I was asked again the other day how I "lucked out" because I have four children who are healthy eaters. Well, pardon me, but it's not luck.
There are lots of things I do not take credit for with my children. I had nothing to do with their stunning looks, their mischievous smiles, or their athletic abilities. But I do take credit, thankyouverymuch, for teaching them not to be finicky.
I've been accused of having some secret formula, some amazing trick that helped me accomplish this feat. Pshaw. There are no tricks in parenting, just planning and consistent execution. Here's how we teach our kids to be healthy eaters.
1. Love your kids. I love mine, so I don't want them to be fueled on junk food and have a mouth full of rotten teeth. I want the best for them in every way. Teaching them to enjoy healthy foods is just one of the ways that I love my children.
2. Don't be a short-order cook. I, for one, have just about all the work I can handle keeping these kiddos bathed, fed, and in line. I'm not about to start cooking separate meals for picky people three times a day. Don't start it when they are little. When they are little I offer healthful foods over and over again, until the child finally tries it. They may like it right away, or they may spit it out, and then try it again next time. Eventually, my kids have all learned to like just about everything, if given enough time.
3. Don't make a federal case of it. They don't have to like everything, and they don't have to like asparagus just because you do. Each of my children has a few things they just don't like. That's fine. They are never required to eat every single dish I serve at a meal. For many years, R didn't like lettuce. So, when I served a big salad she could dip around the salad greens and choose the sliced peppers, olives, tomatoes, green onion, and shredded cabbage for her veggies. HA loves every veggie except tomatoes. So he gets to pick around those when he dips a pile of salad onto his plate. When I make sauteed onions and garlic, I always provide some other veggie choices, too, because HW is not an onion guy. So far, Baby S likes any vegetable or meat, but prefers most things ground up. So, I'm still grinding lots of her meals for her. And I continue to offer her bits of everything we eat at every meal on her tray, just in case she wants to try it.
4. Serve a variety. I always serve a variety of healthy choices, especially if I already know one of the kids doesn't prefer something on the menu. And just so you know, offering "variety" around here is as simple as slicing up an apple or cutting some carrot sticks ~ I don't make multiple amazing recipes for each meal. Far from it.
5. When we have a new dish, everyone tries a bite. If they don't like it, they say, "No thank you" when they are offered a full-serving. No violent retching or gagging is allowed. There is nothing more disheartening to a busy mama who has sweated in the kitchen over a new recipe, than for children to come to the table and say "Yuck!" I work hard to make wholesome meals, so if a dish doesn't float their boat they can taste it, then decline it politely. That's basic manners.
5. Don't do fast food and don't buy junk. People's tastes tend toward what they usually eat. Therefore, restaurant food and grocery store junk are rare treats around here. Steering away from the drive-through is not only good for the budget, it also helps kids develop a taste for good food. They learn early on that real food really does taste better than junk.
6. Let them grow it, and let them cook it. Children can't resist trying things that they grow and cook themselves!
7. Teach them to be thankful. When we pray at mealtimes, we strive to be truly grateful for the food in front of us. Our trip to Ethiopia gave us some insight into the reality of need in our world. We saw and touched people who face the challenge every day of having enough food. Frankly, it's shameful for us to feel any way other than thankful for every single bite we have.
