How To Get Kids Eating More Variety (Part III)

Continuing with my posts below on how 1) offering a ‘starter’ and 2) offering smaller portions at the start of mealtimes can help create happier mealtimes, my next thought is:

🍽 LEAVING FOOD OUT AROUND MEALTIMES 🍽

Whilst I was cooking the other day, my son came over and asked to peel some of the vegetables I had out on the chopping board. After helping me with the peeling, he picked up one of the carrots and, to my complete surprise, starting eating it. It may not seem a big deal eating a carrot to some, but this was the first time in months and months he had shown any interest in vegetables, preparing or eating them. This just reinforces again my approach of letting my kids discover food on their own terms and thinking of the bigger picture. Not panicking if they don’t always eat the food you would like them to and not pushing or bribing them (even though it’s blummin’ hard at times not to!)  
You may be reading this thinking your child would never offer to help with food preparation or actively pick up food and eat it, but give it a go and be open to it. Never assume your child won’t do something just because they haven’t done so this far. They might not always be interested in the food you have out at mealtimes, but at least you are giving them the opportunity to help out if they want to.  

Surely, we will create happier mealtimes if the intention to try new food comes from them?
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CHALLENGE: the next time your child is bored or hungry around mealtimes, suggest they help out to distract them from their hunger and give them something to do. Even laying the table – give them a job to do and make them feel part of mealtimes.

Thoughts or questions?