Getting trying toddlers to eat

Flynn has always been a fairly good eater. I have always tried to provide him with a wide variety of home cooked snacks and meals. That’s not to say we have not had a fair share of trying toddler moments which came on and off from about 20 months until 2 1/2, throwing food on the floor, refusing to eat anything etc etc I am sure you all know what I am talking about!! Over the last few years I have had a few successes that I thought I would share here that might help some of you who have those fussy eaters.

* Variety plates and starting how you want to finish. I love making variety plates for breakfast, lunch, snacks and even sometimes dinner. They are quick and easier and provide a great selection for the kids to have their favourites but also something new. For example of this plate you have 3 different types of fruit, some cheese, a yogurt and some apple crackers with a capsicum and basil dip topped with ham. The new thing on this plate for Flynn was the dip spread which he actually really liked. I have found a lot more success with a new food if it is served with a few favourites.

What I mean by starting how you want to finish is I think you need to provide a variety from the start if you only ever serve Vegemite/honey/jam on white bread you can expect your kids are inevitably going to snub their noses at your wholemeal bread, crackers, wraps, frittas etc you try and serve them come school or kindy. Sometimes you need to step outside your own comfort zone as well and give them something you yourself might not like- for example I am not a huge fan of Tuna but Flynn loves it and will have it in a meal or just on it’s own spread on a cracker.

*Bake at home. There are so many reasons I think baking at home is better but just to list a few, healthier, cheaper, tastes better and  can involve your children. If you are a regular reader here you would know I love to bake. As I am a busy working mum these are usually quick muffins, cookies, slices etc that I do  as dinner is cooking. I find by having a few healthier options out on the bench when you want to reach for a snack you can go to the end of the island and find fruit and also a few other baked choices. At the moment we have Banana and pear muffins and chocolate chip cookies.

*Provide choices. I have found that if I provide Flynn with various fruit/vegetable type choices he is less likely to ask for a cookie !! He can pick from what is in front of him and he loves being able to make that choice. Having Flynn “help” up at the counter on his stool has also been one of the best things we ever did in our home, he is able to feel involved in the meal and make some of his own choices, he also loves that feeling of helping out. If you have multiple children you could rotate this through on a roster system so they all get a turn and turn it into a reward to be able to help in the kitchen.

I have spoken about the cutting up of fruits and vegetables before but just to touch on it again to be able to make a quick lunch, dinner or snack with a choice of fruit would be a nightmare if you had to chop it all up every time, but having it all done for the weekend/school week etc will help save you time when you are too busy.

* Set a good example. Although this is not always doable or practical I do try whenever possible to sit down and eat my meal with Flynn. This encourages him to stay focused on the meal and not to muck around too much or get distracted.

I also try to set a good example with what I sit down with- I had a light bulb moment about 12 months ago when I sat down to eat lunch with Flynn and looked down and my boring crackers over to Flynn’s fully balanced smorgasbord lunch of crackers but with a side of fruit and yogurt etc and it dawned on me that I should me making a similar type plate for myself. So since then I have endeavoured to do that nice variety plate for myself also, this also helped me to loose weight (pre pregnancy) as it reduced the amount of snacking I was doing through the day.

My lunch over the weekend- a small pasta salad, fig crackers with cucumber and turkey and some carrot sticks : )

I hope this post has given some of you with those uber fuss pot children some good ideas to try : )