Do you often feel that you’ll never in a million years be able to see your child eating the food you’d like them to? It’s hard to see past the present moment sometimes, isn’t it?

Maybe you’ve got into a habit of feeling like this after months (or years) of challenging eating and it’s hard to get out of or think differently or ever be able to believe there will be a positive change as you just don’t know where to start with so much advice out there! I hear you!

Over the next week, I’m going to post a few points on how to make positive practical changes to mealtimes.

To pardon the pun, I like drip feeding ideas! This way, you are more likely to put them into practise without feeling overwhelmed by information overload!

Easy ideas that require little planning.

First Thought: Offering A ‘Starter’ 🧐

In the time leading up to my kids waiting for their meal at the table, I often put a little bowl of some new food for them to try in front of them. Or something they are familiar with but have previously rejected. Half the time they ignore it, half the time they taste a tiny bit. It’s all about offering opportunities regardless of outcome. A tiny portion of some vegetables whilst they wait (that were going to be part of the meal anyway) in a cup might spark some interest. No extra cooking involved.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Or offer a tiny bit of your leftovers from the night before. If they don’t eat it, it had required no extra cooking for you and it’s minimal waste.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
My son is still not keen on sauce being mixed into food so if I’m doing spaghetti bolgnaise for example, I usually offer a ‘starter’ of a little pasta with a tiny bit of the bolognaise sauce on top to try. No pressure to try of course. I then usually serve his actual meal with the sauce separate for him to mix in if he wishes. Over recent weeks, he has started to try little bits of the sauce – it’s a revelation to me as this has been going on for a long time now! I could have never imagined my son eating sauce again to be quite honest, but by regularly offering these ‘starters’, it has given him the exposure he needed.

What to say when offering:

‘Do you want to give this a go? No worries if not. Something to do whilst you wait! Why not have a sniff or a lick!’
If they don’t try it, say nothing. It’s no big deal.
Or, I often just serve the food and say nothing and just leave them to it.

Homework: (yep, you read correctly)

So, how about for a meal tomorrow, you offer leftovers from the day before whilst they wait or some of the vegetables you were going to put on their plate beforehand as a ‘starter’ and see what happens. Do it as often as you can remember and please report back!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
🍽 Who already does this and have you had similar success?
🗺 Who hasn’t but wants more direction?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#happylittleeaters #patienceatmealtimes #pickyeating #raisinghappyeaters