Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

[BernardandMissBianca]

How many people have heard the old "My child only eats chicken nuggets and hotdogs, it's ALL he/she will eat"..........why do you think that is? Typically paired with "We are having salmon and asparagus for dinner, Jr is having hotdogs and mac and cheese, b/c that's what he likes".

If you teach your child that pizza rolls are an acceptable dinner, it's too much work to plan meals so get take out, and that veggies are something that need to be disguised to eat.......who is to blame for their poor eating habits?

When we are out for dinner, especially at Disney we constantly get bombarded with the question "How did you do that?" as in how did I get my kids to eat seafood, sushi, salad, fruits, and minimal dessert.
Um, I taught them?!?!?
The pediatrician said with our first kid to start them on veggies first or they will crave the sweet stuff, and we did that with all 4 kids.
The house rule is you have to try everything once, you can not look at something and tell me you don't like it. If you don't like it you have to find an appropriate substitute. You don't like yellow squash you have to eat green peppers.

Last night for dinner we went out to Brio. We ordered Carpaccio for the table, DS13 got the lamb with garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus, DS9 got grilled salmon with fries and snap peas and a house salad, no dressing. DS8 got pizza (not the best choice but I think it was whole wheat dough), and DD4 got the penne pasta with butter.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

When we are out for dinner, especially at Disney we constantly get bombarded with the question "How did you do that?" as in how did I get my kids to eat seafood, sushi, salad, fruits, and minimal dessert.
Um, I taught them?!?!?
The pediatrician said with our first kid to start them on veggies first or they will crave the sweet stuff, and we did that with all 4 kids.
The house rule is you have to try everything once, you can not look at something and tell me you don't like it. If you don't like it you have to find an appropriate substitute. You don't like yellow squash you have to eat green peppers.

Last night for dinner we went out to Brio. We ordered Carpaccio for the table, DS13 got the lamb with garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus, DS9 got grilled salmon with fries and snap peas and a house salad, no dressing. DS8 got pizza (not the best choice but I think it was whole wheat dough), and DD4 got the penne pasta with butter.

This is interesting.

I have two girls who will try anythign that I provide to them--if there is no other choice. Can't say they are adventerous while we are out--but I can make them not picky if I needed to. (I was shocked recently when at a post wedding brunch--they both desired to try sushi. They both liked it, though one got a bite of something that didn't agree with her palate.)

My 3yo--whole different story and I have no idea why. We'll try to clamp down on him when I am no longer pregnant and can tolerate various cooking smells....

But he is an interesting case.

I intro'd foods the same as I did all my girls--

That boy would not try a fruit to save his life. Mashed, pureed, solid--didn't matter. I have no idea how he knew--but he had ESP to know if it was fruit, he wasn't eating it and he will spit it out each and every time when I had no choice but to get it on his tongue myself (yes--even after 10 days). It's the weirdest thing.

Right now, I am acclimating him to not refuse to have the food variety present on his plate. It ticks him off--but for now he doesn't have to eat it. He just has to look at it.

I have no idea why this is so--but he will take lots of work b/c I don't do short order work.

But it has taken lots of creativity to expand his palate to this point.

I used to be the "don't offer anything else, they'll learn" type of person. And while I do agree to a certain extent, I can appreciate how some children are just born with a natural difficulty that is difficult to overcome.

Is it my fault--NO! It is a problem we have been dealing with from the start of food introduction for my 3rd child and has nothing to do with him being a manipulator or anything (how much can a 9 month old manipulate anyway?) . Veggies for the most part was not a problem.

My oldest--the only food she refused adamently is green beans--same reaction on day 10 as on day 1, she just can't stand it. She also didn't eat red meat until she was 5 or so. She prefers it in steak form, but has ventured into hamburgers or other red meat dishes.

The middle--well she plays games and mommy doesn't play--she'll eat what is on her plate.

My son--he won't starve...but he'll refuse to eat many things even if it means forgoing dessert that night. He has skipped several meals before. We don't know why he battles it, but it will take time. For now, as I stated, my condition and being home alone doesn't really make it conducive to be experimental and firm. So we are starting with the baby step of having it on his plate.

We've never had him checked for texture issues--there seems to be no rhyme nor reason to why one item is refused and another isn't--except for the common link of anything that is fruit is a definite no regardless of format.


I mean--if mommy is turning her nose up to many things, I'm not exactly the best model citizen for my kids. I think it was at 5 months pregnant when I was able to slowly reintroduce my fruits and veggies to my own diet (as an example--I had more issues regarding food aversions and pregnancy).

 

[buckler]

That boy would not try a fruit to save his life. Mashed, pureed, solid--didn't matter. I have no idea how he knew--but he had ESP to know if it was fruit, he wasn't eating it and he will spit it out each and every time when I had no choice but to get it on his tongue myself (yes--even after 10 days). It's the weirdest thing.

Is there any chance your son has fructose intolerance? One of the symptoms is an aversion to fruit.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I always have some kind of raw veggie or fruit in the fridge cut up and ready to go for them. DS9 hates yellow squash so I always make sure there is some kind of back up but he's responsible for getting it himself. I refuse to be a short order cook as well. Push comes to shove he'll eat green leaf lettuce right off the head, he loves the stuff!
Sushi was interesting, DS13 was about 4 at the time and we went to our local sushi place like we had many times before. He ordered his standard pizza or pasta, can't remember. DH ordered his sushi and when it came DS asked if he could have some. Now not knowing what he could or couldn't have at that age we were with something safe, maguro (tuna) and tamago (sweet egg omelet) he loved it!! When he had his next check up we talked to the Dr and asked if raw fish was ok. Dr said it was fine as long as he at it in moderation and was from a reputable place. The others started at the age of 2 with an ok from the Dr. All the kids also eat raw oysters and clams.
At the sushi place is where we get the most compliments and comments. It's funny when the whole place stops to listen to the kids order. We got into an in-depth conversation with a guy who could only get his kid to eat hot dogs and pizza.

When I was pregnant with D13 we had friends whose son would only eat nuggets, hot dogs and cereal and mom would cater to him. We decided right then that would not happen in our house.

Also in DH's house growing up his mom would say you had to try everything once. One time when he was about 4 his mom asked why he wasn't eating his lima beans. He sat there for the longest time and finally said in his cutest southern accent "Mama, before I was born God told me I didn't like lima beans." It was so funny! She didn't make him eat them that time but he eats them now, because I like them and cook them!!! The only thing he won't eat is cauliflower because they had it for every meal, including breakfast, when he was in the Navy.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Is there any chance your son has fructose intolerance? One of the symptoms is an aversion to fruit.

Ah, interesting point. That could be the case.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Is there any chance your son has fructose intolerance? One of the symptoms is an aversion to fruit.

I'm not sure. He declined it before ever trying it.

He drinks juice just fine (intro'd only after a long time refusal to fruits and ped at this point is concerned about vitamins and getting some taste introduced to him) and he has successfully consumed yogurt which I believe has fructose in it in the flavored yogurts.

I've never heard of the intolerance though.

ETA: just googled it--hmmm..interesting. I'll have to pay attention to when I give him something containing fructose and what happens. He's not really a sick kid (did have 2 double ear infections recently--but fruit aversion has been for more than 2 years)--and doens't really have ill health. I'll have to pay attention to some of the other things mentioned and see if it occurs when he has fructose.

And yes--thanks to his dad, he loves "sugar"--but so do his sisters and they don't have a fruit aversion. We just keep it monitored for consumption and try to keep it as a "treat" instead of a regular occurrence.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I always have some kind of raw veggie or fruit in the fridge cut up and ready to go for them. DS9 hates yellow squash so I always make sure there is some kind of back up but he's responsible for getting it himself. I refuse to be a short order cook as well. Push comes to shove he'll eat green leaf lettuce right off the head, he loves the stuff!
Sushi was interesting, DS13 was about 4 at the time and we went to our local sushi place like we had many times before. He ordered his standard pizza or pasta, can't remember. DH ordered his sushi and when it came DS asked if he could have some. Now not knowing what he could or couldn't have at that age we were with something safe, maguro (tuna) and tamago (sweet egg omelet) he loved it!! When he had his next check up we talked to the Dr and asked if raw fish was ok. Dr said it was fine as long as he at it in moderation and was from a reputable place. The others started at the age of 2 with an ok from the Dr. All the kids also eat raw oysters and clams.
At the sushi place is where we get the most compliments and comments. It's funny when the whole place stops to listen to the kids order. We got into an in-depth conversation with a guy who could only get his kid to eat hot dogs and pizza.

When I was pregnant with D13 we had friends whose son would only eat nuggets, hot dogs and cereal and mom would cater to him. We decided right then that would not happen in our house.

Also in DH's house growing up his mom would say you had to try everything once. One time when he was about 4 his mom asked why he wasn't eating his lima beans. He sat there for the longest time and finally said in his cutest southern accent "Mama, before I was born God told me I didn't like lima beans." It was so funny! She didn't make him eat them that time but he eats them now, because I like them and cook them!!! The only thing he won't eat is cauliflower because they had it for every meal, including breakfast, when he was in the Navy.

When my stomach organ returns to it's non-pregnant state, I'll get a bit more vigilant. Right now, getting it on his plate and him not freaking out that it is there is a start.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

And to insert some humor...

We did have hot dogs and mac and cheese for dinner tonight. It was too tempting after reading about it on here.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

He drinks juice just fine (intro'd only after a long time refusal to fruits and ped at this point is concerned about vitamins and getting some taste introduced to him) and he has successfully consumed yogurt which I believe has fructose in it in the flavored yogurts.

DS9 is the opposite. He'll eat fruit all day long but had an allergic reaction to apple and grape juice so now he's afraid to try it now. He can tolerate orange juice and lemonade once a week but after that, blech it comes right back with brute force.

When my stomach organ returns to it's non-pregnant state, I'll get a bit more vigilant. Right now, getting it on his plate and him not freaking out that it is there is a start.

One step at a time right. If the kids don't like it we just hold off and reintroduce it a few months later.
I hear you about lack of vigilance while pregnant! I was lucky I got out of bed with the last one let alone feed any of them. My favorite line in our daily to do list here on the DIS was during a busy day. the last line was "throw food at the kids and hope I stick the landing"

And to insert some humor...

We did have hot dogs and mac and cheese for dinner tonight. It was too tempting after reading about it on here.

We had McDonalds and Wendys. I can't breathe (allergies), I had 8000 errands to run to prep for a teacher luncheon, and frankly everything tastes like cardboard today so who cares! LOL

 

[java]

my kids love Jasmine rice in the rice maker- I steam some chicken breasts and brocolli and we have dinner. They eat all of that.
I think it's the "fancy" rice maker that makes it all interesting to them.

My boys also have discovered that they love apple slices. Instead of fries with a meal if we are out they are ordering apple slices.
I started serving a fruit with dinner every night. They really enjoy it. So if I have some apple slices, Grapes, oranges, kiwi or whatever that gets eaten too. I don't know why I never thought of fruit with dinner before?

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

my kids love Jasmine rice in the rice maker- I steam some chicken breasts and brocolli and we have dinner. They eat all of that.
I think it's the "fancy" rice maker that makes it all interesting to them.

My boys also have discovered that they love apple slices. Instead of fries with a meal if we are out they are ordering apple slices.
I started serving a fruit with dinner every night. They really enjoy it. So if I have some apple slices, Grapes, oranges, kiwi or whatever that gets eaten too. I don't know why I never thought of fruit with dinner before?

those apple fries from Burger King were a big hit with my kids so now we do them at home.

 

[lattemomof3]

I love this show, and so do my kids. They have definately wanted to take their lunch to school more since watching it. Europeans eat fresh, real food in proper portions, and know the value of teaching their youth to eat w/ utensils and taking their time to enjoy their food and converse with family and friends. Our society is such a far cry from this- shoveling fries in our mouths while driving down the road, buying portions the size of our heads- I'm so excited to see this tv program take off- we are in desperate need of it!

 

[jamimb]

I love this show, and so do my kids. They have definately wanted to take their lunch to school more since watching it. Europeans eat fresh, real food in proper portions, and know the value of teaching their youth to eat w/ utensils and taking their time to enjoy their food and converse with family and friends. Our society is such a far cry from this- shoveling fries in our mouths while driving down the road, buying portions the size of our heads- I'm so excited to see this tv program take off- we are in desperate need of it!

I could not agree with you more. Our society has gone wacko as far as our eating habits. It never ceases to amaze me what some people think is actually healthy. This show has inspired me to want to do something in my own community but I have no idea what????? I would love to see more people get onboard with this sort of thing!!!!

 

[buckler]

This show has inspired me to want to do something in my own community but I have no idea what????? I would love to see more people get onboard with this sort of thing!!!!

This might be a starting point for you. There is an organization called Slow Food with local chapters around the country. Perhaps you can find some other like minded people in your area to work with.

Slow Food USA Local Chapters

"What is Slow Food?

Slow Food is an idea, a way of living and a way of eating. It is a global, grassroots movement with thousands of members around the world that links the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment."

 

[MushyMushy]

I thought I'd bring this thread back to the top since the show will be on tonight! I just got all caught up on it and have to say WOW at the attitudes shown. Yeah, I know it makes good TV, but still.

I can't remember where I saw this, but there was a school somewhere (Texas maybe?) where they committed to making changes in their food service and one of the things they did was planted a big school garden to supply their own fresh vegetables. The students helped with the garden and this made them more invested in the foods, so they actually learned to love fresh veggies. I think it cost them to get it started, but once they did, it was pretty cost efficient to keep up with. Obviously that would only work in the warmer states, but what a great idea! Why not get kids invested in their own health and nutrition in some other way?

Does anybody else remember learning about the 4-food groups in school?

 

[Motherofboys]

We also decided before having kids (I should say me b/c DH wasn't too concerned) that we weren't doing the whole catering thing. DH's daughter from his first marriage would only eat hotdogs, kraft mac & cheese, carrots & ranch, cereal, and powdered donuts -- up until she was 8 they did this! Oh she did drink chocolate milk, but that was her whole dietary range. And his mom and ex thought it was cute!!

My kids are all different as far as tastes and adventure level. DS10 is my trophy child - he loves mussels, brie, salads, all seafood, in short everything like me. He has always had a taste for healthy foods and a refined palate He is the kid that I have had people come up to me at restaurants and make comments about what he was eating ("it is so refreshing to see a child eating a real salad",etc). He is so excited that he will be an adult on the DDP next time and I can finally stop sharing my meals with him.

DS14 would live on bacon if I let him, he is a carb addict. DS5 & DS7 are both attempting to be picky but finding it doesn't work with mom.

Interestingly, they all love the following: sushi, asparagus, roasted cauliflower, salmon, and anything grilled. It is great to see your kids fighting over the last piece of asparagus!

I think it would be cool if there was a way for people to see what other families make, how they cook, etc. Might motivate people who think it is impossible to do with kids so why bother trying. Maybe a "What's for dinner" thread for moms? Just a thought.

We are also doing a garden this year, I love having my own tomatoes and I like having the kids see the process of growing, harvesting, eating.

 

[jamimb]

We also decided before having kids (I should say me b/c DH wasn't too concerned) that we weren't doing the whole catering thing. DH's daughter from his first marriage would only eat hotdogs, kraft mac & cheese, carrots & ranch, cereal, and powdered donuts -- up until she was 8 they did this! Oh she did drink chocolate milk, but that was her whole dietary range. And his mom and ex thought it was cute!!

My kids are all different as far as tastes and adventure level. DS10 is my trophy child - he loves mussels, brie, salads, all seafood, in short everything like me. He has always had a taste for healthy foods and a refined palate He is the kid that I have had people come up to me at restaurants and make comments about what he was eating ("it is so refreshing to see a child eating a real salad",etc). He is so excited that he will be an adult on the DDP next time and I can finally stop sharing my meals with him.

DS14 would live on bacon if I let him, he is a carb addict. DS5 & DS7 are both attempting to be picky but finding it doesn't work with mom.

Interestingly, they all love the following: sushi, asparagus, roasted cauliflower, salmon, and anything grilled. It is great to see your kids fighting over the last piece of asparagus!

I think it would be cool if there was a way for people to see what other families make, how they cook, etc. Might motivate people who think it is impossible to do with kids so why bother trying. Maybe a "What's for dinner" thread for moms? Just a thought.

We are also doing a garden this year, I love having my own tomatoes and I like having the kids see the process of growing, harvesting, eating.

It always amazes me to hear a parent say that their children won't eat any fruits and veggies. My kids will take a good ol salad and apple over anything anyday!!