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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!"
Patti says
This works better when kids are small, but I used to tell my kids food was for big kids and only big kids like it. They used to argue that they were big kids and eat it to prove it to me that they are big. I have awesome eaters now. They said they get teased because Brussels sprouts are their favorite but it hasn't deterred them from taking them to school for lunch!
Ashley says
Love this, can't wait to read the book!
Shelley hudson says
I deal with picky eating with variety, and being sure to eat everything I expect my kids to eat
Meg says
Like you on FB!!!! :)
Tami says
Like
Meg says
I tell my kids they have to try everything on their plate before they get more of something that they really like. I love reading all these other tips for picky eaters!!!
stacy says
Like
Diana says
Like
Anne Embry says
like!
Cara says
Simple, just put it on the table and tell them their only option is to eat what is there or nothing at all but in a loving way of course. Suprisingly my son will eat better if we act like it is no big deal. Just tell him he doesn't have to eat but sit at the table with us.
kori says
Like
Jennifer says
I like you on Facebook.
Anne Embry says
I get my daughter to eat spinach leaves by putting them in her smoothies!
Heather H says
Like :)
Marla says
like (doesn't look like it went through the first time - if so, disregard:))
Aisha says
Like!
Amanda Monopoli says
LIKE!!
Tawny says
Like
Tami says
I have a tip for preventing a child from becoming a picky eater. From the time they begin table food, feed them whatever mom and dad are eating. No making special separate meals for your child because you think they won't like what you're eating.
Aisha says
My best picky eater tip is to let your child cook with you. When we changed to a vegan diet, my two year old wanted nothing to do with it. I started to let her cook with me and it has made a huge difference. She knows what she's eating and she's proud of herself because she helped make it.
Christina says
Liked!
stacy says
let them help you cook. sometimes they're more willing to eat it if they helped
Jayde Gaines says
LIKE!
Tawny says
I have no "best picky eater tip"--I need a lot of help in this area, this book would be GREAT!!
Kerri king says
Liked on fb
Jennifer says
My two-year-old always goes for the fruit first. If there's something on her plate she doesn't want to eat, I have her alternate bites of that with bites of what she DOES want, like fruit. Works every time.
Kerri says
"like"
Samantha Harris says
I'm a fan already! I liked the page a while ago
Heather H says
We have seen success with our 3yr old in our transition to real food... By teaching her about the dishes we serve. And whats in them. While cooking and at the table. When she feels comfortable, and knowledgable... she samples. And once we get her to try it and take a little bite... most times she eats it all. :)
Jayde Gaines says
I often get scrunched up faces and negative comments about my cooking, but with consistency and patience I am hoping my healthy habits turn into their own healthy habits. I am a strong believer in you don't have to like it, but you have to taste it/eat it!
Kerri says
We tell her she doesn't have to eat it, but, she does have to try everything. Then, we don't bring it up again during that meal. Often, she will just start eating it on her own after that.
Heather@Creative Family Moments says
I tell the kids that it's impossible to know if they like something or not until they've tasted it at least 11 times. So they know they have to at least take a few bites of whatever we're eating to get used to it... then if we've had that dish 11 times they can choose to not eat it, BUT if that's what's for dinner, they can't make another one...
Kerri king says
My husband is a picky eater so I tell him if he will try what I cook on weekdays then I wont bug him about anything he eats on weekends. So far it's working because he is trying new things and I'm not nagging him all the time.
Andrea says
When my daughter wants to play with her milk, either spilling it or sticking her hands in her cup, I say "the cows have to work really hard to make that milk, they might be really sad if you waste it, so if you don't want to drink it now, we can put it back in the fridge or later". Hum, just realized this is not necessarily about being picky.
Christina says
We try to make the food look pretty and colorful. We also eat as a family and if you chose to be picky and not eat, that is fine but you will still stay at the table and share the company.
Sarah says
I don't have a really picky eater, but one thing I have tried to do is keep reintroducing a food that was previously not liked. My daughter doesn't have to eat it all, she just has to try it. Sometimes she changes her mind about liking it. Sometimes she just doesn't notice it if it is mixed in with other things, and it becomes something she likes.
Samantha Harris says
Hiding veggies in muffins, pasta sauce,etc
Renae says
Liked on FB
Sarah says
Our rule is that you have to at least try everything. This has led to our sweet 2 year old discovering that she does actually like quite a few of the vegetables she was protesting.
Renae says
We're still working this out. We just had a "that's disgusting!!!" tantrum with smoothies this morning...