I know just how celebrity chef Jamie Oliver feels: It’s not easy to start a food revolution.
See, three years ago, I decided to take control of my health by overhauling my food choices and adding plenty of fruits, vegetables, and lean protein to my diet. I felt better than ever, and I was eager to get my two children onboard with healthy eating, too.
Just one problem: They were a bit unenthusiastic about the plan.
I’d hoped that they would instantly love all the new foods I was making and become the kind of children I’d heard existed: the kind who actually prefer carrots to french fries.
Instead, they politely picked at the healthy fare I served, then filled their empty bellies with postdinner snacks. My son turned up his nose at grilled chicken and salad, wondering aloud why we couldn’t have the frozen chicken that our time-strapped family was used to.
I wanted them to eat healthier. I wanted them to listen to my nutrition advice. But I didn’t want meals to become battles.
So, I changed my approach. I offered new foods, but I also served something familiar at each meal. I instituted a “two bites” rule: If you don’t like something, you don’t have to eat it. But you do have to take two bites to be sure.
Then, one morning: a glimmer of hope.
“Mom,” my daughter said. “Can I talk to you about something? It’s kind of embarrassing.”
“Of course,” I said, setting down my coffee mug.
“My stomach always growls in class and everyone can hear it. I think I want to try what you’re always saying—you know, eating better.”
I held my breath for a moment. Careful, I thought.
I was tempted to launch into a lecture on the energy value of carbs and protein. Instead, I simply said, “How about a toasted peanut butter and banana sandwich?”
When she got home that afternoon, she said, “Mom, my stomach didn’t growl at all today. You were right.”
I was right!
By backing off a little, I’d moved us forward. (Imagine that!)
These days, my efforts to get my family eating healthier are finally picking up steam—both kids are trying new dishes, eating more vegetables, and appreciating the way different foods make them feel.
It didn’t happen overnight. But with a steady example and a quiet approach, the revolution has finally begun.
These days, Dara Chadwick enjoys whipping up healthy new dishes for the family to try—and the fact that her kids, 14 and 12, will actually eat what she cooks. Usually
Decadent (yet smart!) desserts
