Help Your Picky Eaters Eat healthy

While I firmly believe this video presents a too good to be true scenario (let's face it, kids are much more willing to try something new for a stranger than for their mom), I agree with a few things. For example, I, too, have had success with changing children's attitudes by changing what you call things. She changed prunes to gummy plums. I call zucchini muffins "breakfast cake with green sprinkles" to my 2 year-old and they are one of the only sources of fruit and veggies he readily approaches. I teach 10 year olds and have a few boys with the conception that poetry is "only for girls." When I introduced them to something called, "Guyku" - Haiku poems written about boys' experiences - they accepted it more willingly. I still have a few jocks who were onto my game and resist at all costs, though. My son would have spit that tomato at me so fast that I'd spend half that afternoon cleaning him, myself, and my kitchen!! - 4/3/2013 7:31:18 AM

When I was a kid I was required to eat a little of everything my mother prepared. I did not have to eat what most would consider a full portion, but I had to give it an honest try. My mother never avoided making foods we rejected, and she never relented on the rule to try everything. We were also not allowed to gorge on snack foods if we failed to eat the healthy foods she made at meal time. As a result, we learned to appreciate different kinds of food. I raised my children the same way, but once they moved out they began eating only those foods they could make quickly and cheaply. Now my grandchildren will only eat fast food or heavily processed foods. - 2/26/2013 2:27:02 PM

I watched this as a grandmother. With my kids I allowed them to choose three foods they never had to eat. They could change those foods but never at dinner time. Giving them that power made it easier to require they ate what I served. I will be curious to know if they use this technique. - 1/28/2013 8:56:51 AM

That was just a tasting session. There were few long term eating habits those kids took away from that. One tomato is not long term changes. I am struggling with changing 4 kids eating habits. We have resorted to only having healthy foods in the house, and my kids cry at bedtime because they are hungry and won't eat what is served. It kills me as a mother. I only wish it was as easy as this video showed. The only take aways I got were the whole grain ideas (which we are already doing) and the "gummi plum" idea. - 1/25/2013 7:25:24 AM

Now tell me how to feed 5 picky adults in one household. I have a 35 y/o who only eats kid foods. Hot Dog, bean burritos (no veggies), meat pizza, french fries and plain hamburgers.That's only one example. Have your nutrition expert visit me! - 1/9/2013 5:44:03 PM

I need her desperately to come to my house. I have a husband who will NOT eat, try, taste, sample or even SMELL anything that he "knows he doesn't like" and a 14 year old step- daughter that will eat NOTHING that comes from the earth. No fruit, no veggies, no chicken *except nuggets, no beef, no seafood EVER. She literally lives on pasta and water. She is currently taking pre-natal vitamins prescribed by her doctor BECAUSE she has such a poor diet and is dangerously anemic. It's really really Really sad and frustrating. I have been with my husband for 7 years and he has NEVER tried anything new. And his daughter is with us every other year and this year has been one of the WORST... almost 5 nights a week we are all eating completely different meals due to their picky-ness. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!! LOL - 1/3/2013 4:34:49 AM

I love the buffet idea! I also liked they idea of calling the fruit "gummy plums". I'll be starting my kids young! - 11/26/2012 10:42:00 AM

Great way to encourage healthy eating! - 11/4/2012 7:05:45 PM

I can't wait to use the term gummi plum! - 10/3/2012 3:33:47 PM

"gummi plum" - I love it! It's all in the wording - 9/22/2012 10:34:40 AM

I am definitely going to try some of these healthy snacks! - 9/10/2012 7:03:29 PM

See this still is hard, for me because I have introduced all of these foods pretty much in the same serving format...my 8 year old will not eat, dips, sauces or condiments of any kind. He would rather eat his salads and burgers dry. My opinion thats the problem. I keep telling him that these things will taste better with flavourings but he is not convinced. The battle continues. - 9/3/2012 10:35:40 PM

I have found that offering dip as on the side encourages my kids to try new veggies. They feel more comfortable trying the foods when I assure them that they are only required to take one bite of the new food each time it is presented. Most often, they begin to like or tolerate foods better over time. - 8/30/2012 12:54:09 PM