I have a new eating hero and he is 4 years old. His name is Romeo.
Romeo Eats is the result of Romeo's eagerness to try all different types of fruits and vegetables. His family released an album Walk Off the Earth & Romeo Eats, Vol. 1 .
Romeo is the child of Sarah Blackwood and Gianni (Luminati) Nicassio, who are in the Canadian indie band Walk Off the Earth. The album got nominated for a Juno (think Canadian Grammy) making Romeo the youngest Juno nominee ever at 4. Romeo didn't win over last weekend.
Romeo has a passion for wanting to try new foods. "We gave him a massive bowl of olives when he was very young, like, right off the boob, for lack of a better term," Nicassio told CBC Toronto.
Avocados, mushrooms, exotic fruits: Romeo is into them and enjoys them.
They have 2 older children but Romeo stands out in a crowd.
The parents didn't push Romeo. He had his own curiosity. Children are curious about the world around them.
Curiosity is often stifled or misdirected when food is involved. "They tried it at 2 or 3 years old, well, that's it." That is the wrong approach. Patience. You are teaching them about food, one of the most valuable lessons to learn as a child.
Romeo Dines is a spinoff about Romeo in high-end restaurants. This also goes against the traditional grain where children and those restaurants don't mix.
The hope is that the videos and music can help encourage children to try new foods based on seeing Romeo in action.
Encouraging should be the key in helping your child try foods. Romeo has parents who help him try new foods.
Romeo may be a grand exception to the rule and a reminder that different children have different paths to food acceptance.
Maybe Romeo likes raw vegetables and fruit more than cooked. Follow patterns with your child. Is texture an issue? Smell? The five senses help children learn.
Have the touch the food, smell the food. Be ready if they don't like the food.
Love the child, even if the child isn't as good as Romeo is about food.
BalanceofFood.com advice coverage
Blackwood and Nicassio said as soon as Romeo started eating solid foods, "he ate everything." Appreciate the child who can do that. Appreciate the child who struggles to figure out how to make food work.
You can find their videos on YouTube.
video and photo credit: YouTube/RomeoEats
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