Does your kid turn their nose up at anything you put in front of them? Are they the pickiest eater on the planet? Do they scream and cry when it’s time to eat dinner, insisting that there is nothing edible in this world worth putting inside their mouths? You are not alone. Kids can be really picky about food. In fact, many kids refuse to eat certain foods just because they don’t like the way it looks! But fear not—there are plenty of strategies mums and dads can use to make mealtime more fun for everyone.
Firstly, wouldn’t it be nice if we all had the time to make each of our children’s meals into fun characters or pretty scenes, but in reality, if you’re anything like me, there are days when I’m lucky if the food makes it to the table without being spilled on the floor.
Here are some simple things you can do to make mealtimes more enjoyable for your vocal child.
1) Decorate Your meal eating area
This may seem like a very simple solution, but sometimes making small changes can make a big difference. You don’t have to hang a disco ball from the ceiling, but by making their dining space more welcoming, even something as small as finding a fun table cloth might make your kid more excited to eat their food.
2) Use Utensils Your Child Likes
Making your child use a fork they might struggle with will only result in them becoming frustrated, which can lead to food being thrown, screaming, and maybe even tears. Make sure that everyone is using utensils that are comfortable for them.
3) Don’t Force Your Child to Clean Their Plate
Having a 2nd “I don’t want it plate” can be a great way to let your child know there is no pressure on them to eat everything and they can get rid of anything they don’t like the look of. What can often happen is your child will go back to it once they have eaten all the parts they do want.
4) Talk about Food
If you want your child to enjoy exploring new foods, talk with them about the new food before they have a chance to refuse it. You can say things like “This fish came all the way from Canada to be here today” or “The tomatoes on this pizza are from our neighbour’s garden!” By talking about the food, your child will get excited about trying it.
5) The best thing to do is just have fun.
There’s plenty of time to learn table manners later! Make mealtime a game and put food in surprising places to get your kids excited about trying new things, or let them play with their food if they refuse to eat it at all.
Remember that you’re the parent and there are no hard-and-fast rules: only what works best for that perfect family on Instagram, might not work for you, so if something doesn’t work the first time don’t give up, try something new, and most of all, have fun!