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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!"
An Exacting Life says
I like the "thank you or no thank you" rule. I didn't want my kid to ruin other people's meals by whining and complaining at their dinner tables when we were visiting. I gave the option of eating it or leaving it, but NEVER being allowed to comment and complain about why it wasn't liked. Just say "no thanks" and do without. I was surprised at how often adults would push the issue by saying, "Don't you like that?" or even offering to make something else on the spot. Yikes!
Dar @ An Exacting Life
Erin says
My son went through a phase when he wouldn't touch fruit. Since he loves to dip things, I always made sure to have yogurt on hand for his dip. I eventually started giving less and less yogurt until he started just eating fruit on its own again.
Crista says
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Crista says
persistence is the only thing I have found that works with picky eaters, also...not always telling them what is in something until after they have tried it works too esp with my dad
donna spencer says
My daughter still has challenges with onions and peppers but I.keep introducing them to her and she.keeps picking them out but has pesebre to love yhe flavor of onion, so Giorgio tjat One day she will eat them
Shannon Moran says
My 2 year old is very finicky when it comes to food. I just keep giving him good stuff and insisting he try it. Eventually, he decided he likes it !
Joyness Sparkles says
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Joyness Sparkles says
Oh this is so exciting! I just finished 'French Women Don't Get Fat,' by Mireielle Guiliano last week and this book looks like it would go right along with it! I would really, really enjoy reading this book!
Thank you so much for hosting this giveaway!
Gianna says
I try to substitute or make something look like something else. I will make fish sticks and say its chicken fingers and my little one will eat it no problem. My older guy loves ground beef with rice so I will make it the way he likes it but use lean ground turkey instead of the ground beef.
Gianna says
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Lisa says
We have a "2-bite" rule. You're not "supposed" to complain about the food until you've tried 2 bites. -- Best tip to get them to actually really think about whether they like it (instead of having a pre-disposed idea) -- is to ask them to tell you what type of taste it has (sweet, sour, spicy...) and to guess what ingredients it has in it. That seems to make them actually consider the food before making their like/dislike decision.
Sarah McLaughlin says
Like :)
Sarah McLaughlin says
I made a "Hungry Caterpillar" head and put it on the wall in the kitchen. Every time my kids chose a new food, they got a new circle to add to the body. We wrote the name of the food on the circle. We had rewards after they received so many pieces, non food related, such as an extra half hour of tv time. They liked watching the caterpillar grow :)
Jordan says
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Jordan says
I don't have any good tips because my LO is just getting ready to start solid foods in the next few weeks. I think that teaching him good eating habits will be hard because mine are so awful!
Hannah says
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Hannah says
Fruit smoothies with lots of yummy greens....it's the easiest way for me to get them in their bellies...but, they really aren't that picky yet, my twins are 16 months, and eat most anything I give them.
Alisha B says
Like :)
Alisha B says
We always try to get our crew to try new things and if so, they have to try a few bites. With each new food we are hoping to allow our kids a variety & opportunity to explore all the foods that are out there to explore.
Ashley says
“likeâ€
Ashley says
I don't tell them that what they don't like is in it. Then when they eat the food and tell me just how much they liked it, I let them know what was in it and ask if they like what they didn't like before.
Tara says
2nd entry...like!
Nic says
First I make sure my kids are really hungry. Then I give them just a little bit of everything. If they want seconds they have to eat everything on their plates.
Tara says
When my children get selective about foods, I show them where the food originated (for example, a plant or an animal). Then they try it raw (if it's safe!). Then I show or them how I prepared the food. Somewhere in that process I am able to figure out what it is about the food they do not like and I can find a different way to prepare it. Often they are thrilled to be part of the process and forget all about what they didn't like.
Lisa says
like :)
Lisa says
I put spinach in when I make fruit smoothies for my kids. I put about a cup in, and you can't even taste it. My kids know I put it in, and since I started putting it in, they have started eating it in salads! They actually like it. I also quit buying snacks like crackers and stuff and only give them carrots and ranch or celery and peanut butter for a snack (or a fruit) and if they are hungry, they will eat it. In the beginning, they didn't really like it, but now they eat more veggies and like it! It just takes patience and consistency.
Monica Kulaga says
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Monica Kulaga says
Don't shy away from giving kids spicy things.
Megan S. says
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Megan S. says
Put shredded veggies into baked goods or smoothies!
I like putting zucchini into brownies or muffins, they get gobbled up! I also like putting a little spinach and sweet potato into smoothies, as well as peaches, bananas, and strawberries. Everyone loves them and no one can tell that there are veggies in there!!
Kelli says
Like on Facebook too!
Kelli says
I am hoping to prevent a picky eater by introducing my 1 1/2 year old daughter to ALL kinds of things! She is definitely not limited to "baby" or "kid" food. So far she seems open to trying everything- even things I have seen her dislike in the past. I wait a while and give it to her again; sometimes it just depends on what mood she's in.
Belinda Burns says
I have raised 4 children and now have 3 grandsons! Loved the tips shared. I especially like making sure we sit down together to eat a slow, relaxing meal! We are missing this in our fast driven culture. I'm loOking forward to reading your book, sharing with my children as they raise their families!
MichelleH says
When I serve something new, I don't tell what it is or what's in it until everyone has taken a few bites. My son hates potatoes. We were at an international festival and I snuck off and bought potato pancakes. He hate one, *then* I told him it was potatoes. Now he says 'I hate potatoes, except potato pancakes'. I've made chocolate chip cookie dough dip with garbanzo beans. He devoured it. Then I shared what was in it. He shrugged and ate more, but if I said 'garbanzo beans' first he wouldn't have tried it.
Nina says
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Nina says
We had to taste everything without actually knowing what some of i was, we didn' t have to eat it if we didn't like it. It had me eating calamari as a child. If I knew what it was without tasting it I probably wouldn't have eaten it.
Jennifer says
I take my daughter to the market every saturday and she gets to choose which vegetable she wants to try that week. It's worked so far with broccoli, yellow beans and celery!
Laura says
Everyone has to eat what mommy makes.
Carrie says
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Carrie says
I like the 'thank you' bite rule. Eat one bite, and then it's either "Thank you, that was good, I'll have more" or "no thank you, I didn't care for that."
I also like trying to cook food differently (sauteed, cooked so they're soft, roasted, etc), so they have different textures. Or let them have veggies raw.
I also cut up peppers while I'm cooking and that is their 'snack'. :)