Jamie Oliver Offers Tips for Getting Kids to Eat Well

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With famed chef Jamie Oliver for a dad it’s no wonder that Poppy Honey, 6, and Daisy Boo, 5 — his two daughters with wife Juliet ‘Jools’ Oliver — "have always eaten well." Jamie, 33, tells WebMD magazine that he considers himself "lucky," however, that the girls "got used to trying loads of new things when they were younger, so they got a taste for different flavors and textures." Jamie notes that "it’s harder as kids get older," and if you find yourself routinely engaging in battle at the dinner table he has some advice.

"If you persevere and don’t get upset if they won’t try new things the first time, eventually most kids will get into new tastes."

Jamie and Jools recently announced that they are expecting their third child in April.

Source: WebMD

What’s your trick for getting healthy food into your kids?

Comments

We were fortunate enough to have family members that agreed with this, but we simply didn’t offer anything else until the children were older. Even now, the kids know that the rule is they at least try everything on their plate before rejecting it. If they refuse to eat anything we’ve offered, they don’t eat. It’s not a battle and we don’t offer it as a negotiation. We’ve never had any trouble.

- Kait on September 25th, 2008

We just ask that they have two bites of a new food. So far it works but they’re only two and four so there may be more battles ahead.

- Brandi on September 25th, 2008

In my family there had never been that struggle. We had to eat everything on our plates or at least try it. When you didn’t want to eat something, you didn’t eat. Hunger is the best cook. I grew up on a farm so I saw every step of food process. Food costs money and efforts. I think we tend to spoil our children nowadays.

- Anna on September 25th, 2008

My oldest loves her fruits and veggies so we lucked out there. Meat on the other hand is our problem. We are slowly getting her to at least try some meats now.

- Melissa on September 25th, 2008

My kids love all kinds of food. We have never had a problem getting them try new things. We tell them if they take a bite and don’t like it, they don’t have to eat anymore. But, they have to try everything. There are some things they like better than others, but when I make dinner, they eat what my husband and I eat. We always get a good laugh out the looks we get when we go to a restaurant and our kids order broccoli! Since they eat so healthy all the time, we let them indulge from time to time in the not so healthy like ice cream or french fries.

- Dana on September 25th, 2008