The Weekly Encourager – June 17, 2013 – Your Kid Won't Eat Spinach?

Finally, there is scientific proof for what I've been saying all along: children can learn to like new foods.

In “Accounting for Taste,” Tom Vanderbilt reviews research about why people prefer certain foods. Studies have found that, in matters of taste, being exposed several times to something new improves one's attitude toward it, whether the object is jazz, modern art, or sushi. As Vanderbilt says, “the more times you try something, the more you will generally like it....[With] young children, some researchers have found that around nine exposures are needed before liking sets in.” You can't like what you don't know, and you can't know until you've tried it.

Some other interesting findings: We choose what to eat based on stored-up memories from all our previous meals. Psychologist Elizabeth Capaldi said, “Every eating experience is a learning experience,” so let's make it a good learning experience for our kids. One successful technique is to pair a new flavor with a familiar food that the child already likes. People who already drink tea are more likely to accept chai in tea; people who already like chicken wings will experiment with Thai-flavored chicken wings. Also, babies are more likely to prefer cereal with carrots if their mothers drank carrot juice while pregnant or nursing. It should go without saying that your child is more likely to eat veggies if he sees mom and dad eat them!

When our kids were growing up, Dave and I developed The One-Bite Rule and The Three-Bite Rule. The first time the child was introduced to a new food, he was required to take one bite of it. If he liked it and wanted more, we would serve more. The second time the child encountered that food, he had to take three bites. If he wanted more, he could have it. If not, no problem: he had his three bites and nothing further was said. The Three-Bite Rule applied every time thereafter. One exception: dessert, which is always optional. :)

It's important to note that this rule was presented as one of our Family Rules about The Way We Do Things. The rule was presented as a reflection of our love for him and desire for his well-being, just like all the other rules. It was not an option, but a fact. No discussion was necessary after a basic explanation of the rule. Also note that these were child-sized bites, not adult-sized. It's not nice to expect a little kid to eat a huge amount of food.

Let me tell you, this rule works! After several times of eating just three bites of something, our kids learned to like many, many foods that otherwise might have been rejected on first impression. Not only did they learn to like many good healthy foods – such as spinach – but they also developed the ability to sample foreign and exotic cuisine, including foods served at other homes. We don't want our kids to go to anyone's house and not be able to eat what is offered in friendship. I have met several adults who will eat only one or two vegetables, for example. What a waste not to be able to enjoy all of God's creation!

Does your child have a sensitive stomach? While The One-Bite Rule and The Three-Bite Rule were our general practice both at home and away, we extended grace in the very rare instances when a child just could not stand the food after multiple exposures. Austin actually threw up every time he ate coleslaw, so we stopped requiring it. On the other hand, Austin was so used to having fresh vegetables every day that, when his little friends were invited to our house for dinner, I overheard him encourage them to eat their veggies!

By the way, The One-Bite Rule and The Three-Bite Rule work for adults, too. Just saying...

Enjoy all the good things God has given.

j

The article by Tom Vanderbilt quoted here appears in the June 2013 issue of Smithsonian magazine, pp.60-65, 104-107.