A couple of weeks ago, I had the honor of being a guest in Mrs. Carlivati’s 5th and 6th grade science classes at Nysmith School in Virginia. Mrs. Carlivati, an amazing teacher, does a unit on nutrition with her classes. In celebration of AHA’s Go Red for Women campaign, I was invited to lead a discussion about heart healthy food choices. My goal was to teach the kids that healthy foods can be yummy too. I was hoping to teach them to try new foods and to start making good choices today.
The children were so much fun. Prior to trying the foods we talked about being labeled as a picky eater. Most of the children consider themselves to be “picky” eaters because they don’t like a particular food (fish and mushrooms were the big ones) or because the variety of foods that they normally consume is very limited. They admitted that when they go out to eat that they typically get the burger or the chicken tenders neither of which are heart healthy. The majority of the kids said that their parents feed them “kid food” for dinner on most nights.
On a very grown up level, we had a discussion and concluded that when you try a new food it may take a few careful bites before you can get past the new flavors, and that it’s easy to reject something new and say you don’t like it. They decided that they don’t like being labeled as picky and vowed to broaden their horizons.
Before I let them try the Let’s Dish! meals I had brought - Mu Shu Pork, Montreal Chicken, and Ginger Beef - they promised to try five bites of a new food before they declare, “yuck!”. Â Needless to say, they loved the new foods. One of my favorite comments was from one of the kids who earlier said she hated mushrooms -Â ”I can’t believe that this has mushrooms, carrots and cabbage. I’ve never really had mushrooms. I guess I like them.” Go figure!
When I serve something new to my kids, they get to give it a grade as long as they’ve had at least five bites. I only make one thing for dinner;Â if they come around an hour later looking for food they are allowed a piece of fruit or a container of yogurt.
I suggest that we stop calling our kids picky and give them a chance to try something new. They won’t like everything they try but they are bound to be healthier if they get beyond chicken tenders and burgers.
4 Comments
What an adventure, Elizabeth - thanks for sharing! In my experience with my own kids but more often with other children, it’s all in the delivery. If you breeze right in and give them the dish, especially if it’s new food, they maybe say, “What’s this?” and “Oh” but don’t object on principle before they’ve even tried it. If you mistakenly announce, “Now, I promise you’re going to like this even though…X, Y, Z.” - well, of course, they aren’t going to want to eat it!
I have to work on asking the kids what they’d like to eat when we’re out to dinner instead of reading the things on the kid’s menu. That kiddie menu has the easy burgers and chicken fingers. When I ask open endedly, I’ve been surprised when they say, “shrwimp” (shrimp) or pasta or even the salad bar! I also have to work on not acting surprised when they eat something I NEVER through they’d eat! That sort of defeats the purpose.
Thanks for your tips - I’ll keep them in mind as my kids get older!
As a mother of four, I definitely have an opinion about “picky eaters”. As Elizabeth does, I also only make 1 meal for dinner; usually a protein, side dish, and a green vegetable. Sometimes I worry, “Oh I am I going to have a fight on my hands with this dish?” Well, no more. They are allowed to have 1 snack before dinner. Maybe a fruit, yogurt, or some kind of veggie. The kids are usually hungry by dinner time. And it is true that kids will eat if they are hungry. (The doctors are right!)
Giving children a variety of healthy choices at a young age, and introducing them to all types of foods has worked for me. My youngest, a two year old, eats Indian, Lebanese, and all other cuisines.
I agree with Elizabeth, give the kids a chance. Let’s not rest on labeling our kids “picky eaters”. They definitely will surprise you.
We do the same type of things as Elizabeth, we have what we call “No Thank You” helpings. They must try every meal and 9 times out of 10 they like what they are eating and ask for more with out even prompting, even Calamari!!
Not only are 2 of my kids 4 picky eaters, but I am a “discerning eater.” I cannot gag down spagettios or other food that has been sugared up for kids. I was worried abou the Let’s Dish reciepes, but they have been suprisingly delicious and nutritious. I am currently on the Eating-for-Life plan and I find that most of the Let’s Dish meals will fit into the plan and help me enjoy the “family” dinner. See Plug for Meals by Let’s Dish at http://www.my-body-for-life-blog.blogspot.com.
Thanks, Lets Dish
Marc