I like to read the new studies about health, especially when they focus on children. Several new studies on children’s eating habits were presented at the recent Obesity Society meeting. What surprises me most is that they really don’t offer any new insight or suggestions.

What Exactly Did the Researchers Find?

Children from 4 to 9 are supposed to eat 1½ cups of fruit and 2 cups of veggies a day. We know most kids don’t even come close to eating the recommended amount of produce. These studies confirmed this, especially for obese children, who eat an average of 6 snack foods a day.

They found children ate more steamed broccoli with butter, raw carrot sticks, tomato soup, diced peaches and applesauce when they were offered more. Their conclusion: offer kids more of what they already eat. No rocket science here.

Kids who didn’t like broccoli or peaches still didn’t eat any, even after they were offered more. Duh. It took a study to confirm that kids won’t eat foods they have predetermined to be yucky!

Phoebe is laughing at the recommendation… kids should eat more of what they already like.

The big take-away is to increase the amount of fruit and veggies in your child’s diet is to offer more fruit and veggies that your child already eats. No help for the parent whose child refuses to eat any vegetable. Believe me, there are lots of kids who don’t eat any veggies. One wonders why any of this is newsworthy.

What’s a parent to do, when the professionals don’t offer any practical advice?

Nonna to the Rescue
This is exactly why Baby Bites^TM: Transforming a Picky Eater into a Healthy Eater was written. If you want to increase the amount of produce your children eat, not only do you need to offer it more often, but you should also include multi-sensory learning. Taste is not the first sense which should be employed when introducing new foods to your children. In fact, it’s the last. Baby Bites^TM is all about improving shopping habits and changing table dynamics. Children will eat more veggies, when they are offered more AND they are taught how to appreciate them.

Now, my new storybook, The Forest Feast, reinforces the concepts outlined in the parenting book for children. When you read The Forest Feast to your kids, they will hear “Green food is yummy!” from Try Rannosaurs®. They will see Betty Baby Bites^TM preparing a scrumptious spinach and strawberry salad. The recipe for the salad Betty makes is included in the book, so your children can help make it. All of the characters in The Forest Feast love whole foods, encouraging your child to do the same.

You’ll save shipping and handling when you order The Forest Feast. When The Forest Feast and Baby Bites: Transforming a Picky Eater into a Healthy Eater are purchased together you’ll save even more! Click Here for ordering information.

For info about the free Baby Bites Ezine, CLICK HERE.

Dr. John Medina says in his book, “Brain Rules,” that multi-sensory learning is powerful. He states, “Extra information given at the moment of learning makes learning better.”

This is especially important information for parents of picky eaters, who inadvertently reinforce the wrong concepts.

Repetition is basic for memory. Have you ever had to memorize a  poem, the Ten Commandments, or a part in a play? You repeat, repeat, and repeat, until the information is placed in your memory.

Pictured: Angel is helping with dinner. Helping mom in the kitchen incorporates multi-sensory learning.

Parents often enforce the one-bite rule: one bite is required of a refused food, like spinach. They think their picky eater will eventually come around to liking spinach. All they are doing is reinforcing that some food tastes sooo yucky, only one bite is required.

Although, repetition is important, all the senses contribute to the learning process. Medina says when repetition is combined with other senses, learning is increased.

Medina asks, “What if we introduced information as a multi-sensory experience, and then repeated not only the information, but also one of the modes of presentation? The first re-exposure might be presented visually, for example; the next auditorily; the third, kinesthetically…And let’s not continue to neglect our other senses…touch and smell are capable of making powerful contributions to the learning process.”

And that’s exactly what happens when a parent incorporates the Baby Bite Steps into a child’s mealtime experience. The steps are repeated during the course of a week. Each step stimulates a different sense during mealtimes, which moves the picky eater toward tasting and then eating a refused food.

Beginning with touch, sight, and hearing the attributes of a refused food are explored by the child. The sense of smell and taste are added last, after the child has had an opportunity to experience and learn about the physical attributes of the food. Each child will advance at his own speed, but the steps are designed so that he’ll become a healthy eater.

I was happy to see a molecular biologist found that when more senses were stimulated, learning was enhanced. This confirms the foundation of multi-sensory learning incorporated in my Baby Bite steps. Even picky eaters can learn to enjoy whole foods, by stimulating more senses.

Most likely, when introducing a new food you’ve said “This is yummy!” and then smacked your lips in enjoyment, expecting your picky eater to take a bite. Take it a step further, discuss the food: what it tastes like, the texture, the color, and how it smells. Don’t expect that much of it will be eaten at the first introduction. Make it a point of conversation during dinner. For example, how is broccoli good for you? Where does it grow? Who likes to eat it? Enjoy eating it yourself.

Once picky eaters incorporate all their senses in a positive environment, learning to enjoy whole nutritious foods isn’t so difficult after all. Learning opens the door to new adventures. When incorporating all the senses during meals, the transformation to a healthy eater moves along very quickly. In about seven days with the Baby Bite steps, a picky eater will be tasting new foods…on his own!

Buy the book Baby Bites, CLICK HERE.

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She says, “New studies, however, demonstrate that babies and very young children know, observe, explore, imagine and learn more than we would ever have thought possible. In some ways, they are smarter than adults.”

Avah is learning how kitchen things work.

“Babies are captivated by the most unexpected events. Adults, on the other hand, focus on the outcomes that are the most relevant to their goals. Children play with the objects that will teach them the most. (Italics mine) In our study, 4-year-olds imagined new possibilities based on just a little data. Adults rely more on what they already know. Babies aren’t trying to learn one particular skill or set of facts; instead, they are drawn to anything new, unexpected or informative.”

She continues, “Part of the explanation for these differing approaches can be found in the brain. The young brain is remarkably plastic and flexible. Brains work because neurons are connected to one another, allowing them to communicate. Baby brains have many more neural connections than adult brains. But they are much less efficient. Over time, we prune away the connections we don’t use, and the remaining ones become faster and more automatic. Moreover, the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that controls the directed, planned, focused kind of intelligence, is exceptionally late to mature, and may not take its final shape until our early 20s.”

Children play to learn, especially toddlers and preschool children. As adults, we tend to forget that playing for children is learning. We also forget that eating healthful foods is a learning process, one that we must teach. The new research on how children learn reinforces the steps to healthy eating explained in Baby Bites^TM, “Through play, your little tyke rehearses all that’s experienced in her life. In fact, play is a child’s work. Therefore, it’s an important element in transforming your picky eater into a healthy eater. Through directed-play with Try Rannosaurus^TM and Betty Baby Bites^TM, she’ll become accustomed to various textures, tastes, and smells. Your child will eagerly come to accept once-refused foods.”

When you and your picky eater include Try and Betty during mealtimes, they will give you multiple opportunities to positively reinforce healthy eating habits. Both characters are quick to encourage your picky eater. Betty has a very tiny voice. She often squeaks, encouraging words like “Bravo” and “Fantastico.” Try with his big bold voice says, “Green food is yummy” and “I’m so hungry I could eat a tree!”

Try and Betty will encourage your picky eater to appreciate once-refused foods, which have unique colors, textures, smells, and tastes. Each food is different and different is fun! For a synopsis of Baby Bites: Transforming a Picky Eater into a Healthy Eater, Click Here.

For info about the FREE Baby Bites Ezine, Click Here.

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You can change dinner conflict with your picky eater to fun, multi-sensory, memory-making mealtimes. Play is the way children learn and directed-play allows you to incorporate foods your picky eater has previously refused to eat. Once your child’s imagination is engaged, food, especially veggies, takes on a new perspective.

Try Rannosuarus^TM is a green T-Rex. He’s named “Try,” because he’ll try any food and he especially loves veggies. He has an enormous appetite and eats everything in his path.

Ridge can’t wait. His mom just told him that he has a lunch date at Try Rannosaurus’ Edible Swamp!

Try Rannosaurus’ Edible Swamp
Try’s^TM Edible Prehistoric Swamp is an interactive meal. It makes a great lunch or snack when dinner is going to be later than usual. If you have a toddler picky eater, you’ll want to assemble the ingredients yourself. If your picky eater is a bit older, then have him/her assist in the prep work. The description and set-up of the swamp set the stage for learning.

WooHoo! Playing with Try^TM in his food-swamp is lots of fun. Kids don’t know it’s a learning experience as well. Picky eaters, who are usually put off by the textures of vegetables, will be engrossed with the story and the multi-sensory aspect of the swamp. Make sure your child’s hands are thoroughly washed before you begin.

Prepare a guacamole dip and hummus. Wash and cut veggie strips into three-inch julienne pieces. 

In addition, you’ll need:
One small plastic green T-Rex (for Try Rannosuarus^TM) wash Try^TM  in the sink before you begin
Several whole black olives for volcanic rock
Whole button mushrooms for vegetation placed on one edge of the swamp
Celery, carrot, and cucumbers in julienne slices for fallen trees, logs, etc.
Small zucchini cut into discs are lily pads or a path
Broccoli and cauliflower pulled or cut into small pieces; they are prehistoric bushes

Have your child help with the set-up of the swamp. Choose a flat medium-sized dish. Plop a big dollop of guacamole in the center of the plate and flatten it out. That’s the floor of the swamp. Spread hummus around the swamp, it’s the earth and will serve as “glue” to hold the veggie bushes. Place the black olives as rocks on top of a dollop of hummus. Do the same with button mushrooms in another spot. Let your child’s creativity take over. A larger mound of hummus can become a volcano. Dribble a spoonful of salsa on top and down the sides for lava. You get the idea and I’m sure you’ll come up with more on your own! Don’t give in to the temptation to add chips or other processed snack foods. This activity is about learning to appreciate whole foods. (Picky eaters willingly eat chips and other junk foods!)

While you’re setting the stage for Try’s^TM Swamp, discuss the various veggies. Talk about their colors, textures, scents, and tastes. Who likes to eat these? Of course, Try^TM does! In fact, he’s always on the hunt for something yummy to eat, especially green veggies! Try^TM says wonderful things as he’s chomping away at the vegetation. He often bellows, “I’m so hungry, I could eat a tree” and “Green food is yummy”!

Encourage your picky eater to take bites of everything, just like Try^TM. If fussy child refuses to eat something or has difficulty touching gooey food, such as guacamole dip or hummus, you may take this activity one step further. Think of it as food therapy! You washed Try in the sink before you began, right? Give the toy to your fussy child and instruct him/her to march Try^TM through the swamp. Of course Try^TM will devour everything in his path. Be sure Try^TMgets another bath after he romps through  the Edible Swamp.

For info about the free Baby Bites Ezine, Click Here.

For a synopsis of Baby Bites: Transforming a Picky Eater into a Healthy Eater, Click Here.

A S.A.D. Diet
Baby Bites began thirty years ago. I was like most moms, not having a clue as to what was in the food I was purchasing. Our family ate the Standard American Diet, which is S.A.D. My journey to whole foods began when Jenny, my third daughter, was diagnosed as hyperactive. Her pediatrician wanted to write a prescription at her two-year check-up to control her symptoms.Jenny was constantly moving and she had a short attention span. We found ourselves adjusting our routines just to accommodate her.  More worrisome, Jenny had great difficulty falling asleep. Bedtime took hours for her to settle down.
>For the rest of the story.


No More Food Battles
Did you know, my grandson, Joshy, was the inspiration for my book, Baby Bites: Transforming a Picky Eater into a Healthy Eater? He regularly at only a few foods, while refusing to eat most foods. In fact, he wouldn’t even touch foods he’d predetermined to be “yucky.” He was such a picky eater that it had begun to affect his health. Despite Julie-ann and David’s best efforts, food battles were the norm. They tried every parenting trick and were at a loss what to do next. If you have a picky eater, you know firsthand how frustrating it can be to get her to eat one nutritious tidbit.
>There’s More.

Picky Eaters Can Love Veggies
The only vegetables six-year-old Heather eats are French fries and ketchup-and that’s using the term “vegetable” loosely. What’s alarming is that she’s not alone. Today over 60 percent of children, ages two to nine, don’t consume the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables per day. You might be surprised, but even the most resistant child can learn to love healthy foods.
>There’s More.

Despite Julie-ann and David’s best efforts, food battles were the norm. They tried every parenting trick and were at a loss what to do next. If you have a picky eater, you know firsthand how frustrating it can be to get her to eat one nutritious tidbit.

On the other hand, my granddaughter Nicole, loves whole foods. Nicole just turned two and mealtimes are always an adventure for her. Instinctively she uses all her senses during mealtimes. She regularly bypasses the spoon and picks up food in her hands, feeling its texture before taking a bite.

The first time a sweet potato is offered to Nicole, she gives in to her curiosity. Picking up and examining a piece of the orange tuber, she squishes it between her fingers. Her joy is evident as she presses the warm sweet potato through her fingers and then plops it onto her plate.

Joshy is on pictured on the right and Nicole on the left.

Nicole doesn’t immediately taste it, but continues in her discovery of the attributes of the sweet potato. She then turns her attention to the rest of her meal. Eventually, she comes back to the sweet potato and without prompting, a small sample finds its way into her mouth. Nicole, naturally uses all her senses in her discovery of various foods.

Parents expect taste alone should be enough when introducing new foods to their child. Here’s some food for thought: employ all the senses when introducing healthful foods to any child, especially a picky eater. Learning to eat nutritious foods is a process, in which all the senses must be engaged. This is called multi-sensory learning.

Most picky eaters need to be taught how to incorporate multi-sensory learning into their mealtimes. It doesn’t matter if you’re four or forty, multi-sensory learning works. Once a picky eater’s senses are engaged, she’ll be on the road to healthy eating. Auditory learning is essential and discussing the meal is vital. Keep the conversation about the food positive. “What color is broccoli? Green food is yummy! Is the broccoli smooth or rough?” What does is smell like? Surprisingly, the last sense to incorporate is taste.

To avoid food battles, make mealtime a learning experience. Whenever possible engage your child’s senses with food preparation. Children are like sponges as they soak up everything around them. Encourage your picky eater to appreciate once-refused foods, which have unique colors, textures, smells, and tastes. Each food is different and different is fun.

Learning to appreciate new foods should always be a multi-sensory experience. Yes, it’s necessary for your child to pick up his food in order to learn about its characteristics. So, get the handy wipes ready!

Multi-sensory learning is the foundation of the Baby Bite Steps. In fact, in about a week, after the implementation of the Baby Bite Steps, even the most food-resistant child will pick up and eat a formerly refused food.

To learn how to transform your picky toddler, preschooler, or grade schooler into a healthy eater… Buy the Book at the Baby Bites Store Now! Click Here.