How to Get Your Kid to Eat: But Not Too Much (Paperback)

by Ellyn Satter (Author) "Eating well is one of life's great pleasures..." (more)
Key Phrases: things out with other people, positive feeding relationship, restrained feeding, New York, Dietetic Association, Helping All You Can (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
"Feeding is a metaphor for the parent/child relationship overall," says Ellyn Satter, author of How to Get Your Kid to Eat ... But Not Too Much. Satter stresses her "Golden Rule" of parenting: parents are responsible for what is presented to eat and the manner in which it is presented. Children are responsible for how much or even whether they eat. Early chapters describe basic feeding principals. Satter then stresses ways to develop and maintain normal eating patterns from birth through adolescence, and provides solid information (and information on "solids") to both empower and relieve all parents worried about how their child eats. Later sections focus on feeding problems, obesity, special needs children, and eating disorders. How to Get Your Kid to Eat ... But Not Too Much may be the most sensible and accessible book on childhood feeding on the market.

Review

"This book is just great . . . Bravo!"  —T. Berry Brazelton, MD

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 396 pages
• Publisher: Bull Publishing; 1 edition (September 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0915950839
• ISBN-13: 978-0915950836
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #25,693 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #20 in	Books > Parenting & Families > Parenting > Health & Nutrition
  #58 in	Books > Science > Medicine > Specialties > Pediatrics

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the Best, March 29, 2001

By A Customer

Last week we went out for chinese food and my kids (ages 4 and 6) were begging for more broccoli and carrots. "How did you do it" asked the people at the table next door who were begging their two older kids to eat "at least a few more bites." Last night we went out with friends to a "family" restaurant where they put the kids cookies on the plate with their dinner. Our friends took their kids cookies and wouldn't let them have them until they had eaten what the parents considered an appropriate amount. There was alot of fighting. Our 4 year old ate her cookie first, then her chicken and left most of her fries. Our 6 year old ate her chicken and fries first and then ate her cookie. There was no fighting. How did we "do it"? Easy. Ellyn Sater's "How to get your kid to eat, but not too much."

Its simple method for dividing responsability in feeding makes everyone's life easier. Our favorite expression derives from the theories in this book: At the table we say "Eat it, Don't Eat it, Don't talk about it." Our kids know that this means that they don't have to eat anything they don't want but that no special meals will be made for them. We have desert every night and yes they get desert even if they don't eat dinner. Because there is no pressure or special reward, however, they usually choose to eat what is served, or some portion of it. The last things parents need is to battle with kids over food. This book will help you stop!

40 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No more "short order" cooking!, June 13, 2000

By	Airwrecka (DFW area) - See all my reviews

I found this book when my first child was 2 yrs. old and a very picky eater. I had become very tired and frustrated trying to find things that she would eat at each meal...just to get her to eat SOMETHING! I was so relieved to learn from this book that I am not responsible for how much or even IF my daughter ate. I am only responsible for WHEN and WHAT she can eat.

Since reading this book I have had 3 more children. And though they each have their eating preferences no one would ever call my children "picky eaters". I am constantly amazed at the great lengths my friends go to to get their children to eat or drink certain things. They seem to be equally amazed that I don't have to do the same with my own children.

This book gave me the strength and the "know-how" to get my kids to eat healthy without having to force them to.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good for ending food-related conflicts, November 10, 2005

By	K. Volz (Rolla, MO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book was recommended to me by our pediatrician when my then one-year-old son wasn't gaining weight rapidly enough. While his problem was not of the seriousness of failing to thrive, it was extremely stressful to my husband and I as first-time parents. And I learned the foundations for parent-child food conflicts can be laid well before the child can participate in a discussion.

I was not interested in having the rest of my life turned into a food battle ground, and this book helped permanently defuse any conflict. My parenting style is relaxed. My husband's style is old school. And my son is willful. Satter's recommendations worked for all of us.