At work the other day I was talking to some students about the importance of teaching children healthy eating habits. It made me reflect on how far we have come in getting our kids to eat. Most parents agree that it is a good idea to teach kids healthy eating habits, but there is also a reality of trying to ‘negotiate’ with a toddler who refuses to eat anything that isn’t white.
My girls have never been terrible eaters. Meg is currently in a no meat phase (which is fine), and Hannah, thanks to her Kindy teacher (to whom I am very grateful), believes you have to try every food at least 30 times before you are allowed to not like it. However over the years we have had to deal with food fads and phases.
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| Mmmm, this is yummy! |
As a kid, I distinctly remember having to eat soggy weetbix for lunch (it only happened once). I was probably extremely painful and deserved what I got, but I don’t remember that part. What I do remember is being locked in a battle of wills over food. Even before I had kids, I knew that I did not want to fight with them over food.
When Hannah was about 2 she refused to eat anything at dinner time. Not wanting to make her eat something she didn’t want to, we gave her the option of a vegemite sandwich instead. Stupid move. Though we would rather our tasty dinner, 2 year olds prefer to eat vegemite sandwiches all day everyday.
We pressed on, having pasta every other night so that she would eat something other than vegemite sandwiches.
At the same time the Country Boy started cooking with her. She seemed happy to eat food that she had helped cook, so slowly the repertoire of food she would eat expanded. Eventually we got to the point where she would happily eat a wide range of food but would still eat only a little bit before requesting a vegemite sandwich. So the sandwiches had to go.
Now our rule is you don’t have to eat what is served, but you don’t get anything else.
We continue to cook with the kids as often as we can, particularly on weekends. We order our vegetables through Hannah’s school fruit and vegetable co-op, which she loves, and we have started putting up a menu plan. The kid’s help choose the meals and love to “help” grocery shopping. CB is a life long garden lover and has got the kids growing lots of vegetables.
Meg still doesn’t love meat, but surprisingly is starting to like chicken. She will eat as much as she wants and isn’t fading away. Hannah is getting more and more enthusiastic about healthy eating and is willing to try new foods at last. It has been a long journey but finally I feel that they are embracing eating healthily. Now we just have to train Toby!
What are your tricks or tips do you have to encourage your kids to eat well?
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