“For kids with food and eating difficulties, you want to work to create a safe and positive experience around food and with food.”
— Toomey and Ross, 2002
Mealtimes can be a joyful opportunity for connection, learning, and exploration—especially for children who may be hesitant or sensitive around food. Here are some practical, playful ways to make food fun and inviting for your child.
👩🍳 Get Your Child Involved
Children are more likely to try new foods when they feel included in the process. Try these ideas:
- Let your child pick out a new fruit or vegetable at the grocery store or farmers market.
- Explore recipes together and let them help plan meals for the week.
- Invite them into the kitchen to stir, wash produce, measure ingredients, or set the table.
- Start a small garden together—growing food can spark curiosity and pride.
🌈 Create a Positive Experience
The goal is to make mealtimes feel safe and pressure-free. Here’s how:
- Avoid force feeding. Let your child explore food at their own pace. Respecting their boundaries builds trust.
- Skip the pressure. Encouragement is great, but pushing too hard can backfire.
- Try the “one-bite rule.” Encourage a single bite of new foods, and let them wash it down with a drink if needed.
- Make it messy! Playing with food can reduce anxiety and increase comfort.
🍽️ Make a Great First Impression
First impressions matter—even with food! Help your child feel more open to trying new things:
- Serve new foods in familiar ways—like veggie sticks with dip.
- Introduce new flavors through fun formats, like sweet potato fries or breaded fish nuggets.
- Let them explore with all their senses: smelling, licking, touching, and describing food before tasting.
- Turn food into art! Try:
- Painting with pudding or yogurt
- Making stamps from apples, peppers, or broccoli
- Creating silly food creatures or shapes
🧠 Explore more fun food crafts:
Free Kids Crafts | Spoonful Recipes
💬 Final Thoughts
Every child is different, and progress may be slow—but even small wins are worth celebrating. If you have questions or want personalized strategies, don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s occupational therapist.