and 17 and they are pretty much open to everything!
Jennifer says
'like'
ashley says
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ashley says
i don't have much experience in the â€picky eater†category... because my daughter is only 7 months old. but, we do a combination of baby-led + purees, + i think that that has kept us from any of the problems that some of my other mom friends are having with â€she won't eat this/she doesn't like thatâ€. i think since most meals my daughter feeds herself, its more fun. messy, but worth it!
Jennifer says
My husband is a picky eater. He generally doesn't like any mixed foods, sauced foods, etc. If I can't get him to try the food in it's natural 'looking' state, I find a way to hide it in the food. For instance, chocolate pudding made with avocado as a base, pureed zucchini or squash in the homemade spaghetti sauce, flax seed meal mixed in with the breadcrumbs for the pork, etc.. If it looks like what he's used to, he has no idea that he's eating something healthy. Depending on his comments of the meal, I sometimes tell him what I made, but not always. :)
Angie Zumach says
I make my children taste everything on their plates, I figure they will aquire a taste for the food they think they don't like...it also gets me to aquire a taste too:)
Juli says
Kids may need many many introductions to a new food before they accept it- (20 or more!)... So don't give up. If they don't like it, continue to serve it up (along with foods you know they'll eat) rather than assuming that they don't like something after the first or second try.
Margaret says
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