Mealtimes can be fraught with stress and chaos for everyone. Encouraging your child to eat doesn’t need to be a battle of wills at every turn. With a little effort and some careful planning, you may be able to turn chaotic meal mess into restaurant heaven!

The Team at Our Little Treasure have put together a few simple suggestions that should help put the fun back into food!

• Where possible encourage your child to help with setting the table. This activity promotes a positive pre-meal routine that gives your child a clear signal of what is to come next (if you have a baby, take them with you to get the bib, highchair, feeding utensils and establish your own simple routine appropriate for their age).
• Make sure you talk to your child about what you are doing. Explain to them why you are setting the table, what meal it is, what type of food you will be eating, the colour and shape of the crockery, cutlery and food, and encourage your child to choose a good place to sit at the table (if you are having trouble with meal times, it is important to flexible with the seating arrangements).
• Give your child an opportunity to choose their bowl, cup or perhaps a favourite placemat they have made (pop out and buy one together if this is something that might encourage your child).
• Where possible, offer your child an opportunity to assist in the preparation of the meal. Encourage your child help with tearing the salad leaves, pouring the sauce or stirring the custard (for more great ideas see our section on Cooking with Kids).
• Present children’s food in individual serving bowls and use appropriate serving utensils, such as small tongs and ice cream scoops. Children will then feel important as they will be able to help themselves to food that appeals to them. Food should be prepared and displayed so that it looks appealing and appetising to eat.

A Few Tips to Remember

• Remember to promote the habit of washing your child’s hands prior to sitting down to eat, and after a meal.
• Encourage your child to try all of the food that has been prepared. If they do not wish to try, offer it once, and then remove it. Offering your child individual food selections ensures that they will at least eat something (children can become fussy when foods are combined) and gradually they will perhaps try a little of everything at every meal.
• Mealtimes require lots of patience, so remember to keep cool and stay calm! If you get frustrated with your child, walk away and allow someone else to take over, or if you are alone, divert your child's attention by changing the subject or moving to a food that he or she may prefer to try. Using a fresh face at mealtimes can sometimes help. Where possible ask for help from another family member who has just arrived home or is visiting. Children rarely do exactly what you want them to, and mealtimes are no exception. The most important thing is to avoid a battle with your child.
• Children should be encouraged to communicate during mealtimes. This ensures a rich learning environment and discussion can revolve around the type of food they are eating or what we did today. The evening mealtime is a very valuable time for all the family to sit together and catch up with everyone and is a great routine to develop for later life.
• At the end of the meal your child should be encouraged to help with the cleaning up. Give them simple tasks suitable for their age and remember to praise their efforts, no matter how small they might be.