Would You Like Your Child to Eat More Veggies?

Would you like your child to eat more veggies? 🥦

Before you start chopping courgette into the shape of a dinosaur, let's start with a mealtime hygiene checklist.

You have probably heard of sleep hygiene, to help your toddler sleep better. Let's think of meals in the same way.

Fussy eating is an issue with many working parts: behaviour, environment, parenting approach, routine, rituals, experiences, emotions, nutrition and health.

Parents often tell me their child will only eat with an iPad. And in a very short time of applying my principles, their child is eating without it.

Change can come quickly. We just need to lead that change as parents, with confidence and a sense of fun.

Your Mealtime Hygiene Checklist ✅

Create a Family Food Culture

Are you creating a culture in your family where everyone embraces food, is adventurous with food, eats together, shares, serves one another and cooks together?

Sounds a bit too perfect, I know, ha ha. But what do you do right now that is working, that you could do more of? And what do you need to do less of?

Become Curious Foodies

Cooking, eating, new restaurants, new kitchen equipment. Get your child involved in cooking, shopping and baking.

They don't have to eat any of it. Just create a buzz and interest.

Monkey See, Monkey Do 🐒

During the family meal, model positive eating yourself, and the enjoyment you feel when eating. Think about what your child has seen so far around mealtimes.

Avoid any pressure on your child to feel the same or do the same. Your job is just to model it.

It's very helpful if other carers, such as your nanny, do the same. Please let nannies eat with the children!

Calm, Positive Words

All language needs to be positive and calm around food. Back off completely from control.

Be careful not to speak about your child as being fussy or ungrateful.

Shrug It Off

If your child rejects food, just shrug it off.

No big emotions. No begging. No bribes.

Nothing. Just nothing.

Now, the Veggies! 🥕

• Take it outside. Children are often more adventurous with food when they can move freely. A surprise picnic in the park can be a great idea.
• Snack time is an entry point. Offer veggies outside of mealtimes, as a snack, in a less pressured way.
• Veggies first. Offer a veggie-laden starter when children are at their hungriest, with dips and sticks.
• Tiny portions. An egg cup with sweetcorn inside. Small portions work best.
• Make it themselves. A veggie kebab they build on their own.
• Try olives! Some children love the salty flavour as a starter.
• Colour hunt. Pick a colour at the supermarket and find three foods that colour. Purple could be grapes, blackberries and aubergine.

And if all this fails? Just keep working on your mealtime ritual, and hide the veg in a spag bol 😉

💛 If mealtimes feel like hard work right now, you don't have to work it out on your own. Book a Free Discovery Call and let's talk it through together: https://www.thepottyqueen.me/free-call

With love, Principal Lisa x