How to Get Kids to Eats Vegetables and Fruits [Review]

Even before getting pregnant, I had goals and visions of a child who would eat and try everything. I swore that I would do everything possible not to have a picky eater. Following the Baby Led Weaning (aka Baby Led Solids) philosophy will hopefully decrease the chances of a picky eater. If appropriate, I offer the baby the same table food we are eating. Setting an example for my child by offering him the same foods that we eat is a good way to ensure healthy eating habits. Of course, not all children are made the same and not all children will try what you offer them (I have been offering avocado for weeks now...he is not taking to it). Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables is a great resource and innovative tool for parents who would like for their children to learn to enjoy eating fruits and vegetables.

Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables       ($19.99, free shipping)
Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
Award winning
Equal focus on vegetables and fruits
Suitable for ages 6 months - 5 years

The concept of Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables is simple. Children copy what other children are doing. If a child sees another child eating a vegetable or a fruit, they will do the same. This concept was discovered by the creator of the DVD after she realized that her daughter was more willing to try a new fruits and vegetables when she observed another child eating the new fruit or vegetable. There must be something about watching a person your own size versus an adult. Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables is broken up into twelve chapters, each 6-8 minutes long, that focus on twelve fruits and vegetables. Each chapter shows a child eating the fruit/vegetable in a similar setting as you would at home. (You wouldn't put a big plate of broccoli florets in front of your kid?!? :) )

Subject: 10 month old baby boy

Background: We have been using Baby Led Weaning, offering appropriately sized and prepared table foods to our baby. While he can munch on most things, hard fruits and vegetables like raw carrots are avoided because of the potential choking hazard. He has two bottom teeth.

Results:
First, I watched a chapter of the DVD with my baby in my lap. I wanted to see what the DVD was all about before I sat the baby down to eat. The baby was intrigued by the DVD for a couple of minutes and then lost interest.

Second, I brought the laptop into the kitchen so he could see the other kids eating while he had the food in front of him. I placed a couple slices of avocado on his tray. When we started on solid foods, we offered avocado and he tried it, but he has not been as keen on it over the past couple of months. No biggie here. We will keep offering. Maybe he does not like it now, but he might in the future. Back to the DVD. I played the Avocado chapter. Again, he watched for a minute or two, touched the avocado, put it in his mouth, and then pushed it around or dropped it on the floor.

I realized that watching Copy-Kids and offering the same fruit/vegetable will probably work better when he is a little older. Although babies younger than 10 months understand what is going on around them to some degree, they do not really take in and process what they are seeing. Furthermore, continuing to watch the DVD and offer the same food will help the baby understand what is going on and copy the kids on the DVD. Be aware that it might take a few times of watching the DVD before your child mimics the behavior of Copy-Kids. Repetition is key.

If your children are picky eaters or you would like for them to try new fruits and vegetables, Copy-Kids Eat Fruits and Vegetables could be a great tool for you to try. The DVD is simple, straight-forward, and could be effective in the right setting.

Disclosure: Please remember to supervise your children, especially babies, when they are eating foods. The DVD is not a replacement for adult supervision. I received one or more of the products mentioned to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. All opinions are my own.