French Kids Eat Everything by Karen Le Billon

I read this book back in 2012 and still live by it for the most part today. This book changed my life when I was struggling to get the kids to eat anything other the same old things day in and day out. I used the information in this book and now truly believe that all parents need this in their lives.

I will admit that we struggled a little at first. I wasn’t sure this was actually going to work and there were moments where I wanted to give up. Now though I can put pretty much anything on the table and they will eat it. If they truly don’t like an item they don’t eat it. They know they must try it at least three separate times before they can say they don’t like it.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Far too many parents face an ongoing struggle to get their kids to eat well, so why is it that French children gladly wolf down all the things our kids hate – the dreaded spinach or broccoli, fish, olives, salad…? In French Kids Eat Everything, Karen Le Billon shares her experience of moving to France and finding the inspiration to transform her family’s approach to eating. If you’ve ever tried hiding healthy foods in your kids’ meals, bribing them to finish – or even start – something healthy, or simply given up in exasperation at your child’s extensive list of banned foods, this book will strike a chord. It charts the author’s enlightening journey from stressed mum of picky eaters, to proud – if somewhat surprised – parent of healthy, happy eaters. Along the way, you’ll discover the ‘food rules’ that help the French foster healthy eating habits, why it’s vital to get kids to try the same food many times over, the value of educating your children about food from an early age, why how you eat is just as important as what you eat – and much, much more. With tips, tricks, rules and routines for happy, healthy eaters – plus some fast, tasty recipes to try – this isn’t just another tale of Gallic gastronomic superiority but a practical guide to instilling in your kids healthy eating habits that will last them a lifetime (and ensure less stressful mealtimes for you too!).

MY THOUGHTS ON THE BOOK

I actually searched out the PR person and asked to review this book after seeing a review of it on another blog. I thought what an interesting concept and I wanted to learn more. There are plenty of ideas in French Kids Eat Everything that will shock many Americans. The fact that the French don’t hand out snacks the way we do and that children are expected to eat what is put on the plates no questions asked. The bigger shocker is that French children actually do eat what is out on their plate and they behave at the table. We have begun to implement the 10 rules discussed and while they are a different approach I can honestly say that certain foods no longer have to be hidden in other foods but are welcomed on the table.