How Do You Get Her to Eat That?

By Laura Hopkins
I can still visualize the scene . . . My 3-year-old daughter and I were sitting in the
stands at a high school basketball game watching my husbands team compete. But
for some of the spectators the action on the court was not as entertaining as the
actions of my little one who was eating sweet peppers and celery cut into long
strips. !he munched and smiled" they gawked and whispered. #inally one older
woman spoke up$ %&ow do you get her to eat that'( My simple response$ %I eat it
too.(
)his was not an isolated incident. *ell-meaning folks often warned me about the
danger of a child forced to eat only healthy food eventually rebelling and going on
+unk food binges when away from home. )o me that was akin to predicting that a
child would rebel against the ,ord because she attended church with her family
regularly. -n the contrary when that child understands why her family attends
church and comes to know a personal loving !avior her choice is based on
relationship and firsthand knowledge of the power and presence of the ,ord. My
desire was for my daughter to know that .od made good food for her fearfully and
wonderfully made body and that when she satisfied her %mouth with good things(
her youth would be %renewed like the eagles.( /!ee 0salm 123$3.4
#ast-forward three years and my daughter is much more aware of the choices
available for her discerning palate. )hrough church friends homes and our
homeschool group shes learning all about the world of food both living food and
dead food. -f course when she was younger it was much easier to monitor the foods
she consumed. !o my counter to the onslaught of unhealthy choices is to make her
aware that her health i.e. the 5uality of her life is based on her choices.
6euteronomy 32$17 is the abiding !cripture for her training I call heaven and earth
to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing
and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.
My daughter definitely en+oys sweets but often will politely decline an offer of sugar
from the bank teller or the cashier at the dry cleaner because she wants to have a
treat at a birthday party or make a dessert for 6addy. !he started this practice after
I shared with her how sugar depresses her white blood cells and renders them
powerless to fight germs. !he also is motivated by her memory of the time when she
threw up when she was 8 and she does not want to e9perience that again. *hen
she started to understand the %why( of eating healthfully she began to embrace it.
*hen she e9periences the conse5uences of a bad food choice she easily recognizes
that it was a conse5uence of her own choice.
&aving her +oin me in the process of selecting produce and then preparing it is very
important. !he has ownership in the process and is e9cited about sampling her
dishes. *hile were making memories in the kitchen I talk to her about the
nutritional benefits of food and she takes pride in providing nourishing food for those
she loves.
My sister-in-love !era :ohnson has a similar story to mine but hers has a different
beginning. !hes labeled herself the %#ormer #ast #ood ;ueen( and has firsthand
knowledge of turning the +unk food tide with her four children ranging in age from
18 to 8. !eras steps to success with picky eaters are as follows$
1. .et rid of the +unk< If the +unk is not there its not an option.
=. Make a list of the vegetables fruits grains and healthy proteins that each
family member likes and eat those things first. 6ont be discouraged if the
list is short initially.
3. Make positive confessions at mealtime and during family prayers. #or
e9ample$ %)hank you ,ord for this good food and how you made it to bless
and strengthen my body. )hank you for helping me love >our food.(
8. )ry at least one new thing at each meal. )he key is letting the kids choose
new things. )hey may not like everything but its important to develop a
confidence in at least trying new foods.
3. !ubstitute healthy ingredients for old favorites that are unhealthy. *e created
recipes for healthier chicken nuggets pizza shakes and cookies in Nutrition
101: Choose Life.
!eras ne9t step was to work on her personal approach to healthy food. ?lthough she
loved to try new things she had to ad+ust her mindset acknowledging that preparing
nutritious meals was worth the time and effort it re5uired. !he knew she could do it
but she was challenged to believe she wasnt too busy to cook. )he proof is in the
pudding though as !eras family has made significant strides to en+oy and
e9perience new foods.
-ur families dont like everything they eat but we are committed to learning to love
.ods food and taking full advantage of the benefits of it. *e have to make
intentional choices to keep our immune systems strong and to eat healthful foods
when were busy or away from home. -ne thing we have learned is that truly all
things are possible in &im<
@aising a healthy family involves much more than the food we eat. &owever its an
e9cellent starting point< )his is my prayer for youAthat .od will satisfy your mouth
with good things that nourish the body. )hat youll not spend your money on that
which is not food. )hat youll think on things of a good report. )hat youll delight
yourself in &im. )hat youll live all your days with energy vitality health and
happiness from the top of your head to the soles of your feet. May you prosper and
be in health even as your soul prospers.
Native Oklahomans Laura Hokins and !era "ohnson are #ives, moms, home
educators, and co$authors of the unit$style curriculum, Nutrition 101: Choose Life
%hey collaborated on this book #ith !era&s mom and Laura&s mother$in$love, 'aren
Hokins, and Laura&s good friend and natural health mentor, (ebra )aybern. In
addition to their interest in health, all of the authors share a love for *od&s medicine,
essential oils. Growinghealthyhomes.com features samles of their curriculum
and other roducts related to holistic living.
Bopyright =21= used with permission. ?ll rights reserved by author. -riginally
appeared in the ?ugust =21= issue of %he Old !choolhouse+ ,aga-ine, the family
education magazine. @ead the magazine free at www.)-!Magazine.com or read it
on the go and download the free apps at www.)-!?pps.com to read the magazine
on your mobile devices.