Or…how many times does it take for children to like vegetables or like new foods?
Answer to both: MANY.
Andrew loves cars, trains, planes, helicopters…anything that moves. He knows that in order for those things to move they have to have fuel.
We've taken that concept and talk with him about how we need good fuel too for our bodies in order to move and play all day. We talk about how multiple times in the day we stop to "fuel" up our bodies (B, L, D, and a snack). From there, we talk about what might be some good things we can fuel our body with and what might not be the best choices.
He's doing great with this line of thinking. Today in the store he pointed out cereal and told me "mama, this has lots and lots of sugar - this isn't a good way to fuel your body." I then asked him to point out something that was a great way to fuel our body and he looked in our trolley and pointed to the spinach.
He's getting it. He generally knows what things are good choices and what things are reserved for a special treat.
He attended a birthday party on Sunday and instead of having all the sweets at the party (cake, soda, candy, pie, sweetened popcorn) - I asked him if wanted to bring something yummy from the house to get good fuel. He said yes and picked out strawberries and some homemade crackers I made! He did great during the eating part at the party and really enjoyed all of his items he picked out at home. I was really proud of him. That's hard stuff. Will it be like that each time? Nope. Will I ask him each time to bring his own food? Nah. But, will we as parents be helping him to make good food choices? Yep.
At lunch today, he downed all of his raw carrots (about 6 sticks) and asked for more (and ate them all). I couldn't believe it.
Is he like this all the time? Um…NO. (I'm telling you the good moments. Haha - I need to brag a bit ;))
He likes sweets and wants treats. He's human. He's normal. He's a kid!
How long has it taken for us to get to the point of him wanting vegetables as a snack or eating up all the quinoa at dinner? A long time. That's what he gets offered. Theres no other choices in our house. So, he's gotten used to it and he eats it. I think other parents would offer other "kid friendly" foods to their child - but what is put in front of him is what he gets. (Interestingly, he was offered Kraft mac & cheese a couple weeks back and tried it and thought it was disgusting. Ha. I lived on that stuff growing up!) It's taken a while for him to not turn up his nose at brussel sprouts - but he eats them. It takes time.
So, parents - be encouraged. If you want your child to eat a certain way and what you are eating - keep offering and serving it to them. I believe eventually they will eat it as long as they know there are no other alternatives.
I have been asked and told that when they get to school you can't do this or when they are older it'll be harder to get them to eat this way. Well, bonus for us is that we are starting young - so that does help. I have no idea what it's like to have an older child and all those issues. But, I'll get there with our kids eventually and can share what we learn as we cross those bridges.
Slow and steady. One step at a time.
Vroom. Vroom. Speaking of good fuel…time to give him a snack.
Answer to both: MANY.
Andrew loves cars, trains, planes, helicopters…anything that moves. He knows that in order for those things to move they have to have fuel.
We've taken that concept and talk with him about how we need good fuel too for our bodies in order to move and play all day. We talk about how multiple times in the day we stop to "fuel" up our bodies (B, L, D, and a snack). From there, we talk about what might be some good things we can fuel our body with and what might not be the best choices.
He's doing great with this line of thinking. Today in the store he pointed out cereal and told me "mama, this has lots and lots of sugar - this isn't a good way to fuel your body." I then asked him to point out something that was a great way to fuel our body and he looked in our trolley and pointed to the spinach.
He's getting it. He generally knows what things are good choices and what things are reserved for a special treat.
He attended a birthday party on Sunday and instead of having all the sweets at the party (cake, soda, candy, pie, sweetened popcorn) - I asked him if wanted to bring something yummy from the house to get good fuel. He said yes and picked out strawberries and some homemade crackers I made! He did great during the eating part at the party and really enjoyed all of his items he picked out at home. I was really proud of him. That's hard stuff. Will it be like that each time? Nope. Will I ask him each time to bring his own food? Nah. But, will we as parents be helping him to make good food choices? Yep.
At lunch today, he downed all of his raw carrots (about 6 sticks) and asked for more (and ate them all). I couldn't believe it.
Is he like this all the time? Um…NO. (I'm telling you the good moments. Haha - I need to brag a bit ;))
He likes sweets and wants treats. He's human. He's normal. He's a kid!
How long has it taken for us to get to the point of him wanting vegetables as a snack or eating up all the quinoa at dinner? A long time. That's what he gets offered. Theres no other choices in our house. So, he's gotten used to it and he eats it. I think other parents would offer other "kid friendly" foods to their child - but what is put in front of him is what he gets. (Interestingly, he was offered Kraft mac & cheese a couple weeks back and tried it and thought it was disgusting. Ha. I lived on that stuff growing up!) It's taken a while for him to not turn up his nose at brussel sprouts - but he eats them. It takes time.
So, parents - be encouraged. If you want your child to eat a certain way and what you are eating - keep offering and serving it to them. I believe eventually they will eat it as long as they know there are no other alternatives.
I have been asked and told that when they get to school you can't do this or when they are older it'll be harder to get them to eat this way. Well, bonus for us is that we are starting young - so that does help. I have no idea what it's like to have an older child and all those issues. But, I'll get there with our kids eventually and can share what we learn as we cross those bridges.
Slow and steady. One step at a time.
Vroom. Vroom. Speaking of good fuel…time to give him a snack.
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