As parents, we are concerned about our children's choices but sometimes we are powerless. Between suggesting and forcing, we sometimes would like to have a bigger impact on their food decisions. The role of influencer is in my eyes on a daily basis, with our children, when they observe us in action.
My son, for example, could live exclusively on bread, cereal, cheese, and milk if he were left to his own devices. (Not likely: he's 3.) He is told very emphatically how good it is when we eat something that doesn't look appetizing. I find that my greatest influence is in what I do or say without addressing him directly. My son reads, wants to write emails, and fold laundry... I didn't teach him any of that, I promise. He wants to do it because he sees me doing it with pleasure. (Yes, it sounds weird, but it's true.)
On the other hand, he sees dad cooking 2 to 3 times a day, with great pleasure. He sees dad carefully choosing sauces and spices and tries to imitate him by making a big mess in the pantry. Recently, he started dragging his plastic spatula into the bath and sleeping with it... I'm not telling you that I don't find it funny, it makes me laugh every day that he asks me to drive to daycare with his spatula and we negotiate that we leave it on his seat before closing the door. My son is a foodie, the kind of child who ate shrimp and avocados at a daring age, the kind of child who steals raw pizza dough while his father is outside heating the BBQ, the kind of baby who, during a family party, took his bath in the kitchen sink and was doused with water with a ladle, crying with laughter. We are the same in the family, we can't change so we might as well take responsibility.
As the apple never falls far from the tree, son of Max Lavoie, my son had his first BBQ before walking and he has more than one. He has a weber and a Napoleon, gas and charcoal, no quibble. He also has one at the cottage. I'm talking about a toy BBQ of course.
This is a hit as a children's toy ! They make it together in summer and winter and we renew the stock of fake food according to birthdays and Christmas presents. My son makes steak, salmon, hot dogs and burgers in the morning but he has also learned to grill fruits and desserts, cheese and vegetables. All that remains is to find a plastic brisket, I have already found the fake bacon ;)
Guaranteed fun in a toy that never goes out of style, withstands bad weather and seasons. A must under the tree for the pleasure of young and old.
Happy Holidays!