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Getting Kids to Eat

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.
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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Hi, I’m Jo

I'm a city girl turned farmer's wife, school teacher, ideas woman, and mum to three country kids. Country Life Experiment is all about simple country living, growing and making our own food, and life on our family farm in rural Australia. Join me as I give country living a try. Read more...
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Team work makes the dream work. We were asked rec Team work makes the dream work. 
We were asked recently whether we “make” our kids work on the farm. The answer is “of course not”. Having said that, all three love to help out whenever they can. They all work hard because they want to; because they take pride in working hard and contributing in a meaningful way to our family life; because they love living on our farm and don’t remember life before we moved here. Whether it be planting trees or doing sheep work or feeding animals, they all want to be involved. As a parent, nothing is better than watching them grow in skill and confidence as they work along side you. We’re so glad that we get to spend time with our three, working together.
We’ve had an unexpected addition to the family ☘️🐑. She is a lot easier to look after than the other family members but she does try to escape her yard and head butt people. Poddy lambs are super cute but they tend to think they are a human. Clover the lamb is sure that Meg is her mum. Can’t think why… 🤔🤣
The perfect way to end a long winter weekend: toge The perfect way to end a long winter weekend: together, cooking damper around the remains of the bonfire.
It’s been a tough few weeks on the farm. We got It’s been a tough few weeks on the farm. We got through shearing without a hitch (thankfully 🙏) but we’ve had a run of the flu followed by Covid run through the family since then. The kids and I have tested positive (this is my second time getting it 🦠) though so far C has managed to avoid it. There has been a lot of lying on the couch feeling pretty ordinary. Han had to reschedule her driving test for a 4th time due to Covid, which is disappointing for her because she wants her freedom and for us because it would be so much more convenient if she could drive herself places. Just to add in to the mix, our hot water system has chosen now as a good time to die so we’re on cold showers until we’re all out of iso. This is not meant to be a whinging post but sometimes life just sucks a bit and it’s good to be real. Fortunately, the sight of the fire going with a stack of wood next to it cheers us up. Things will improve soon. Onwards we go…
A picture perfect Autumn afternoon to end the scho A picture perfect Autumn afternoon to end the school holidays. We’ve been busy spending time with friends and family, harvesting the last of the summer produce, as well as a short escape to explore the big smoke. After the craziness of last term it was the break we all needed. It’s back to school for me tomorrow, and the kids are back on Wednesday. Shearing starts soon and so it’s all systems go over the next few weeks.
Covid has made some late changes to our weekend pl Covid has made some late changes to our weekend plans so we are embracing the unexpected and doing not much at home. Plenty of time for hanging out on the dam and enjoy the perfect weather.

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Hi, I’m Jo

City girl turned farmer's wife, school teacher, ideas woman, and mum to three country kids. Country Life Experiment is all about simple country living, growing and making our own food, and life on our family farm in rural Australia. Join me as I give country living a try. Read more...
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