fiddledeedee32Do you remember Ralphie’s little brother, Randy, in A Christmas Story? Yeah, that’s my kid! No, not literally, but in the sense of not eating. I have the hardest time getting this child to eat a meal. And it’s not that she’s picky. She will eat olives! Yes, Olives! She did not get that from me. I will not eat one. She got her taste buds from her daddy, yuck lol.
The girl just won’t eat a meal. She will snack, but you sit her down for lunch? Dinner? Nope. She may take a bite here and there. But she won’t just eat a meal. I have been tempted to tell her to “show me how the piggies eat.” (you know, like the mom from A Christmas Story.) However, I don’t fancy the idea of mashed potatoes all over her face. Does that mean I’m not a fun mom? Of course not! It just means that I need to be creative and find some alternatives.
For a few days I just observed. I looked at meal time through her eyes, trying to find a way to make it more appealing to her. I had to think like a child.
So, the first thing I tried was letting her help cook the meals. I figured if she helped cook the meals, she would be more willing to eat the food. I mean, who doesn’t like to taste the food that they make and be proud? So, I would have her help me by adding ingredients that I had measured out, I would let her stir, sprinkle cheese etc. She seemed to enjoy that so, I bought her a little apron and chef’s hat that she will wear in the kitchen. She enjoys eating the food that she helped make and she also likes to see other’s reactions.
The next thing that I have done that also gets her to eat her meals, is to have fun with it! Make faces, animals, etc. It’s fun to make and fun to come up with new ideas. If you run out of ideas, hop on Pinterest! Pinterest is seriously my favorite website! (Aside from this one. Ha!)
Here are a few examples! I love the pancakes! I’m a pancake girl!
Are those not the cutest? My little ones when we get creative with her food and she normally eats just about everything on her plate! If it’s breakfast time I will usually put something together before she gets up but lunch and dinner she will help me. It’s also good quality time!
Tip: Use cookie cutters to make small sandwich cutouts or pancakes!
Now, if you have the time, and don’t mind making a few different things, play restaurant! I am certainly not saying to do this on a daily basis. I do this once or twice a month and she has a blast! We will put on aprons, take paper and a pen and take orders! I do try and keep it to the simpler foods like grilled cheese, ham and cheese, macaroni with cut up hotdogs etc. Anything you don’t mind cooking. Just have two or three options on your menu. It’s not only fun for the little ones, we all enjoy it! It’s fun to watch my little waitress and chef!
One night my daughter wanted me to read her a book. The one she chose was Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs. She loved it, thought it was hilarious! She asked if we could have spaghetti! There was my next idea, to read a story centered around our meal. We sat down to dinner that night, she ate just about everything on her plate! So yes, incorporate a story! Even make your own stories and give the food funny names. Sit down and share your story with the family before diving in to eat!
Here are a few examples for you.
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
Princess and the Pea by Hans Christian Andersen
Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Robert Southey (If your LO is resistant to oatmeal/porrage as mine is)
Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord
See what I mean? Any book that has something about food in it to draw your little one in.
Lastly, if you have the time, go on a picnic! You don’t even have to go far, your backyard is wide open! Grab a blanket, a basket of goodies and head out! And hey! If you don’t want to go outside, make a blanket fort and have a picnic in there. Invite the stuffed animals for dinner! Use your imagination and make it fun!
Some of my favorite picnic foods for kids.
Of course, the good ole’ PBJ or any sandwich.
Sliced apples, oranges or any other fruit.
Celery and peanut butter
Pasta salad
Pinwheels
**To make pinwheels just mix cream cheese and shredded meat in a bowl and smooth it over a tortilla (or a few), roll up your tortilla and place toothpicks about an inch apart (or however wide you want your pinwheels), and cut between the toothpicks. And Viola! You can also add any seasonings you like! **
With these tips you should be able to get your little to cooperate at meal time and get some good food and also, make it a bit easier for you! If there is one thing I don’t get along with, (right up there with potty training) it’s having to fight with a child to eat. But, thank goodness, I have had her eating pretty consistently over the past year with these ideas that I have shared with you. I do hope they work for you as well. Let me know how they do, I’d love to hear your success stories! And if you have any tips or tricks that you would like to share, feel free to comment! Also, email me with any questions you might have! 🙂
All my love
Angela xoxo
