Ep. 104 – Picky Eaters Pt.1: Eat Your Vegetables!
In Episode 104 of the “Empowering Choices Parenting Podcast,” the hosts delve into the challenge of dealing with picky eaters, a common struggle for many parents. The episode, titled “Picky Eaters Pt.1: Eat Your Vegetables!”, kicks off with Lucas discussing his wife’s dislike for vegetables and segues into a broader discussion about encouraging children to embrace a variety of foods. Joshua shares his troubles with his young son, who prefers “circle crackers and goldfish” over regular meals, revealing the everyday negotiations parents enter into to encourage healthier eating habits.
As the discussion unfolds, Erik offers practical advice, emphasizing the importance of visibility and accessibility of healthy options like a vegetable tray in the home. “Make it very visual. This is what you need to eat, we have goldfish, we have circle crackers in between meals and snacks, but only if we eat our meals,” he advises, highlighting strategies to integrate healthier eating without making drastic changes that children might resist.
The hosts discuss the use of spices and flavorful additions to make healthy food more appealing to children. Erik recounts a personal story about modifying green beans with chicken broth to enhance their flavor, noting, “That makes for a much better green bean.” This approach points to the broader strategy of tweaking familiar foods to improve their appeal while maintaining nutritional value.
Additionally, Erik shares anecdotes from his experience with foster children who were accustomed to fast food, illustrating the challenges and successes of introducing them to home-cooked meals. He emphasizes the importance of using enticing aromas and flavors to attract children to new and healthier options, utilizing what he describes as “mirror neurons” to model eating behavior.
The episode wraps up with a call to listeners to share their own experiences and tips for managing picky eaters. The hosts express an interest in community recipes, especially homemade alternatives to popular items like Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, which Erik playfully critiques for its addictive flavors. This lighthearted yet informative episode sheds light on practical, everyday techniques parents can employ to diversify their children’s diets and encourage healthier eating habits without turning mealtime into a battleground.
Responses