Mommy-porn star, that is.
Seriously. What else would you call a tall, strapping, blue-eyed, blond man who loves being a dad, loves cooking, has the most awesome British accent, and a house in the English countryside?
The healthy eating advice he wants to give to all Canadians? Try one new thing a week. Trade up to organic milk and eggs. And grow something…anything.
Want your kids to eat healthily? Take them to the Farmer’s Market once a month and let the farmers do the rest.
Everything in his new book, Save With Jamie, looks delicious. It’s not your usual low fat, low cost meals. It’s Dim Sum Pork Buns. And Chicken Wings Gangnam Style. And Giant Veg Rosti with poached eggs, spinach, and peas. Which I made tonight. Which was a-mazing.
Check out JamieOliver.Com for tons of great recipes, info on his initiatives to get our kids eating better, and of course info on his awesome new book.
Like the rest of us, Jamie struggles with pickiness among his kids, such as convincing his 11-year-old daughter to eat her salad. But besides that, he’s gotten his kids to eat -and like- pretty much everything. How? By showing passion for food. By growing his own food so his kids feel connected to it. And by giving them a voice in making healthy choices.
What are your tips for getting you kids to eat (and like) good food?
Let me know what it is and you can win your own brand-spankin’ new copy of Save With Jamie, courtesy of Chatelaine Magazine.
Contest closes on October 20th.
I agree that you should start them early trying new things regularly. And keep re-introducing foods. They may not like it one month and eat it up the next time you try it.
Start them from the beginning! We started spicing my daughters food from almost day one, and now she eats absolutely everything!
Don’t give them too many choices…if they’re hungry they’ll eat it 🙂
Having a garden has always been a part of my life. The family played a role in planting and preserving vegetables. My children and now grandchildren expect something fresh or frozen from the garden at meal time.
We were dealing with allergies and food intolerances, so there were trips to the naturopath with professional advice on what foods could and could not be eaten and what was healthy generally. They understood what would make them feel good and what wouldn’t, and developed a taste for whole foods.
I let the kids help shop and choose the fruit and vegetables when we go shopping. If they feel that they are involved they will be more likely to eat them. I let them help cook too, inclusion is my tip 😀
I had kids who ate really well because I always suggested just three mouthfuls not the whole thing – give it a try. They also didn’t have to finish their plates they were in control. Kids won’t starve but we didn’t make them special things that weren’t on the agenda for the day – they are now 25 year old Jamie Oliver fans – our two dogs are Jamie and Oliver – spoodles named by my children who are foodies living in London.
Try one new thing a week applies to adults as well as children, I have always loved preparing food, and eating food, but we all get in a rut there are always lots of new things to eat and try whether it’s a food or a spice, start your kids earlier and do it yourself and when they are small let them hold it touch and enjoy it however it works for them.
We have a ‘no thank you’ one bite rule. The kids must try at least one bite. If it’s not something they like, they can say no thank you to more. The catch is that each time I make that food, they need to try one bite. I get away with it by telling them their tastes may have changed. Eventually they end up eating most things, unless it’s a texture issue. I have no magic solution for that!
My son helps me prepare the meals and is proud of what he helped make so he will eat whatever we prepare
My tip is to let them help prepare the meals and choose the ingredients.
make it into a game
We try to have her eat the same things as we do.
Smoothies, my kids will drink anything in their smoothy!
Cut raw veggies into small pieces for finger foods.
I never really had any problems with my children – the fact that there were 7 of them meant that there were seldom protests as everyone around them was digging in, if they didn’t eat it they knew someone else would so they ate and usually ended up enjoying it too.
We let our kids pick out seeds in the spring to grow and they are much happier to eat something they grew themselves.
Letting them help during food prep. Grocery shopping together for fresh produce. We always visit our local farmers
Involving my son in preparing the food, engaging him in conversation about what we are making and how yummy it is
My son helped me make salad when he was 2 years old by tearing the lettuce. It was never a problem to get him to eat it.
get them to help prepare it
take them shopping with you to pick out fresh fruits and veggies and skip the junk food isles
Picking out the meals,prepping the meals and learning about why certain food choices are better than others helps kids be interested in what they eat.
I think if you have the children involved in the preparation, it is a big help. They will try things they have cooked
Have the children get involved in growing the veg and preparing the food.
I try different recipes till something clicks with them.
get kids involved with preparing meals
I let the kids help pick the food (when shopping and when deciding what is for dinner). My 3 and 6 year old’s love their vegetables, especially broccoli so I cook that often. I also do “snack platters” that have different fruits, crackers and cheese on them and they love it. They think its like camping. I just try to make it fun, and to make them feel like they are a part of the decision process. I also don’t offer up processed foods, as I cook everything from fresh ingredients, so they are used to that.
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I use foods that my child is not as crazy about (but god for him) as add in’s to other dishes. He does not know they are there and he is eating things that are good for him
Quinoa is healthier than rice and they love it!
Incorporate veggies into something they like e.g., pasta sauce, burgers etc.
My tip would be to have your kids start a vegetable garden. They will be so proud to pick and eat their vegetables.
Turn the food into art like funny faces or animals.
try to make food look fun to eat!
shredded carrots or zuchinni in pancakes!
Starting kids out young trying different foods and healthy food, so they don’t turn into finicky picky eaters. Also serving colourful foods works wonders too!
make the food fun and eye appealing
Share a passion for growing food, shopping, cooking, and eating. The kids will catch on.
Have your kids help make the food. Or a recipe – let them help measure ingredients. That usually makes my son eat whatever we create.
I always have washed fruit in a bowl on the table. The kids usually will grab the fruit before another snack because it is so handy.
I started with good food when they were barely walking. Made it fun and never let them believe veggies were bad. Popeye loved spinach. when my eldest started kindergarten and was asked her fav food she said broccoli met by shock and awe. Its really up to parents to set the right example.
Disguise foods (eg. zucchini or mashed carrots in chocolate cake)
making it look like fun
Our kids love anything on a stick, so we often make veggies, cheese and meat kebabs for dinner and fruit kebabs for dessert.
My hubby and I were sneaky and finely grated up veggies and greens and mix it in foods they liked, they couldn’t tell it was different. I am glad to say that when they are teenagers( yes even teenage girls) will eat everything in your kitchen even the veggies:)
I think adding spices really helps a lot! Great way to add flavour without the salt too.
Sometimes hiding/adding some healthy ingredients into a meal your kids love is a good thing!
I like to have fruit and veggies cut up in the fridge and ready for snacking on anytime. I like that my little guy opens the fridge and finds healthy options ready and waiting for munching! Thanks!
Get them involved in cooking, if they help make it they are more likely to try it!!
The past few years now my kids and i have planted a garden together! The kids love to pick the seeds and water them as they grow! My kids love to eat the food when its ready and it shows them how to take care of the planet and themselves too!
My son has always helped out in the kitchen and we cook a varied menu with lots of spicy foods.
I always let them help me in the kitchen & made food preparation fun.
When they actually eat and like something that’s good and healthy for them, we put on the praise and tell them how much good they’re doing for their bodies. Then they remember and will eat it again.
I have found that letting my girls help prepare and pick the foods we will eat has helped them to try new things and get to expand the selection of good food they eat
I let her eat at friends. For some reason, she will eat at friend’s homes what she won’t eat at home. And I mean simple things like homemade hamburgers or pasta with real spagetti sauce. Salad she likes which is why I make them frequently as it’s one bowl of veggies she will eat!!
My own daughter is still breastfeeding so I make all the food choices for her (!!), but with my nieces and nephews, we planted a garden and they really got to understand where food comes from. There was a huge sense of accomplishment that came along with that, and they were excited to eat what they had harvested – veggies and all!
We don’t make our daughter plain, bland food and we never have. Since day one she’s eaten heavily spiced foods and loves them!
I find the earlier you start feeding them good food, the better they will be about it. Also keeping tons of fresh veggies and fruits prepared for snacking makes it very easy for them.
I usually try to make food look good such as faces or scenes. Works every time.
On the weekends I put out a huge plate of veggies with greek yogurt (plain with spices mixed in for dip) at about 4 then we have supper at 6, I know my kids have gotten the good stuff in them and they are not looking to junk to snack on because they have had their snacking fix already.
We always go with “you have to try it before you can say that you don’t like it” saying. It tends to work and surprise out little guy as he is such a visual eater.
Just try alittle!
My kids eat well as I’ve introduced them early on to various foods, never making a fuss; they love stir fry meals so I’ve used a whole lot of different veggies.
If they have a hand in preparing the meal, they will be more eager to eat.
Tell her how strong and healthy it will make her! 🙂
Get them used to it early
travel… believe it or not, when the kids are out of the house environment where they expect to be able to have pasta and meatballs any night of the week, they make excellent choices! We have taken them on food tours (even trying truffles!) and food making courses. Now they make their own pasta and add the spinach just like Latizia did and don’t think twice. They are not shy to try when they are out of their comfort zone and then they become excited about bringing this knowledge back home, even on to planning a garden for next summer. It is not as easy with two sou chefs in the kitchen, but it sure more fun!
I try to get the kids involved in what we’re having for dinner and really try to play it up, and if I can get their help with prep work, that seems to help also.
Something that I always tell my kids is that it will never hurt your to try it once. Just to give it a shot, you never know you might actually enjoy the food. That has gotten them to try and like alot of new and even healthy foods!
My boy can sometimes be picky, but he must try the food over and over again – usually after awhile he’ll like it. He does have a good appetite and likes healthy food. Sometimes he comes into the kitchen to prepare a salad. I want him to start preparing more. Cheers.
I have used this technique since my daughter was two. I would use descriptive words for each healthy food. For example for broccoli I called it broccoli bunches or for carrots I called them golden love carrots. Each fun description intrigued my daughter enough to want to try them and love them. She has grown up to love healthy eating!
My daughter is 12 now – so she is quite stubborn about trying new things, and food she just doesn’t like. However, she is into dance, and stretching – so I think I am able to use this aspect to convince her to healthy food (most of the time).
I’ve lucked out with a daughter who really likes healthy food so I have never had to struggle. We just keep healthy food in the house and not a lot of junk. We never let her have a lot of treats from day one.
I make it look interesting when I arrange it on the plate. My kids
won’t eat cauliflower or meatloaf, so I mash the cauliflower (looks like
mashed potatoes) and make mini meatloaves in my muffin pan. They love
it.
I make it look interesting when I arrange it on the plate. My kids won’t eat cauliflower or meatloaf, so I mash the cauliflower (looks like mashed potatoes) and make mini meatloaves in my muffin pan. The love it.
My kids won’t eat meatloaf, so I made little individuals ones in my muffin pan and
Make food fun ie. fruit kabobs also model the behavior you want them to imitate!