Mom Why Do I Have To Eat This?
Review of 8 The Plate, a plate designed to “Promote healthy eating habits in the pickiest of eaters.”
(I receive absolutely no compensation for this review)
A few years ago two of our friends started talking about a plate design that would help with food refusal, specifically in children and as a byproduct help moms reduce stress at mealtime. Anesa, a behavioral analyst and Joe her inventor husband decided to make this a reality. They started out with a concept plate to test out their theory. So when they asked if they could try it out on Alexa, as well as other children they know, it was an easy YES! Alexa was TERRIBLE at trying new foods, she resisted vegetables and meat (except burgers)and all of this made dinner time a terrible experience for the whole family. To say that being apart of this trial was a blessing would be an understatement!
Fast forward to the first 8 the plate that Alexa tried…
Alexa and Caira (Anesa and Joe’s daughter) wanted to have a sleepover. This sleepover provided a great opportunity to try the plate so when they asked me which food she hated the most, I told them “Cooked carrots, she gags at the sight of them. If you get her to eat them, I’ll be sold on 8 The Plate!” I was hoping for success but, after years of dinnertime struggles, I really expected a disappointing outcome. I was happy to find out that she ate more than one cooked carrot! I thought maybe it was just that Anesa was magical; however, after using the plate at their home and at several restaurants I was starting to become convinced that this plate might actually work!
(PS Alexa still eats cooked cooked carrots with or without the plate!)
Fast forward AGAIN to today…
It’s been awhile since we used 8 The Plate (it takes a looong time to go from concept to retail production), she’s older yet still hates dinner time. I mean it, she literally hates dinner time. When the sun starts to go down she starts getting mad that it’s close to dinner. I don’t even yell at her about eating her food, I just make her eat at least one bite of everything and call it a win. That one bite of everything usually consists of her complaining tirelessly, flailing, crying, or refusal to eat anything which results in a fan-friggin-tastic bedtime. She’s beyond stubborn and this ritual usually takes about an hour to complete.
Well, we finally got our plate, like THE OFFICIAL 8 THE PLATE (in “Tickle Me Pink”)!! Tonight she ate her food without giving me a headache, AND within 15 minutes! The only thing she said was “I know if I ask, you’ll tell me I have to eat it [sweet potato] to get the cookie”. That’s it! I sent my husband these hilarious photos. I was secretly cracking up inside watching her down the sweet potato, another one of her not-so-favorite vegetables; makes her want to gag foods, to get to the Oreo waiting at the end. Sure she made icky faces, but instead of arguing about eating the food I was able to tell her that sweet potatoes are good for your brain, eyes, and immune system. She told me that maybe her teacher needs to eat these so her eyes work better.
A conversation at dinner!!! ….I’d say that’s definitely a win!
For more Information and Tips Visit 8 The Plate’s Website.
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