Bon Appetit
Karen Le Billon’s daughter had eating habits like lots of other preschoolers—nearly everything besides goldfish crackers were “yucky.” Then her family moved from Vancouver, Canada, to France for a yearlong experiment. Le Billon quickly learned that they’d have to revolutionize their eating habits. In her book, French Kids Eat Everything, Le Billon explores the unspoken food rules that the French instill in even the smallest children. See if these rules work for you.
Parents Are in Charge
Le Billon was struck by the different approaches to food by French parents. “First of all, they’re not as anxious. Second of all, they’re told to be more adventurous, and told to introduce lots of different colors and introduce lots of different foods,” Le Billon says. Starter solid foods recommended by the Association of French Pediatricians for babies 6-9 months old include endive, chard, beets and leeks. For 9-12 months, add Jerusalem artichokes, fennel and parsley.
No Food Bribes or Rewards
It only took a few few days in their new French home for Le Billon to learn that her 4-year-old’s picky eating was a serious cultural breach, and in order to survive they’d have to revolutionize their eating habits. "French children don’t snack," Le Billon says. "They don’t think to ask for food at other times because it’s really not part of their culture."
Kids Eat What Adults Eat
“The French approach is a very good way to prevent food from becoming a power struggle between parents and kids," Le Billon says. "Because there are fixed rules and routines that everyone (including the parents) respects, there's no negotiation. French parents also make sure that food is fun and tasty, so kids look forward to eating. As a result, kids are usually happy to come to the table.”
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Families Eat Meals Together
Family meals are eaten together, at a “dressed” table. There is a sense of occasion around a meal. You certainly don't plonk down on the couch in front of the television.
Eat a Varied Diet
“Kids are taught to enjoy and expect novelty and a lot of variety," Le Billon says. "That’s the start of their taste training, even from the age of 6 or 8 months, when they’re starting to introduce solids.”
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You Have to Taste it
Say at Every Meal, 'You Don't Have to Like It, but You Do Have to Taste It' "It’s a common belief in France that the average number of times kids need to taste something is seven, because they are literally familiarizing themselves with a new food," she says. "Just like learning to read, when you teach a child the alphabet and sound out words, it’s a process that takes several years."
No Snacking. It's OK to Feel Hungry
"Even adults don’t snack," Le Billon says. "The French only give food at their scheduled times; it’s a nice way of avoiding emotional eating."
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Slow Food Is Happy Food
"I work full time, we have no help at home, I do all my grocery shopping and cooking and the temptation is to do it all quickly," Le Billon says. "But we made a decision to not schedule any after-school activities that interfere with our dinner hour."
Don't Avoid Treats Entirely
“By practicing moderation, and by following routines and rules that they know will help them eat a nutritious, balanced diet, the French are free to focus on enjoying themselves," Le Billon says. "Note that this does not mean that the French deprive themselves of treats. On the contrary, they believe that allowing moderate consumption of treats helps everyone (not just children) develop a healthy, balanced attitude toward food.”
Remember, Eating Is Joyful. Relax!
"It’s very joyous, that’s the nice thing about the French approach," she adds. "It’s not anxiety-ridden. We have a lot less conflict around our table now that I’ve adopted this approach."
