Finicky Eaters Stoplight Rating Scale

One of the things that I love about the Food Chaining philosophy is the concept of a rating scale for picky eaters to use when exploring new foods. It empowers them and gives them a say in what goes into their mouth and, eventually, onto their accepted food list. 

What I have found with these ratings scales, however, is that it can be hard for many of my picky eaters to conceptualize. I find myself cutting down the ratings for many of them and drawing {I always have crayons with me} a stoplight to give them a more real world example of how to use it. 

What do I mean? 

Most children KNOW what red means on a stop light. STOP! 
Most children KNOW what yellow means on a stop light. Go Slow, caution.
Most children KNOW what green means on a stop light. GO! 


How does this translate to food?  Like this...

I'll present this, or something very similar, to my kiddos and explain how we will use it as we try tastes of new foods. 

• Green = GO! "Yes, I enjoyed that food. I will eat it again. Go ahead and put that on my food list. "
• Yellow =Proceed with caution. "That food was O.K. I might eat it again but I'm not ready to put it on my food list and I want to try it again sometime."
• Red = "No. I did not enjoy that food. I don't want to try it again in the near future. Don't put it on my food list." 

The kids really enjoy this rating scale and we often will make a corresponding list of red, yellow and green light foods {depending upon the developmental ability and age of the child}. 

How about you? Have you found a way for your picky eating kids to rate their foods in a unique and meaningful way? I'd love for you to share it with me. 


As always, thank you for reading and until next time...keep helping your kiddos BLOOM!


Jen