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One of our readers sent me this idea for getting my boys to eat better. She has a two bite rule. They don't have to eat their meal, they just have to try two bites of everything. She says it has really worked for her!
Hi Jen,
Did you try the 2 bite "deal" with your boys? I had my grandson yesterday to take him to an in-law family dinner and all of the kids ate in the lower level. I reminded him he was to eat at least 2 or 3 bites of everything on his plate. He brought me his empty plate and said he ate more than 2 or 3 bites because everything was so good and asked if it was all right for him to eat a chocolate cookie afterwards.
Isn't that just the greatest? Only one of the youngsters was a "problem" eater but I did note he had a larger serving(s) when his Mom dished up his plate.
Isn't that just the greatest? Only one of the youngsters was a "problem" eater but I did note he had a larger serving(s) when his Mom dished up his plate.
I somewhat tried this with my five-year-old and it backfired. However, I was being very inconsistent. We all know it takes consistency with kids!
-NewsAnchorMom Jen
6 comments:
Honestly, I think it does kids a disservice to force them to eat any food-- two bite rule or otherwise. Also, toddlers especially have tiny tummies and your two bites will be differently sized than theirs.
Dr. Sears offers some toddler friendly feeding tips.
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/3/T030800.asp
I am the product of the 2 bite rule. My parents did this with both my sister and I. Today, both of us are healthy eaters with a very wide variety of foods that we like. I plan on using the 2 bote rule with my own son, and my husband!
I was not trained this way, but this exposure to different tastes will serve your children well. Otherwise, your children will deternine what they eat, and they will eventually only eat hot dogsand pizza! Reward the bites that they dont like with the bites they like. Our children need much more fruit, vegetables and fish for their health. They need a lot less burgers, chicken nuggets soda and fries.
As I was driving home, I was thinking, "Why did I reply to that post?" Because my son is one of the "good eaters," but I started him that way from the beginning, and he is happy to eat vegetables, thinks tomatoes are a wonderful snack, and loves his fruits! Some days the veggie he devoured last week is untouched this time around. I don't force him to eat it, but the next time, he usually loves it again. Toddlers and children in general are finicky like that.
That being said, there is a fine line between encouraging and forcing. I do encourage him to try new things, and he is usually happy to oblige, but I don't force him to eat any bites. It is counter-intuitive to attachment parenting, IMO, which we practice and love.
We have our kids take a courtesy bite. Sometimes they like it and eat more and other times they don't and they're done.
I am always so relieved to hear other moms are having the same problem! lol.. We can't keep our 3yr old at the dinner table. She is up and dancing and just doesn't focus and then after dinner she is starving! lol. we too have enacted a rule: if you don't eat with us, then you don't eat! It is working on some days... lol. :o)) She is a good healthy eater otherwise so we're not doing too bad really. :o))
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