Do you find yourself in moments of sheer frustration trying to get your child - whether toddler or teenager - to eat the meals you prepare?
Perhaps it is a rare occurrence that your child refuses to eat; however, I know some of you are nodding solemnly, remembering how just last night, the spaghetti hit the floor, and walls, and underside of the table, and no need to go on, we can all envision it. For others it can be a thrice-daily battle.
If you are looking for a few tips as to how to get your kids to eat, the best place to look is at the very beginning - the preparation of the meal.
Children will more readily eat meals they either prepare or help to prepare. There is a sense of accomplishment and pride in being able say "look what I did!" or offer mom or dad a helping of supper in which their own hard work can be found within.
I'm a big fan of getting kids involved in the process (disclaimer: my husband is far better at actually doing this than I am, but then he does most of the cooking these days). Once we're settled at the table, it's amazing to see how well this effort of inclusion results in better-filled bellies.
The notion works for all ages. Inviting a one-year-old to play on the floor around you with wooden spoons and storage containers is just the beginning. By two years old, your little ones can be up at the sink giving peas a bath, scrubbing carrots or helping to wash up. Sure, it might be a bit messy and you'll have some water to soak up, but everyone will be kept occupied and smiling.
By three, you should be able to give your toddler a small, sturdy knife and show him or her how to chop vegetables - keeping fingers out of the way - for salad or a side dish.
Pizza toppings are a perfect idea, as are the ingredients for a stir-fry or curry. This sort of activity can last for years!
The key is to build in the extra time it will take to have their "help" and know that sometimes there may be a few spills along the way. The upside is that you'll be teaching your child what it means to help with food preparation from a very young age, and they'll be able to appreciate what it means to fix a meal. It will also give you a great deal of time you wouldn't otherwise have connecting, not just about food (and the opportunity to share nutrition information) but everything - relationships, school, friends, and all sorts of challenges they might be facing.
When we give space and allow conversations to unfold naturally - as opposed to drilling them with 20 questions at school pick-up time - you'll find you will learn a lot more about your child as well as forge a stronger bond.
And you're certain to see a lot more of that food being gobbled up.
Kirsten Andrews offers Simplicity Parenting courses, workshops and private consultations in the Sea to Sky Corridor and Lower Mainland. Visit Sea To Sky Simplicity Parenting on Facebook, www.SeaToSkySimplicityParenting.com or email [email protected].
