It took nearly two years!

It was a normal Thursday noon, home with my 5 year-old and 3 year-old boys. I made them lunch and the most amazing thing happened.

Let me backup a bit first...

In my group program, Family Food Revolution, I’ve taught hundreds of moms how to feed their families healthy nourishing meals they'll love. In just a few days, I'm doing it one more time LIVE. It will be the first time I’ve taught this class in 7 years.

I created this curriculum just after my last son was born. Still in his nursing phase, he was too young to implement these teachings but my other boys were a great test kitchen for all that I've learned and the curriculum that I created.

My boys are adventurous eaters and have always had pretty amazing palates for their young ages. I attribute that to the approach my husband and I have chosen to have around the table and in the kitchen with our boys.

However, when my youngest was 3 years old, he was a different eater than my 7 year-old and 5 year-old. While still a great eater, he was more hesitant to try new foods, and some of them, well, hadn't even been tried even though we’ve put them on his plate for a couple years.

Let's pick strawberries, for example.

For two years, my 3-year old Drew would not touch a strawberry. "The seeds", he says, "The seeds." I get it. When I was 7, I remember not having eaten a strawberry for the same reasons. However, when I finally ate it, I loved them so much! I knew through my own experience, that over time, Drew would try one and potentially like them.

I chose the patient route.

I also choose consistency, always putting them on his plate, even though, every time he did not touch them.

Well, let’s go back to that ordinary Thursday at lunch. We were happy, rested, and ready for lunch. Earlier in the week, I spotted some organic strawberries at the grocery store and I bought a carton. I don't know if it was the long winter or if my taste buds were just ready for some Spring, but those strawberries were really good.

As always, I put some on Drew's plate. Every time I did this in the past, he never touched them, but I would always add them. On this ordinary Thursday afternoon, we were talking together at the table, and I knew he was in a great mood to be adventurous. After some discussion, I asked him what he thinks they would taste like and asked him if he wanted to try one.

You know what? He did.

He shouted "I like em! I really like em!" and smiled and laughed about it. He surprised himself.

It made the health coach mama in me cry. It may have taken two years, but I kept the principles of my own class in my mind and stayed on the path.

You know what? He loved them so much, he finished the ones on my plate and wanted us to go buy more. Well, like any health coach mama, you know I did. I went back the next day and picked up a few cartons of juicy ripe organic strawberries. He polished off an entire carton by himself. He was so happy to discover this newfound love, and I.was.too.

Since then, we’ve had other moments like this. Including the one where he was gagging on his Brussels sprouts. (ok, nearly dry heaving). And I’m remembering a moment a few years later when we were sitting on the back patio eating dinner and he pumped his fists and said, “YES! I love Country Brussel Sprouts!”

Again. I nearly cried. :)

This really can happen. You can raise adventurous eaters.

The moms I talked to use phrases like: