How to Make Mealtime More Fun for Kids

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I participated in this campaign on behalf of Wendy’s Bloggers. I  received Noshi Food Paint to facilitate my review, but my opinions and creative content are my own. 

I’ve recently been having a lot of trouble with a certain picky eater in my house.

Not that I’m frustrated or anything, but the idea that her food-world is decreasing in size has made some mealtimes less fun for her–and for me.

Mostly because I think I’ve made something that she’ll eat and then–nope. It’s a cycle of “here’s some oatmeal” and then she runs off. Not fun.

But, I have found a few tricks to make it all way less stressful–and it starts with playing with your food.

Dudes, this is How to Make Mealtime More Fun for Kids in no time flat.

I've recently been having a lot of trouble with a certain picky eater in my house. Dudes, this is How to Make Mealtime More Fun for Kids in no time flat. #nerdymammablog #parenting

How to Make Mealtime More Fun for Kids

Now, I would like to point out that at no point am I promising that my picky eater will suddenly change from being picky to an eats-whatever-is-put-in-front-of-her.

We’re just talking about reducing some of the stress I feel when she refuses food I’ve made (all those questions like “what will she eat?” “is she going to go hungry?” “what if she decides in 10 minutes to eat something else and then I’m letting her create a bad habit?”) on both my side and hers (like her thinking “what am I going to eat?” “am I going to go hungry?” “what if mommy won’t let me eat anything else in 10 minutes?”).

Easing that stress will keep this little phase of her life from straining our relationship and that’s what’s important.

I've recently been having a lot of trouble with a certain picky eater in my house. Dudes, this is How to Make Mealtime More Fun for Kids in no time flat. #nerdymammablog #parenting

What You Need to Make Mealtime More Fun for Kids

  • Noshi Food Paint
  • Sliced Apples (or other fruit)
  • Toast
  • Crackers
  • Pretzel Rods
  • Food Mat or Wax Paper

I've recently been having a lot of trouble with a certain picky eater in my house. Dudes, this is How to Make Mealtime More Fun for Kids in no time flat. #nerdymammablog #parenting

How to Make Mealtime More Fun for Kids

  1. Lay out a large piece of wax paper.
  2. Put out the toast, crackers, pretzels, sliced apples (or other fruit) onto the wax paper.
  3. Hand kiddo a box of Noshi Food Paint.
  4. If necessary due to the tiny size of your kiddo’s hands, open the Noshi Food Paint for them.
  5. Literally watch them go.

I've recently been having a lot of trouble with a certain picky eater in my house. Dudes, this is How to Make Mealtime More Fun for Kids in no time flat. #nerdymammablog #parenting

Here’s what my kids had to say about Noshi Food Paint:

“The paint tastes good!”

“I want more!”

“Can we use this again and again and again?!”

Yes. These are real quotes.

And they ATE!

Without any fighting, fussing, or running off to watch TV. My kids were engaged and played…then ate their snack–things that my picky eater hadn’t eaten in months, she was tasting.

Fan-freaking-tastic.

You can get the Noshi Food Paint here.

 

 

I've recently been having a lot of trouble with a certain picky eater in my house. Dudes, this is How to Make Mealtime More Fun for Kids in no time flat. #nerdymammablog #parenting

Why would you want to Make Mealtime More Fun for Kids, though? Why worry about reducing the stress around the table and how the heck does that REALLY help picky eaters??

Well, first, by giving kids a portion of control over the preparation of their meals, letting them take an active role in both the kitchen AND at the table, has been proven to get kids, even picky eaters, to want to eat the food that they helped make.

I've recently been having a lot of trouble with a certain picky eater in my house. Dudes, this is How to Make Mealtime More Fun for Kids in no time flat. #nerdymammablog #parenting

Not only do they take pride in helping to create the meal (just as you do, as an adult), but they smell it while doing a very non-confrontational activity (play), and they develop an awareness about exactly goes into making the food: both the ingredients and the effort.

Really, it just puts the kiddo in the driver’s seat and let’s them reacquaint themselves with the idea of “food doesn’t have to be scary/icky/work–it can be fun and yummy.”

Which is the first step to really turning around their eating habits from french-fries-and-chicken-nuggets to fruit-and-veggies-and-all-things-better-for-you.

If you’ve got a picky eater, I would encourage you to check out Noshi–it’s gluten-free, organic, and basically just another condiment.

So, give it a shot!

You can follow Noshi on Instagram @Noshiforkids for more fun ideas–check them out on these hashtags, too!

#noshifoodpaint
#noshiforkids
#ColorMyFoodNoshi

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