Episode 77: Cultivating a Rich Food Life for your Kids
What You’ll Learn
Why this is a Battle Worth Choosing (03:04)
How to Address Picky Eating (05:50)
From the "Experts" (20:12)
Recap (25:37)
There's a huge, big wide world out there and it holds so many of God's gifts, and it would be such a boring life not experience these things…
We've met grown adults who ONLY eat chicken nuggets, who won't eat eggs because they didn't like them when they were 4…
As moms, we have the opportunity to build that muscle in our kids, to teach them to be comfortable with being uncomfortable, and FOOD is a GREAT place to start.
Having a rich food life will trickle into so many other parts of life, and food connects EVERYONE! Food connects ALL of us, and is such a gift of love and service! If we never tried anything, it would be a travesty!
If this isn’t the time or season for you to pick up this practice right now, we get it…but it can be easier than you think!
Why this is a Battle Worth Choosing (03:04)
Raise adults/future spouses/good humans
If you want a rich life for your kids....chicken nuggets and fries aren't going to do it.
This is about so much more than just forcing your kids to eat…there's a DEPTH to what a rich food life will do
Self-focused people are generally less happy, less content, less enjoyable
Kids are often more willing to try things than you might think
How to Address Picky Eating (Tips/Tools/Steps) (05:50)
Britt's fix:
Bring your kids in starting from YOUNG ages
Let them work with you (okay moms are tired...but sometimes do)
Teach them
Try stuff all along the way (so they can see how ingredients are transformed and it will help them be more open)
Dinner is dinner but include something everyone likes
We are adventurous eaters (we always give something a chance – you just haven't met _____ in a way that you like YET)
We start with small tastes
We taste things as they were meant to be served (butternut squash with the honey lime crema & the roasted pine nuts) then you can divide and conquer
Sauces are welcome after the first taste (extra seasoning not so much...but if so salt in the palm)
We show gratitude – looking for one good thing
We honor the gift that food is ($$/time/love/etc)
No ugly remarks/no lies either
Tiff's fix:
Give me your ideas (IN THE PLANNING STAGE)
I will do my best to incorporate it
You will do your best to eat what's made
Offering more than one - leftovers are still an option, but it's this dinner or leftovers
From the "Experts" (20:12)
Meal Mastery is another way Brittany invites her kids in—and they get an opportunity to be a part of preparing meals, which leads us to what the “experts” say…
A study of more than 600 children at Columbia University showed that children were more likely to try new foods when they helped prepare them!
Nutritionists suggest cooking tasty vegetables. . .adding a little fat (hello butter) and some good spices can make even the worst vegetable taste good.
Susan B Roberts of Tufts university says don't give up! Kids need to "meet" a food up to 15 times before they can really make a judgement on it (Britt says the same thing)!
Recap (25:37)
Having a rich food life will trickle into so many other parts of your children’s lives
This may not be a battle you have the capacity to tackle right now, but there are a lot of small ways you can tackle this (like by introducing foods to your kids again and again)
Bring the kids in
Dinner is dinner, but include something everyone likes
We are adventurous eaters
Start with small tastes
Taste things as they were meant to be served
Sauces are welcome
Seasonings are done sparingly
Show gratitude
Honor the gift that food is
Be honest about food, but no ugliness
Take ideas in the planning stage
Incorporate as many ideas as possible
Everyone is expected to eat what’s made
Leftovers are always an option
Experts agree, involve kids, seek out flavor, and don't give up
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