Hmmm. Well, they'd starve if they didn't eat it at my house. I simply don't have anything else in my home. We don't eat out, it's nearly impossible.
We only have raw cane sugar, whole wheat flour, fruits and vegetables, milk and cheese, eggs, potatos, rice, and very tiny doses of soy free-chocolate.
We refuse to eat trans-fats (hydrogenated, mono & diglycerides), high fructose corn syrup, and soy.
I had a wise nutrition instructor, Dr. Brown, tell us we should offer healthy foods along with familiar foods to the children. We should not restrict one item or another just because we think one is better for the child. Never, never, never use food as a bribe, a manipulation tactic, or tell a child that there is a differentiation between good food and dessert.
We give our children an assortment of food on their plates. They don't have to finish their food. They don't even have to eat dessert or fruit last. They pick when they want to eat which foods and how much of it they want.
"Whether wasted in your stomach or on your plate it is still wasted."
If they want more of a specific food, (usually fruit or treats...which would give them bowel problems if eaten alone), we let them know they have to eat all the other foods on their plate before they can have more of the one item.
Bug has gone through thirds of her dinner to have repeated servings of cottage cheese and peaches.
To help them eat spinach we make little lettuce wraps with their food and they eat them as little sandwiches.
We always introduce a new food many times in exactly the same way so that they can try it and become accustomed to it. Only then will we add it as a filler to other foods. For instance: Bug doesn't like the dried cranberries, grapes, or dried blueberries.
When we had salad for lunch she had to eat a berry because it was a vitamin. So, she would dutifully take tiny bites until she could proudly announce she ate her berry.
Now, when I have her eat cookies with her eyes closed she'll eat all the raisins, cranberries, blueberries, seeds/nuts, chocolate, and coconut that might be involved. (Occasionally she stubbornly pulls out each berry and I have her eat one of each telling her they are her "vitamins".)
Now I catch her occasionally snacking on dried berries on her own initiative.
They have an unlimited supply to carrots and apples. They can open the fridge, and get to them on their own, and they know how to wash them. They have gotten really good at regulating how much their body needs and doesn't need. They have never gotten a toxicity.
I also changed their diet slowly. If you want a permanent change: gradual change is the fastest way to truly have your family on board.
Question: do your kids eat all of these things too? And if so, how do you do it? I have some pretty picky eaters.
ReplyDeleteHere goes a novel...good question:
ReplyDeleteHmmm. Well, they'd starve if they didn't eat it at my house. I simply don't have anything else in my home. We don't eat out, it's nearly impossible.
We only have raw cane sugar, whole wheat flour, fruits and vegetables, milk and cheese, eggs, potatos, rice, and very tiny doses of soy free-chocolate.
We refuse to eat trans-fats (hydrogenated, mono & diglycerides), high fructose corn syrup, and soy.
I had a wise nutrition instructor, Dr. Brown, tell us we should offer healthy foods along with familiar foods to the children. We should not restrict one item or another just because we think one is better for the child. Never, never, never use food as a bribe, a manipulation tactic, or tell a child that there is a differentiation between good food and dessert.
We give our children an assortment of food on their plates. They don't have to finish their food. They don't even have to eat dessert or fruit last. They pick when they want to eat which foods and how much of it they want.
"Whether wasted in your stomach or on your plate it is still wasted."
If they want more of a specific food, (usually fruit or treats...which would give them bowel problems if eaten alone), we let them know they have to eat all the other foods on their plate before they can have more of the one item.
Bug has gone through thirds of her dinner to have repeated servings of cottage cheese and peaches.
To help them eat spinach we make little lettuce wraps with their food and they eat them as little sandwiches.
We always introduce a new food many times in exactly the same way so that they can try it and become accustomed to it. Only then will we add it as a filler to other foods. For instance: Bug doesn't like the dried cranberries, grapes, or dried blueberries.
When we had salad for lunch she had to eat a berry because it was a vitamin. So, she would dutifully take tiny bites until she could proudly announce she ate her berry.
Now, when I have her eat cookies with her eyes closed she'll eat all the raisins, cranberries, blueberries, seeds/nuts, chocolate, and coconut that might be involved. (Occasionally she stubbornly pulls out each berry and I have her eat one of each telling her they are her "vitamins".)
Now I catch her occasionally snacking on dried berries on her own initiative.
They have an unlimited supply to carrots and apples. They can open the fridge, and get to them on their own, and they know how to wash them. They have gotten really good at regulating how much their body needs and doesn't need. They have never gotten a toxicity.
I also changed their diet slowly. If you want a permanent change: gradual change is the fastest way to truly have your family on board.
Good luck!