I was lucky that my oldest daughter was always a pretty good eater. She knew what she liked and would eat those foods with gusto, but she had a pretty good range. Like all of us, she got into some food ruts so as I would try to introduce new foods I needed to get more creative in presentation (in a simple way—I’m a mom and time and ease are of the essence).
Here are 5 easy ways to make food more exciting for your child:
Food Coloring
We made a cake one day and when I asked what color my daughter wanted the frosting to be it was like a light went off in her head. You can choose the color of your food?! Adding a few drops of food coloring is so effortless but it makes the meal different and exciting, especially if you let them choose the color (spoiler alert: in our house, it’s always pink). We have added food coloring to muffins, cakes, French toast, eggs….the sky is the limit.
Sprinkles
So simple yet so much fun. Sprinkles started on ice cream, of course, but migrated into yogurt, smoothies, decorations on our muffins, even sneaking on to our pink French toast. It’s an easy addition to get your kids excited about what they are eating and it adds a little ownership as the last ingredient in preparation is done by them.
Popsicle Molds
One morning, my daughter requested a popsicle for breakfast. When I said, “No, we don’t eat popsicles for breakfast,” her normal three-year-old self immediately responded, “Why?” That got me thinking about how we could have popsicles for breakfast: smoothie popsicles! We make a lot of smoothies in our house, so when we do, we make a big batch and freeze the extra into popsicles molds. A win for her, thinking she got her way—popsicle for breakfast—and a win for me, she’s eating a smoothie plus no prep since they are already made.
Cookie Cutters
No matter what food you give a toddler, if it’s in a fun shape it’s automatically more exciting. Regular sandwich: fine (slightly boring), but a regular sandwich in a heart shape: fun and exciting lunch. We have a drawer at home with cookie cutters and this way my daughter can choose the one she wants and most of the time cut that item; thus she has her “cooking” time with me.
Utensils
Sometimes the fork and spoon just aren’t that exciting. We have a few special silverware sets (thank you, Pottery Barn Kids) but one day when my daughter was over mealtime, I handed her the toothpick from my food and said, “Use this to pick up your food.” Suddenly, mealtime was exciting and new. We have done the same thing with chopsticks. She has not mastered using them, but sometimes I feel like she eats more because she is trying so hard to learn how to use them.
Good luck mamas!
Editor’s note: This article originally published on April 18, 2018, and was reviewed and edited prior to republishing.
