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Finicky Eaters Stoplight Rating Scale

1/30/2013

2 Comments

 
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...


Picture
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
2 Comments
Jenna Gensic link
2/2/2013 01:07:45 pm

Mikan still enjoys using our "Yummy, Ok, Yucky" chart, although I have to admit I don't implement it into meals as often as I should. But we still have it hanging at our house and he often tells me that we should "add more foods to it." I have pictures of different faces in each column for him to understand the meaning. I like the idea of a stoplight though, especially since he is interested in stoplights and knows what the colors mean. Perhaps we can add the lights to our poster board.

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Jennifer Hatfield link
2/3/2013 11:14:30 am

Hi Jenna! Great to hear from you. Thank you for your comment. I would highly recommend the stoplight for Mikan. Encouraging that flexbility with variation in the food rating scale(s) is a great idea. Glad to hear that you still have the Yummy, OK, Yucky chart. :) I LOVE hearing that Mikan is giving you verbal input to "add more foods to it!" Wonderful. I also think a typical number rating scale would be a great idea for Mikan as well. Miss you guys! Glad to see Mikan doing so well and your family thriving. XO

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