This is a fun read for kids who are fussy eaters and just may inspire a change in their attitude and eating behaviour.
Lola is a very fussy eater. Carrots are for rabbits and peas are “too small and too green.” After rattling off her long list of disliked foods, she ends with the vehement claim, “And I absolutely will not ever never eat a tomato.”
Charlie, Lola’s older brother plays a game with her to encourage her to eat dinner. He tells Lola that the orange things on the table are not carrots, but “orange twiglets from Jupiter” and peas are in fact “green drops from Greenland.” Mashed potatoes is pitched as “cloud fluff from the pointiest peak of Mount Fuji” and fish fingers as “ocean nibbles from the supermarket under the sea – mermaids eat them all the time” and with such fun names and reasons Lola can’t resist tasting them.
Eventually Lola joins in the game and asks for a moonsquirter (she wouldn’t eat a tomato of course but moonsquirters are her favourite).
This book uses two strategies to get kids to eat the usual dinner fare. Firstly it gives food a fun, imaginative name as children’s tastes can be based more on assumption than taste buds. It makes dinner a game instead of eating food that doesn’t appeal. Kids love to play and pretending, or imaginative play, is one of the foundations of a child’s world.
Lola realises Charlie is playing a game with her and she likes it. The new game is more fun than been stubborn and not eating so she goes along with it. She has even more fun by turning the tables on Charlie by asking for a moonsquirter, “you didn’t think they were tomatoes, did you, Charlie?”
If you have read some of my other posts you will know the premise behind Yuck to Yum is about making food fun and enjoyable to kids. Children would rather have fun and can easily be distracted by turning the impending dinner battle into a game and it makes your job easier. I will be blogging a lot more about using fun and games to encourage kids to eat healthy foods.
The other strategy uses the scarcity tactic. Charlie is very happy when Lola refuses the peas, “Oh goody. I’ll have your share; green drops are so incredibly rare”. Charlie has instantly increased the mysteriousness of the food which encourages Lola to try the peas as she doesn’t want to miss out.
When we want our kids to try new foods, the Big Cheese and I use the ‘you want what you can’t have’ play by saying how yummy it is, aren’t we lucky to have it because it’s so special, only brainy people would like it, how rare and precious it is. This usually gets the kids intrigued enough to try it.
As much as I like this book, after reading it a couple of times to my kids it didn’t change their eating habits. This is because I already apply these strategies and they happily eat carrots, potatoes and fish although peas can sometimes be difficult. I must remember to call them rare green drops.
Other Mums Reviews
However reading reviews on Amazon and Dooyoo shows that mums were able to effectively use this book to help their fussy children.
“Our very “fussy eater” now eats cloud fluff and green drops. It was as easy as making a reference to the book one night at supper and all of the sudden he ate a whole bowl of cloud fluff and some green drops (he also tried some orange twiglets!)”
“Whenever he’s introduced to new food he’ll say “I never eat tomatoes” as he puts the food in his mouth to try. He totally gets this book! :)”
“She runs around the house reciting all the vegetables that she won’t eat adding a few of her own. Then after she has informed of what she will not eat, she actually wants to try everything on the list. Thanks for opening my daughter’s eyes to a new vegetable, tomato which she wouldn’t touch before this book.”
“Thanks to the mealtime antics of Charlie and Lola, my kids now ask every day if they can eat carrots, tomatoes, potatoes and peas. It’s magic!”
“My seven-year old fussy eater nearly fell out of his chair laughing when we read this book. He clearly identified with, and enjoyed, Lola and her reasoning (for example, peas are “too small” and “too green”). While I’m pretty sure my son will not change his eating habits because of this story, it did give him a sense that he is not alone in the world with his funky tastes while reinforcing the idea that his tastes may change.”
“My son is a very fussy eater and we have often struggled to get him to try new things but I feel that this book has helped as it shows that eating can be fun and imagination can be used to make the food more exciting. I think this is a great book for any parent to buy for a child that is constantly turning their nose up at food that is so tasty and good for them.”
“Because my three year old is turning into a bit of a fussy eater herself, I wasn’t sure about the content of the book - did I really want to read her a story about an even greater fussy eater and add to her list of dislikes? As it happens, I think that this book has slightly helped with her fussiness - at least when she is eating ‘orange twiglets from Jupiter’ or ‘cloud fluff from Mount Fuji’! I just need to use my imagination to come up with some appealing ideas about broccoli, courgettes, peppers and mushrooms to name but a few!”
“My son can be a fussy eater and can really relate to the story. We often pretend his food is something magical and have thought up all sorts of our own ideas!”
Activity Ideas
Questions to ask
- What would orange twiglets, cloud fluff, rare green drops, moonsquirters or ocean nibbles taste like?
- Why did Charlie change the names of the foods Lola didn’t like?
- What is your favourite food and what fun name can you give it?
Memory Game
See if you can remember the foods that Lola won’t eat? (peas, carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, spaghetti, eggs, sausages, cauliflower, cabbage, baked beans, bananas, oranges, apples, rice, cheese, or fish finger…and of course, no tomatoes!)
If you child also doesn’t like any of the foods that Lola list, create another name for it and have it for dinner that night.
Lola’s Moonsquirter Salad
Lola’s least favourite food is tomato. Make a tomato salad that includes different types of tomatoes. Have a taste test and see which ones your kids like best.
100g cherry tomatoes, halved
100g yellow teardrop tomatoes, halved
2 roma tomatoes, cut into slices
2 ox heart (beefsteak) tomato, cut into wedges
Cucumber and/or red capsicum diced (optional)
¼ cup olive oil
1 tbs lemon juice
1/4 cup firmly packed fresh basil leaves (for the adults)
Place the tomatoes, cucumber, capsicum and basil in a large serving bowl. Toss gently to combine. Place olive oil, lemon juice (or white wine vinegar) and salt to taste in a screw-top jar and shake to combine. Add the dressing to the salad and toss gently to combine.
Note you can use any type of tomatoes your greengrocer stocks.
I’d love to hear from you if you decide to use “I will not ever never eat a tomato” to your fussy eater and how it went. If you have already read “I will not ever never eat a tomato” let me know if it made a difference to your child’s eating habits.
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I recently bought this book for my DD and she loves it. I am thinking of buying other Charlie and Lola books as she has borrowed another one from pre school room teacher.
Hi Truens Mum
Baby Bell loves Charlie and Lola. Did you know they made a tv series from the books, we watch it on Nick Jnr. Has this book helped your DD to eat any better?
You are my first comment on my blog so thank you for taking the time to stop by.