If you have kids, you’ve probably resorted to bribing them to get them to eat healthy foods. Most of us have pulled out the old: “eat two bites of broccoli, and then you can have dessert,” and in the short-term, it often works. The thing is, experts warn that using food as a bargaining chip can actually do more harm than good.
Even though adults are trying to do a good thing by getting little ones to eat nutrient-packed things they may turn their noses up at, here’s why food bribes can backfire.
- They create unhealthy associations - Research shows that using sweets as a reward actually increases kids’ preference for those foods. Kids start to see the dessert as the “prize” and the veggies as the “chore.” That skews their perception of food value and can lead to an unhealthy relationship with eating.
- It can disrupt appetite regulation - Kids are born with the ability to self-regulate how much they eat and it’s common for appetite to fluctuate from one day to the next. But food rewards can override their natural signals and cues, and increase the risk of overeating.
- Increase fussy eating - It’s a normal phase in early childhood that usually gets better when kids start school, but pressuring them to eat with the promise of a reward can actually make them more resistant to trying new foods. Studies have found food rewards are linked to more food fussiness over time.
So, how do we get our kids to eat their sweet potatoes? Instead of bribes, try evidence-backed strategies:
- Focus on effort, not outcomes - It can take eight to 10 exposures before a child will try new food, so keep offering it without pressure and praise them for trying it.
- Pair new foods with familiar favorites - They’re more likely to try something when it’s served with foods they already like.
- Make healthy food visually appealing - Research shows kids like food better when it’s served in fun, colorful ways with different shapes and textures.
- Get kids involved in the kitchen - They’re more likely to eat food they help to prepare.
Source: The Independent⠀
Scott's Thoughts:
- No wonder my kids refused to eat kale, quinoa and walnuts!
- I have struggled to keep vegies in my diet my whole life.
- I can't say much to my grown kids. The grew up watching me eat.