Celebrate the Small Wins

It's easy to get discouraged when big goals feel out of reach. But what if the key to staying motivated lies in the small wins along the way?

WHY IT MATTERS: Focusing only on the end goal—whether it's getting your child to eat new foods, losing weight, or building healthier habits—can leave you feeling defeated when progress is slow. Recognizing and celebrating small wins can keep you motivated and energized on your journey.

It Started with An Eggplant

A while ago, my son and I were grocery shopping, and as usual, he was exploring the fruit and vegetable aisle. Out of nowhere, he ran up to me, holding an eggplant like a prized treasure, asking, "Mom, can we please get this?" I was surprised—after all, eggplant isn't exactly a staple in our home. I don’t even like it much myself, and I knew he hadn’t tried it before. But he was so eager that I couldn't say no.

We brought the eggplant home, searched for recipes together, and prepared it for dinner. But when the moment of truth arrived, my son took one look at the dish and said:

Ryan Reynolds saying absolutely not

"No way."

He didn’t touch it, didn’t taste it, and I was left with a meal I didn’t really want to eat either.

A Perspective Shift  

At that moment, I could have felt like a failure because he didn’t eat the eggplant. It’s easy to get disheartened when your efforts don’t lead to immediate results.

But here's the thing: he did do a lot of other things that were huge deals: He he showed interest in a new vegetable, he was willing to help me find a recipe, and we spent time together preparing it. These might seem like small steps, but they’re significant.

So I chose to focus on those small victories instead.

Why Small Wins Matter

In the long run, it’s these small moments that build the foundation for bigger successes. Your child asking for a new vegetable, participating in meal prep, or even just touching a food they’ve never tried before—all of these are wins. They’re signs of progress, even if they don’t immediately lead to a clean plate.

Actionable Tips

1. Celebrate Curiosity: When your child shows interest in something new, acknowledge it. Curiosity is the first step toward openness and willingness to try new things.

2. Involve Them in the Process: Engage your kids in meal prep, even if the end result isn’t what you hoped for. The experience itself is valuable.

3. Focus on Effort, Not Outcome: Whether it’s trying a new food or sticking to a new habit, praise the effort, not just the result. This helps reinforce positive behavior over time.

4. Keep a Win Journal: Consider keeping a journal of small wins to remind yourself of the progress being made. This can be a powerful motivator on tough days.

Conclusion

Helping your family develop healthier eating habits is a journey, not a sprint. It’s easy to get caught up in the end goal and overlook the small victories that happen along the way. But by shifting your focus to these small wins, you can stay motivated and keep moving forward.

Remember, every small step is a step in the right direction.

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