The Franciscus family strives for well balanced meals, protein and dairy, grains and gruits for their growing girls. However, the food pyramid collapses where vegetables are concerned.
They make it to the plate, but not to the palate.
Their six year old daughter Elle assembles a good selestion, the same does not hold true for four year old Blair.
Blair refuses all friut, and vehemetly declines vegetables. Her parents set a good example by eating their vegetables, and they're not beyond bargaining.
"What if we give you some flexibility points to put on your sticker chart?" asked Rebecca
"No!" said Blair
As you can tell, it's a very tough sell.
"What about the green beans? Are you going to eat the green beans?" Rebecca asked.
"Noooo" replied Blair.
"I'm a little frustrated at how best to approach it. It just always seems to be a battle" said Rebecca.
Maryilyn Day is a registered dietician and says,
"Would you chose a vegetable or a cinnamon roll?"
Day says better choices start at the grocery store, let the kids pick the produce they want to try, making it like a treasure hunt keeps it fun. Limit sugary drinks, offer healthy snacks like chips with fat free beans and salsa. You can also try things like making a banana split with yogurt.
Day also says to have regular family meals. Rebecca and Tucker Franciscus are right to be good role models, and Day says impose the "one bite" rule.
"Anything that I offer you at dinner time you take a bite of. If you don't like it you don't have to eat anymore this time. Next time it's offered you'll need to take another bite because it may taste different the next time. It might take 100 times trying something before our taste receptors get used to it and like it." said Day.
You have to be consistant even with children that are very insistant, but Day encourages parents not to give up.
"I would love to have a meal where my child says please may I have some more beans. I'll wait for that moment, it may be years to come and that's what I'm waiting for." said Rebecca.
