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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!"
nicole says
I planted a garden with my children, all but one of whom are not picky eaters. It's amazing to see your kids be at least willing to TRY a vegetable because they grew it themselves. I also watch lots of Foodnetwork with them. They see all kinds of stuff on there and ask me to make it.
Laura says
Like!!!!
Laura says
We have our picky son "kiss" a new food he is trying. This way he can smell it & get a little taste - then it almost always gets popped in his mouth!
Melody says
Like
Kim Pollock says
Like
Melody says
I don't make special meals for my kids...they eat what I cook or not at all.
Kim Pollock says
My best tip is to get them outside growing the food and seeing it grow and only give them real food and good food. They will have to eat. If you offer the bad stuff they will eat it and only want it.
Carrie says
Lik-e
Carrie says
Lik
Laura says
Like for Facebook!
Laura says
My hubby is a picky eater so I try change a vegetable he doesn't like slightly every time I make it.
Carrie B says
With my two boys, when they are in picky moods, I let them pick from two healthy leftover options we have in the fridge. If I give them them chance to pick what they want to eat, they will inadvertently be eating healthy but feel like they have control too.
Shelby says
Like!!!
Shelby says
My picky eater tip is to continue to offer foods- one day your kid might eat it and like it!
Jana says
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Jana says
We have started some of these rules in our home with my 8 year old son and he is starting to eat things he would have never touched a year ago. I still consider him a picky eater, but he is doing better.
Blueberry says
Like!
Blueberry says
Allow each child one thing he/she never has to eat. my Mum did that and all 9 of us pretty well eat everything but that one thing.
Deborah Eubanks says
LIKE :) very much!
Deborah Eubanks says
Picky eater tip: Kids will eat what they cook. My 13 year old so son makes dinner for the 3 of us once a week and it's rare to have leftovers from that meal. He's also involved in the grocery shopping experience, so he gets to suggest meals, too.
Tami Hammack says
"Like!"
Tami Hammack says
I make sure I have at least one item--usually a veggie--that my picker eater likes. That way they won't starve!
Amanda says
Somewhere I heard before I had children to feed them what I eat-which ranges from the very spicy to the fermented. Turns out my daughter loves kimchi and homemade yogurt. Also I never force her to eat but she does have to sit with us while we eat-and once I sit down she always wants something off my plate.
TracyDK says
"Like"! (Tracy Dunn-Kappes)
TracyDK says
My son doesn't like to eat anything. So his father and I make a big to do about what we're eating. And if that doesn't work, we offer to eat his share too. Generally THAT does it. Unfortunately, he's not as open to things as his Dad is. :( He got that after me. (though I'm doing better myself!)
Alison says
Like
Christina says
Like on facebook (it won't allow me to just say like for some reason)
Alison says
With my picky eater I keep offering him food regardless if he hasn't liked it in the past. He is still so young, so I believe it takes him several times to realize he actually does like the food. Texture also seems to be an issue, so I have to prepare it different ways. He didn't like kale chips, so I'd "hide" it in smoothies, but now he'll eat it other ways now that I've offered it several times. And if mommy eats it and excitedly says "mmmm!" That will usually get him to taste it too!
Christina says
My best “picky eater†tip is to get the children involved with the cooking. It seems to make a huge difference in our house.
Tammy says
Like!
Tammy says
My son tries to be a picky eater but we make him try at least one bite of everything every time we eat it. He usually says I was just tricking you mom. I like it after he tries something. Exposing your kids to different foods and not cooking separate foods for them is very important. You eat what I cook.
Tina says
Ann, I really like your tricks I will have to implement them. I have to admit though...my kids are big snackers. As long as I have no junk food in the house they will eat the fruits and veggies as snacks with no problems. I am usually the culprit to our bad snaking pit falls!
Pamela K. Hill says
I am a Facebook fan! Like!
Pamela K. Hill says
I don't have picky eaters at home but, when I was young I was a picky eater. One thing I remember is that I hated peas and complained when asked to eat them. Mom told me to mix them up in my mashed potatoes and I did.....it worked! I ate them!
Tina says
"like"
Tina says
I hide finely chopped veggies in spaghetti sauce! no one ever knows! I try to pick my battles by allowing them to have something of their choice if they clean there plates.
Marcia @Frugal Healthy Simple says
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Marcia @Frugal Healthy Simple says
My best picky eater tip is to allow my son 4 foods that he does not have to eat. WE still have the 3 bite rule on all other foods. But there are 4 foods we don't fight. If he wants to add a food, he has to take one off.
For him, they are pineapple, raisins, red bell peppers, and mushrooms. Though I will admit I sneak those last two into foods, and he doesn't notice.
brandy says
I don't have any great picky eater tricks. I'm at a loss how to get a three year old to eat something.
Megan M says
This is definitely an issue in our house, so my best tip so far is to make sure your kids are involved with the cooking/prepping in some way - even if it's just watching while you're narrating what's going on.