The If It Makes You Happy singer - who has two adopted sons Wyatt Steven, four, and 12-month-old Levi James - wants her kids to have a balanced diet but knows the best way to get them to be adventurous with their eating habits is to also give them their favourite treats.
She said: "I'm all about bribery when it comes to my little kids eating, particularly my four year old. 'If you'll try this, Wyatt, you can have some of this.' That's how we do it."
The 49-year-old All I Wanna Do singer - who is currently dating Smokestack guitarist Doyle Bramhall II - admits she finds disciplining her children difficult, but was reassured by her mother that being tough on her sons wouldn't upset them for very long.
She explained: "My mom said it's going to hurt you a lot more than it's going to hurt them.
"When I would get upset about putting him in a time out or being stern with him as Wyatt was going through the terrible twos and challenging threes, she would say, 'Those things are not going to be memorable for him.'
"What's memorable for him is gonna be the feeling of safety.'"
She said: "I'm all about bribery when it comes to my little kids eating, particularly my four year old. 'If you'll try this, Wyatt, you can have some of this.' That's how we do it."
The 49-year-old All I Wanna Do singer - who is currently dating Smokestack guitarist Doyle Bramhall II - admits she finds disciplining her children difficult, but was reassured by her mother that being tough on her sons wouldn't upset them for very long.
She explained: "My mom said it's going to hurt you a lot more than it's going to hurt them.
"When I would get upset about putting him in a time out or being stern with him as Wyatt was going through the terrible twos and challenging threes, she would say, 'Those things are not going to be memorable for him.'
"What's memorable for him is gonna be the feeling of safety.'"
