Making Food Fun

Everyday we must devote a good amount of our time to nourishing ourselves and our little kiddos-- why not make it fun sometimes!? Making food fun is a great way to promote nutritious food, and can also be a great approach to combating picky eaters. Millions of dollars are invested by companies to promote their food products. Our kids are definitely affected by this advertising, which is why we must do a little advertising of our own sometimes when it comes to encouraging them to enjoy good and nutritious food.

Make it Fun- 

When appropriate, let eating be a part of play. One of my boys' favorites is "eating like a puppy."  One night when our friends hosted us for dinner, my especially stubborn little boy refused to take a bite of dinner. Of course when everyone else had finished their meal, a large plate of chocolate chocolate chip cookies was set on the table for dessert. It was hard to deny him one when he could see them in plain sight, but I was not about to let him fill up on dessert alone. He could not be persuaded with reason or even a bribe, but I persisted in requiring that eat some chicken and veggies before he was permitted to take a cookie.  With a little creativity, his bits of chicken soon became 'puppy treats', and he was eager to have one with a little, "here puppy, here's your treat" and "good boy." It was fun for him to enjoy his food that way, then I felt fine about presenting him with a cookie treat. 

Presentation also sets the tone for how fun food can be. Cutting or arranging food into recognizable shapes or figures turns their plate into an interactive scene. 

Do something different-

Sometimes all I need to do is serve their food in a different container or with different utensils to make an impression. Using a personal lunch box instead of a regular plate or providing a toothpick instead of a fork suddenly makes the child more interested in eating. 

Let them be the creator-

Kids will be more eager to eat something that they have had a hand in preparing. My son loves mushrooms because it is the one thing he can help cut since they slice so easily with a butter knife. I don't think he would find them nearly as exciting if he didn't have this personal experience with preparing a dish containing mushrooms. Another way to let them create without actually doing any cooking is to provide different dipping sauces or serve a meal that can be assembled on the plate (like a bed of rice, with a sauce, then chicken, and diced veggies on top). Let them create their own snack or meal within the limitations you set by using what is placed on the table. 

This technique can also start as early as involving them in planting a garden. Children become eager to eat the food through the duration of watching it grow, that when it is finally ready they may try and enjoy things they don't usually care for from the grocery store.