French Kids Eat Everything ... so why don't mine?

OK ... so it’s not likely you’re going to be able to move to France, simply to fix your child’s picky eating habits, BUT if you can adhere to the guidelines set out by Karen Le Billon, author of ‘French Kids Eat Everything’ you won’t need to and you will have wonderfully food enthusiastic kids. Allegedly.

 

American born Le Billon did in fact move to France, and learned to live and embrace the French approach to food education. And in doing so, managed to change her picky eaters into little foodies after just one year. The book is a great and inspiring read, and I would think it’s relevant even if you don’t have kids – it deals with all aspects of French food education and how the entire country work together to create a society (family, teachers, farmers etc) of healthy eaters. It doesn’t take long to realise why child obesity rates in France are significantly lower than that in North America where obsese children survive largely on a diet of low nutrition.

 

The rules are basic (aren’t they always!!) but they require effort and adherence. However, the good news is, the approach to food in your house will change for everyone, not just the little ones and will mean a better approach to eating and a much healthier lifestyle all round. That’s a thumbs up for our house for sure.

 

These are the general guidelines from the book – and my updates on how I got on with each of them - do you think you could do better?

 

No processed foods. Eat natural food i.e. vegetables, meat, fruit etc and avoid processed or fast foods

I would really like not to ever eat or serve processed foods, but I do. I’m guilty of the occasional ‘jar’ or a frozen pizza ... or ... banish me quick: chips. Oh for the shame.

 

Eat dinner at the table as a family, without distractions

We do eat dinner as a family at the table. So I’m totally knocking this one out of the ball park, yay me. Distractions? It depends what you mean by distractions. Look, I'm putting this down as a workable rule for me and that's my final word on the matter. 

 

Eat slowly and enjoy the food

I am personally guilty of wolfing down my food. I come from a large family, and if you didn’t eat it first and fast, somebody else’s fork would be on your plate quick smart.

 

No food bribes or rewards

I’m seriously guilty of this. Bad mom. In my defense, how else was I meant to get through toilet training without the bribery of a Cadbury Button??? (And for the record, after one week she got it. I rest my case.)

 

Everyone eats the same meal which the parent decides upon, not the child

I actually do stick to this. I’m too busy to offer an a la carte approach even if I wanted to. If you don't like it, there's a bowl of air for afters, or a rumbly tummy for bedtime! Thems the rules.

 

Eat vegetables

I’m good on this too ... well mostly. Tomato puree is like a veg right?

 

Everyone must ‘try’ everything – it’s ok not to like it, but you must taste it

I’ve tried this one at home, and sometimes it works, sometimes not. It depends on the mood – theirs and mine to be honest.

 

Absolutely no snacking between meals

I couldn’t possibly sign up to this. I’d be sectioned. This would be a lose lose for me. So thanks, but no thanks. Also, snacks can be healthy too.

 

Enjoy meal times. You’ll get more with a smile than a snarl (I do hope you appreciate that even my writing is getting healthy here with the omission of sugar and salt from that well known phrase!)

Yeah ... again, it’s all about the mood. Sometimes we are the very epitome of perfection at meal times, with everyone having something nice to say, and lots of manners and it's just lovely. Other times, it's like feeding time at Dublin Zoo. But with more grunts.

 

Mum and dad are in charge of the food, they are in charge of educating the children about food and they are incharge of teaching how to learn to love food.

I so wish I could do this, I have a good friend who does this really well, and true to the book, her kids are superb foodies, and will eat (or at least try) much more than I ever would imagine, including snails, frogs legs etc. I really am a bad mom.

 

Anyway ... like I said, the rules are simple. It’s following them that can be the tough bit. But I am getting better and we do try new things every so often. Stuff that is out of my comfort zone too, so it's a new taste for everyone. And I’m willing to stick at it. My kids aren’t picky eaters per se, but I can definitely improve on diet, food appreciation and education, so hey, why not?

 

PS

I've decided to remove the 'no snacking' rule from my copy of the book with a large black marker. There.