Happy Wednesday guys! I realize that mealtime with a toddler can sometimes be tough, so today I wanted to share some easy ways you can make it fun! A lot of times we are faced with picky eaters and short attention spans, but with the help of Nurture Life, I compiled a list of ideas to spice things up at mealtime.
1. GET YOUR KID INVOLVED
Don’t be afraid to put your kids to work in the kitchen. My toddler LOVES to help and that’s no exception when it comes to cooking. A few months ago we bought Elle her very own kitchen {seen in this post} so she has grown quite accustom to whipping up “meals” on her own.
It’s always fun to switch things up and help your kids create their own meal. Depending on the age, you can let them do different tasks. My daughter is currently only 1.5 years old so the options are more limited, but I usually have her do a variety of the following simple tasks: sprinkling cheese, plating the food onto her plate, spreading butter, cream cheese, peanut butter onto toast, turning on the toaster, pouring ingredients into a bowl {when baking}, and the list goes on. .
Also don’t forget to get your child an apron and chef hat so they can dress the part too. We currently have this one and Elle loves wearing it while she “cooks”. You can also always just give them a pot and spoon. Honestly the simplest task will make your kid so happy to help.
2. SWITCH THINGS UP
Eating the same thing every day can become really boring for not only ourselves, but also our toddlers. By switching up the choices each day you add some surprise and suspense to what your kid is trying. A great way to do this is with the help of Nurture Life.
Nurture Life is a nutritious meal delivery service for babies, toddlers, and kids. They use fresh organic ingredients {which I love!} and create healthy versions of kids favorites. All meals are made-to-order and crafted to fit your child’s nutritional needs based on his or her stage of development. Their menu is constantly changing each week and you can easily pick and choose to customize your order.
I love all of Nurture Life’s well-balanced healthy options and am also a fan of the fact that they’re easy to freeze and have on hand when you’re in a pinch. Interested in trying out Nurture Life for yourself? Use code SAMANTHA for $30 OFF your first order.
3. GET CREATIVE WITH PRESENTATION
Kids LOVE food in fun shapes. I mean who wouldn’t love that?! hahah. You can get artistic and easily use cookie cutters or a knife to make fun shapes out of sandwiches, pancakes, and even cheese. If you are a beginner, try starting with triangles, strips, or circles first. Also, always when I need some ideas or inspiration, I like to turn to Pinterest or this book which is amazing. It obviously takes more time and effort, but if your kid is older then get them to help with the process.
4. BREAK OUT THE DIPS
I don’t know about you, but Elle loves ANYTHING that she can dip. She honestly hasn’t met a dip she doesn’t like. Kids love foods they can easily pick up by hand and dip so break out all the salsa, ketchup, hummus, peanut butter, and guacamole. Some of our favorite dip pairins include: fruit dipped in cottage cheese or yogurt, apples dipped in peanut putter, veggies dipped in ranch dressing or spinach dip, pita and veggies dipped in hummus, chips, veggies, and quesadillas dipped in guacamole or salsa, and of course french fries dipped in ketchup {not the the most healthy, but obviously Elle’s favorite!}.
5. ADD SOME MUSIC
If you ever watch my Insta Stories then you know that Elle LOVES music and this especially goes at mealtime. We always play Pandora during all mealtimes and it’s something that my daughter has grown accustom to. It livens up the mood and she loves nothing more than giving a little shimmy or shake while eating.
6. HAVE A PICNIC
Another fun idea is to have a picnic on the floor instead of sitting at the usual dinner table. It’s unexpected and kids always love a good twist. Just spread out a blanket or even a beach towel and make a simple menu of finger foods and tiny bites. It’s honestly fun for the whole family! Also if you have access to an outdoor area or backyard and the weather is cooperating then bringing it outside for even more fun!
So there you have it. 6 easy ways to make mealtime fun. Hopefully this post was helpful in giving you some ideas to share with your family and test out at home. Also for all those busy parents out there who could use a little extra help in the kitchen, make sure to try out Nurture Life and use code SAMANTHA for $30 OFF your first order.
This post is in partnership with Nurture Life, a company that both Elle and I love. As always, all opinions are our own. Thank you for supporting brands that make GCG possible!