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Do you have a really hard time getting your kids to sit around at the table and eat their dinner? If so then now is the time for you to do something about that. If you implement good habits now then this will help them out so much in the future, not to mention that it will give you some much-needed family time with each other.
Dig Deeper
If you are super stressed at dinner time and emit a lot of negative energy then this can easily transfer to your kids. If you want to do something about this then one thing you can do is try and be a little calmer and just mind how you are acting. Kids can pick up on far more than you realize, so be mindful of how you feel and do what you can to make meal times a positive experience for everyone. If you want to avoid stress when cooking dinner, or if you can’t seem to have the meals ready for when your kids want them then one thing you can do is cook the meals in advance.
Give them a Choice
Another thing that is super important for you to do, is to give your kids a choice. Let them plan what they have that week and also encourage them to choose their ingredients. Ask them if they want to have vegetables or not, and give them control. If you can do this then you will see a huge improvement in how engaged they are at the dinner table. If you struggle with your kids then another thing you can do is cook foods that can be reheated. This lasagna recipe is great for that, so make sure that you keep that in mind. You can also freeze food, so you can give your kids multiple chances to eat the food you cook.
Wait until they are Hungry
Hunger is the best seasoning. If you have made them a lunch and they don’t want it then wrap their plate up and give it to them later on. Sometimes it may be that they don’t want to eat at that moment, but they will come back to it later. This is a great way for you to teach your kids to eat what you make them and you would be surprised at what a difference it can make to their attitude towards food.
DIY Dinner
If you feel as though dinner is often a struggle then it’s wise for you to give them an option for DIY dinners instead. Give them the chance to put together their own pizza, or arrange a taco bar. The great thing about doing this is that it gives you the chance to put on a healthy meal with a ton of vegetables, but at the same time, it gives your kids the chance to create the meals they want to have as well. Sometimes kids won’t eat peppers if you put them on their plate but they will if they are allowed to reach for them on their own accord.
Make it Delicious
One trick you can use is to make your meals delicious for your kids. If your kids say that they dislike butternut squash then tell them that they have never had it in the right way. Make sure that it has plenty of salt, pepper and butter in it, then tell them to put a small amount of squash on their tongue. Tell them not to chew it and instead, tell them to push it against the roof of their mouth using their tongue. This is a simple trick but it forces your child to taste the food rather than just looking at it and turning away. It also allows them to work through any textural changes in the food, so that they can go into it with a bit more of a positive experience.
Add a Food you Know they Love
If you are having a really hard time getting your kids to eat their vegetables then one thing you can do is serve one thing you know that they love. If they love chicken nuggets then make sure that you give them this alongside broccoli and carrots. If they know that they will always have something they love then this will encourage them to at least sit and eat that. When they have finished, they may automatically go on and eat the rest of the stuff that’s on their plate.
