Review and giveaway: French Kids Eat Everything by Karen Le Billon GIVEAWAY CLOSED

  THIS GIVEAWAY HAS NOW CLOSED. DON'T LEAVE A COMMENT, IT WON'T BE COUNTED

That is the most offensive book title I have ever seen, said my child when the review copy of French Kids Eat Everything arrived in the post: I mean, it's putting down all kids who aren't French.

Hmm I thought I can see where you're coming from, but then again you do regard pasta with pesto as highly exotic.

Part memoir, part cook book, part nutritional rallying cry French Kids Eat Everything: How our family moved to France, cured picky eating, banned snacking and discovered 10 simple rules for raising happy, healthy eaters by Karen Le Billon is a feast for the mind in many ways.

We're off to this place in France in the summer, and given that neither of my kids are what you might call culinarily adventurous, I was interested to read this book for ideas on what to expect, and pick up some pointers we could apply at home.

French Kids Eat Everything traces Le Billon's family, who moved from Vancouver to spend a year in France and in doing so found their eating habits transformed.

In contrast to Le Billon's children, French children seem to happily tuck into a huge variety of food. The author researches how this comes to be and how she can apply it to her own picky eaters. A big stumbling block seems to be Le Billon herself, who freely admits that she's a reluctant cook with fairly narrow tastes and a hardened attachment to snacking.

I was reminded of the chapter on fussy eating in Toddlers: An Instruction Manual, which says:

"If, deep down, you know that your own approach to food and trying new things is less than positive, then don’t be surprised if your child picks up on this. And if that’s the case, then the place to start making improvements is within your own attitudes rather than your child’s. Be honest – does your child see you eating a varied, balanced diet? Are you up for new food experiences, even if it’s something you don’t expect to like? Does all the family regularly share meals together?"

Le Billon distills what she learns from French ways into 10 rules, though some of this will seem like common sense rather than a uniquely French approach. What makes this book stand out is the way in which it shows Le Billon attempting to apply these rules to her own family, a journey which is often far from plain sailing. She's a mother who has struggled like a lot of us, and is sharing the lessons this has taught her.

Controversially, part of the French way involves the attitude that it's OK for kids to be hungry sometimes, with even little babies left waiting for the next scheduled milk stop. There's absolutely no snacking, no eating on the run or in the car - French parents would be horrified at the way most UK parents carry a snack on every school run.

I liked this book very much and found it to be a fascinating, engaging and thought-provoking read. I don't think it's just one for parents of picky eaters - anyone who has an interest in children's nutrition will find it worth reading. And anyone whose child has erupted in the face of something green on their plate will find this an invaluable source of ideas for a new approach.

 

GIVEAWAY

I'm delighted to be able to share this fascinating book with you. I have one copy of French Kids Eat Everything to give away.

To enter, leave a comment below saying what was your favourite food as a child. Closing date: Midnight on Monday 21st May.

EXTRA ENTRY

Optional extra entry if you like this blog on Facebook - state in your comment if you're claiming an extra entry.

 

I will pick a winner at random after the closing date and post the book to them as soon as possible after that. No regional restrictions, will post the prize anywhere in the world. Though if you're in France you probably don't need it.

 

 

You can find more competitions to enter at ThePrizeFinder - UK Competitions and Loquax Competitions

Comments

[Kylie @kykaree]

Much to my parents amusement my absolute favourite food as a child was scallops. I could tell if they weren't fresh. I recall ordering them, age 5, at a Greek restaurant, chargrilled with garlic and chilli. My dad's mouth was watering as he "knew" I wouldn't manage them.

I recall him being most miffed I demolished the lot!

[Jennifer Howze]

I understand the basic idea behind this book, but I'm a bit in the same camp as your child. I know the title and concept are capitalising on the whole "let's do it like the French do" and in some respects, more power to 'em. I've lived in France and it's true that it's not just about diet but about a mindset.

Really enjoyed the review. It may just change my mind about actually reading the book.

[Ruth Dawkins]

Ooh, I'm just reading French Children Don't Throw Food - they'd probably be good companions!

I think I might try and find a copy of this even if I don't win it, because I'm enjoying the other one so much :)

[Jo Brooks]

When I was little my parents had routines they'd got from theirs - so Tuesday was ballet lesson with a peanut butter sandwich beforehand, and "Andy Pandy's favourite meal" (fish fingers and chips, I think it was a ploy to make me eat it) for my tea.

I like you already on Facebook too (btw, the link is broken above!)

[the mummy adventure]

My favourite food as a child was probably cheese sandwiches, still might be actually!

[Clare L]

My favourite food was plain pasta with tomato ketchup. It was a special treat!

[Clare L]

Oh, and I already like you on Facebook, so I'd like my extra entry please.

[Circus Queen]

My favourite food as a child was dhalpourie roti (I'm from Trinidad) and it's still my favourite today!

[Mary Preston]

Now we just need to get the rest of the children eating everything. My favorite food as a child was watermelon. I could eat it until I was sick, but I never was.

Extra entry for FB: Mary Preston

[LieslLane]

Lentil soup was my favourite would you believe!

[Maya Russell]

My favourite food was fish fingers and spaghetti hoops.

[Maya Russell]

I like your blog on Facebook as Maya Russell

[Sam Stevens]

My favourite food as a kid was sausages and mash potato, and it still is now!

[ashleigh]

i loved pasta and pizza!

[siobhan marie]

chicken curry and it still is now lol x

[siobhan marie]

already like on facebook so extra point please x

[Judith R.]

When I was a child, I ate only peanut butter sandwiches.

[caroline]

only two items would I eat in total - bacon and banana! Now I eat everything (like those pesky French kids!)

[laura stewart]

i use to like pawn cocktail but now i cant stand it

[claire woods]

Favourite food as a child was- strawberries and ice cream.

[claire woods]

Liked on FB as clairewoods32@yahoo.co.uk

[Lorraine Cooper]

I certainly remember loving calamares as a child, and my mum can't resist reminding me that I loved spring onions & would eat them by the handful.

And I already like you on Facebook.

[Steve Donovan]

I loved Heinz Sandwich Spread! Liked on Facebook.

[Martina]

Homemade pizza - it was as fat as a cake and square. My mum put anything she could find in the fridge on it.

[katrina]

as a kid I always liked french fries

[Recipe Junkie]

Liked your blog on FB as Sally Sellwood; I happen to know it's not true, btw - recently had a french child staying with us (and his definitely unfussy parents) and there was quite a lot of sensible food that he wouldn't eat. My favourtie food as a child was egg in a cup: http://recipe-junkie.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/perhaps-i-have-problem.html if you need to know what that is!

[Phyllis Ellett]

As a child and born in East End of London, before we moved. It was my trip out with my Grandmother to have pie and mash with mushy peas in a local cafe. Just loved it. Great memories.

[Phyllis Ellett]

Already like on Facebook with ID Phyllis Ellett

[Debbie]

My favorite food as a child??? Hmmm.... I liked almost everything we had EXCEPT pea soup. My parents have photos of some of us sleeping at the table with pea soup in front of us. We weren't allowed to leave until we finished our food. Some childhood favorites: homemade pizza, tacos (back in the day when you needed to deep fry your own tortillas), sauerkraut & dumplings and ginger muffins.

[Emma Howard]

Mine was my mum's homemade lasagne. Still love it now!

[Karen]

I used to love a big plate of homemade potato scallops (ie round chips) and a dollop of ketchup. No wonder I was a chubby child :)

[emma j lowe]

my mum was a very old fashioned cook, i never grew up with things like pasta or rice. it was a very much a meat and 2 veg household. mum used to push the boat ut though at lunch times, i would have pitta bread with tomato sauce and cheese.

[emma j lowe]

opps i forgot to comment i would like to claim an extra entry as i have liked on facebook, ty

[Iain Chambers]

My favourite food as a child was my mum's Milk Potato Soup. You just poach potatoes in milk, season & that's it. We used to drop in a blob of butter and watch it melt, and maybe add snipped chives or parsley from the garden.

[Kat MacKinnon]

My favourite food was garlic sausage, until my dad told me it was made from piglets!

[Zana Tolkaciova]

Surprisingly, I enjoyed a variety of food ever since I was small. But then, in those days there wasn't such a big variety available as now. We lived in a communist country where you were lucky to do a good shopping. The one thing I really didn't like as a child was any kind of meat. Chicken and fish was the only thing I would go for. It changed once I got into my twenties. But I think a Russian "Cottage cheese gnocchi" would have been one of my favorites.

Really enjoyed your post. Liked you on Facebook.

[Carolyn Philip]

My mum's scones were my favourite. Fresh out of the oven with melting butter on them - delicious!

[vanessa crowley]

i use to love eggy bread as a kid

[gumbie23]

I loved my Nans roasts

[gumbie23]

liking you on facebook helen rhoads

[Elisa]

My absolute favourite food was yoghurt - with vanilla, sugar, sugar and cinnamon, undiluted squash, chocolate sauce or any variation going - this was until I discovered yoghurt ice-cream which was even better than yoghurt in the summer months!

[Nick Hopkins]

My favourite food as a child was cauliflower.

Facebook name: Nick Hopkins

[Nick Hopkins]

Like you on Facebook.

Facebook name: Nick Hopkins

[Nicola Seary]

My favourite food has always been Roast Chicken,currently I'm suffering with health problems (Possible Gallstones) and am on a strict low fat diet so can't eat it.
Have liked you on Facebook already.

[Natasha Gandy]

I loved Spaghetti Bolognese as a child . . . and still do !! x

[Natasha Gandy]

Already follow on Face Book :) x

[Sally MacNaughtan]

When I was very small and in my high chair, I used to get very excited apparently by "cattets"

[sarah clegg]

my fave food used to be bangers and mash with onion gravy-funnily enough i have started eating it again as an adult lol

already like u on fb as sarah clegg

[colin smith]

my favourite was and still is raspberry jam butties

[Sharon Burroughs]

I Used to love baked bean pizza when i was a child but you cant buy them anymore!