Mealtimes are some of the best opportunities to help children grow and learn. Families can share conversation and time together, while teaching healthy eating habits in a relaxed environment.
The College of Family and Consumer Sciences offers some steps to set a routine to make family mealtimes possible and enjoyable:
• Pick consistent days and times. Reserve the time on your calendar and rearrange other commitments so everyone can be there.
• Eat at the table. Children tend to get distracted easily. Don’t allow television and cell phones at the dinner table.
• Serve “family-style” whenever possible. Put the food in serving containers on the table.
• Teach portions. You can guide children while still allowing them to serve themselves.
• Handle spills casually. When spills happen, stay calm. Get your child to help clean it up and continue with the meal.
• Talk with your children. Mealtime is a great chance to share ideas and thoughts and to encourage children’s language development by involving them in conversations.
• Encourage children to try new foods, but don’t force them. Introduce new foods step by step.
• Be realistic about the length of the meal. Young children have very short attention spans.
• Keep mealtime routines consistent. Do the same things in the same order every time you eat a meal together. The predictable routine will help them feel comfortable and secure.
