Want to Save this Recipe? Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you'll get great new recipes from us every week!
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
"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.)
-
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.
-
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!"
Maria Shroyer says
like
Felicia says
I 'like" you!
Heather says
I make my son eat 7 bites of it(he is 7 years old). I heard somwhere you have to try somthing 10 times before you decide you dont like it. We also dont cook extra meals he gets what we eat. He is a good eater I am lucky he likes indian food. I hope my baby will be the same.
Lindsey says
Picky eater tip: My nephew and I had a broccoli stand off that lasted over an hour once. He eats a less-than-healthy diet at home and when he comes to my house he has to try everything on his plate and that usually includes the veggies he "doesn't like." During The Broccoli Stand Off 2011 I learned a very important lesson. "Broccoli" doesn't sound good and won't get eaten by a picky boy but "Little trees for hungry giants" get eaten right up! Some times the approach is the easiest way to encourage healthy eating and it is often overlooked!
Rebecca says
I am also a Facebook follower and have Liked your FB page!
Maria Shroyer says
Let kids touch their food. Have a tolerance for kids getting messy. Have kids help in the kitchen so that they see the process of cooking and how foods they touched raw become cooked.
Felicia says
I have a picky eater because of sensory issues. She just won't eat certain things. I am a strong believer in making my kids learn to try new things and we still offer her new things. She is required to try at least one bite. But she has learned that if she doesn't like it, she doesn't eat. We don't have a short order cook here.
Julia says
To overcome the challenge o
Patsy says
like
Stacy says
Like :)
Patsy says
I never substitute things for my children I do require that they eat some of the food even if they don't like it. After multiple attempts of eating just some of the veggies they don't like they eventually eat all of the veggies and appear to enjoy them!
jolene arnold says
You can hide veggies in everything even chocolate cake
Melissa Olson says
Liked on FB!
Micki Gersztyn says
Like!
Stacy says
Ever since my kids started eating table food, I make 1 dinner (no kid versions). They know they are expected to eat it and won't get anything else if they don't. I think it's helped them to not be too picky. As a family we are really working on conscious eating, and never using food as rewards. Thanks for the great giveaway!
Jodi says
I've liked you on FB as well, wouldn't let me just type "like"...
Rebecca says
I married my husband in January 2011 and while I knew he was a picky eater, it wasn't until I moved from Kansas to Toronto (I'm American and he is Canadian), that I realized just how picky he was. It seemed that for his entire life, people had been catering to his picky eating tendencies. Even now, when we go to his parents for Sunday dinner, they make one meal for us and usually have a pizza or hot dogs for him. I couldn't believe it, a thirty one year old man that would only eat pizza and hot dogs. That's when I set out to change things.
My greatest fear is that when we have children they would see him turn his nose up certain foods and that they would then say "if Daddy doesn't have to eat it, then why do we?".
He generally does not like thick cuts of meat, any cut of mean with a bone in it, any kind of vegetable and most fruits (particularly any fruit with seeds in it). I had really begun to feel I was fighting a losing battle when I realized there were things I could do to get him to try new foods. That was the key, just to get him to try it. I honestly think his parents gave up making him try things years ago, and he just had it stuck in his head he still didn't like things.
For instance, he had NEVER eating a fresh cherry. Why? Because he knew there was a seed in it. However, as ridiculous as this sounds, no one had ever told him you didn't eat the cherry seed. So silly, yet so simple. One battle won. He still doesn't think "I want a big bowl of cherries" but he will eat them now.
For meat, I've learned that he may never like a big juicy pork chop, but what he will like is a thin cut pork chop.
I'm still on a mission to change his eating habits and honestly he is also. Neither one of us want our future children to be picky eaters like he is, and I think this book will help us get past my husbands picky eating habits, but also set us on the proper path for ensuring our future children have happy and healthy food habits!
I have "liked" your Facebook page for a few months now and I'm very glad for it. I love seeing the tips and tricks listing in my news feed as well as the links to recipes etc.
Rebecca
Melissa Olson says
We lead by example. Can't tell you how many times we've gotten our picky 2 year old to eat something just by being sure we take big yummy bites of it when she's looking
Micki Gersztyn says
For picky eaters it may help to associate a new food with one they've tasted before ex. 'it tates similar to'
Cameronne says
Like
Michelle says
I also like your facebook page!
Jodi says
When trying something new, I make side dishes that I know they'll eat so at least they have something good that they enjoy.
Michelle says
My son, despite my efforts, has never been a big eater! My biggest tips are to limit snacking (especially before dinner, which is hard!), and no short-order cooking. It was rough, he went to bed without supper once in a while, but then he realized we weren't making him anything special and he ate what was given to him.
Cameronne says
When my son is reluctant to eat something, I show him that I eat it and like it. Doesn't always work but sometimes it does.
Jaccalyn says
i was raised to eat what my mom put on my plate, and i have for the most part done that with my own children. If we try something new, they at least need to TRY a bit. this usually works & they end up liking the new food, although my 7 year old son, threw up at the table when i made him eat Avocado..:)
Stephanie @ Food and Fitness 4 Real says
I also "Like" you on Facebook!
Stephanie @ Food and Fitness 4 Real says
I take my picky eaters grocery shoppping or to the farmers market with me. They get to pick a new or interesting looking food to try at home. I also get them involved with cooking dinner by chopping veggies, stirring or mixing and tasting ingredients.
Season says
Give kids healthy options and allow them to choose. If they feel a sense of control in their choice, the power struggle is gone.
Ashley says
I always put everything from the meal on my picky eaters plate even if I know he doesn't like it. He has surprised me numerous times by changing his tune, trying things he doesn't normally eat and then asking for more!
Melissa Dupuis says
Mt picky eater tip is that my kids have to try everything...usually if I can get them to try it they end up liking it. I also try to involve them in buying and preparing the food. If they pick it out and help prepare it they are much more likely to eat it! I'd love to read this book!!!
Michelle says
My kid has sensory, oral-motor and texture issues... so 'picky' is a hilarious understatement. When she was a toddler, we just had to console ourselves that she was getting enough breastmilk to survive. Now that she's 4, we can reason with her... sort of. We've tried a Food Passport with some success, I often create a "rainbow" plate of 5-6 different things at lunch time and she grazes, and at dinner we bust out the whole "close your eyes, take a deep breath, and try one bite." She's usually brave enough to try things that don't have a strong smell. And sometimes, she wants more. Cooking from scratch definitely helps... she ate about half a zucchini and some raw red pepper while I was chopping veggies for dinner yesterday. The only consistent thing I can suggest is: don't make food a battle. No begging, no punishments, no congratulations. Just present healthy choices.
Melanie says
I "like" you guys on Facebook :-)
Melanie says
As soon as we started giving my son the "green light" to spit a food out if he doesn't like it (gracefully, as much as a 5 year old boy can be graceful) he has become much more open to trying new things...hopefully someday this will translate to LIKING more things.
jolene arnold says
Liked
Ashley W says
I was just at dinner with my boyfriends sister last night who is going to France. Learning about how everyone eats the same and the etiquette which we don't have in the United States. I find this helpful just for me even though I am not married or have kids but, to instill these habits in me. Major like!
katie says
Stay calm.
Amber says
I have a husband that's a "mwat and potatoes"type, which is fine but my palette requires a little variety. He will try most things but usually says he would rather have the same ole stuff. Maybe this will help! Plus my 4 year old is not big on change either!
Brenda yost says
Like
Brandy mayer says
Like.
Jessica says
I will often have my children help me prepare the food and we will taste a little as we cook it. It seems to be much easier to get them to taste things that way!