How to teach your kids to love food!
Written by Rocky Mountain Woman on February 4, 2013 – 7:03 am -
We teach our children to talk, to walk, to brush their teeth and respect other people. I taught my children all of those things to the best of my ability. I also tried to instill a love of reading in them (which sort of succeeded) and a love of food. When they were little and I was working full time it was hard to cook a meal each night. We ate a lot of fast food and pizza. I did, however, take them to Chinese Restaurants and the occasional Vietnamese Restaurant and of course, living in South Florida, we ate at a lot of seafood restaurants.
I also cooked as much as I could with as much variety as I could muster given the time issues I had. It worked. I raised two adventurous eaters. With all the other things there are for children to learn, eating well may seem like something that can be sort of pushed down the list. As long as they have a healthy diet, some people reason, it really doesn’t matter. I disagree. Enjoying great food can be such a wonderful adventure and if you teach your children to love food at an early age, it’s something they can take pleasure in their whole life.
When I cooked at home while my kids were young, I tried to incorporate a variety of foods prepared in different ways. A good way to start expanding your child’s culinary horizons is to start with foods they already like. For example, most kids like pizza. Try varying the types of cheese you use and toppings. Vegetables make great pizza toppings. Don’t make a big deal out of it, just put some sautéed vegetables on top of a homemade crust with feta cheese or goat cheese. Act like it’s no big deal – just pizza and see what happens. You can do the same kind of thing with mac n cheese. Maybe vary the cheese or add something crunchy and good to the top. Another good starting point is pasta. Kids love spaghetti. Maybe mix it up a bit with pesto or grilled vegetables. The point is to get them used to the idea of eating different types of things.
Be trustworthy! Don’t try to sneak foods into their diet that they hate. As they get older, you can reason with them about how fun it is to eat different types of food and how much they miss by being picky eaters, but while they’re little, lay off hot peppers or other things they really dislike.
Let them help in the kitchen! This is huge! They will certainly want to try something they helped make. Tearing up salad greens, mixing dressings, stirring the pot a bit, measuring ingredients. Teaching your children to cook is just as important I think as teaching them how to tie their shoes. It can really be fun to spend time with your kids in the kitchen as long as you’re patient and encouraging.
Give them a little patch of ground to grow whatever they want. Help them plant it and water it and then show them how to prepare it. I guarantee they will want to at least taste the finished product!
So, all of this being said, I’m kind of curious. What do your children like to eat or did they like to eat when they were small? Inquiring minds want to know…
xxoo,
RMW
Posted in She Shoots, She Writes | 9 Comments »
February 4th, 2013 at 9:14 am
My kids would eat anything I put on the table – not much fast food when they were growing up. I cooked a meal every night. But, my Grands are a different story. I have a couple that will eat anything and a few that examine all foods for anything “suspect.” I have found that if they help me cook, they’re more likely to eat the finished product. I’ve just ordered a fancy high powered blender, and I think maybe I can make some smoothies with fruits and veggies that are somewhat disguised. Once they have something and it’s good, they’ll eat it – it’s just taking that first step!
February 4th, 2013 at 9:22 am
Barb,
Isn’t it fun cooking with the grandkids? I get a real kick out of it…
xxoo,
RMW
February 4th, 2013 at 12:06 pm
My “children” are both in their forties with families of there own. When they were young my daughter could pick out the mushrooms in mushroom soup, but she has now moved up to calamari. Who knew. My son is a great cook, we used to make ravioli together and his first meal he fed his girlfriend (who married him shortly after) was Lobster Newberg. When I visit I try to get the grandchildren interested in what we are cooking. It helps that they are willing to experiment.
February 4th, 2013 at 12:15 pm
My grand kids are willing to experiment too, at least when they are at my house!
xxoo,
RMW
February 4th, 2013 at 12:34 pm
I remember my mother making my sister sit at the table for hours staring at peas, which she refused to eat. It was a constant battle. (She hated Chinese food too.) Never was a problem for me, I’d eat anything. But it taught me a good lesson. I never, ever forced my kids to eat things they didn’t like. I asked them to taste everything, but they didn’t need to finish it. As a result, I have three serious foodies for kids.
February 4th, 2013 at 7:13 pm
These are great ideas RMW and the proof is in your kid’s attitudes today!
I think as long as kids try everything, they don’t have to like it all but try it then that’s a good thing 
February 5th, 2013 at 8:31 am
You’re totally right, RMW. I’m trying too, to diversify food for my children. We use to eat pizza or fast food or chinese time to time, but not too often, in fact. During week end, for example. It’s party time for us
But they eat oriental food
My daughter eats everything. She likes to taste everything and it’s very rare when she doesn’t like an ingredient (10 years old), while my boy (13 years old) is more selective. As Barbara, I ask them to taste, not to finish if they really don’t like.
I think that food education must stay a pleasure. To eat is a pleasure. No need to fight around a plate.
February 7th, 2013 at 5:29 am
I think it is so important to expose children to a wide variety of foods. My nephew was just here and he wouldn’t eat the yogurt I bought him. It wasn’t the brand he likes. I couldn’t believe my sister went out that morning to buy the right brand. JDaniel doesn’t get to live in a I don’t like that brand world.
February 9th, 2013 at 5:18 am
I think growing vegetables is the smartest way to teach an appreciation for more foods. The look on a young kid’s face when he/she eats what they grew is near miraculous.