Making snack time fun with Toddlers

Toddlers remind me of my horse. He can go over a certain set of jumps in a certain order, and after doing it twice, he get bored and knows the routine and starts being a ding dong. Children are the same sometimes. One day they love the mozarella cheese stick, so you buy 78 pieces at Sams… and then the next day, they hate mozarella cheese.

My goal was always to teach my daughter about good food habits, not focusing on saying words like “Fat or skinny” and to spew positive body images around her. Lord knows I didn’t get it as a kid and have body issues to this day. My daughter has helped me make food since she could stand. I highly suggest getting a “little helper” stand so your kiddo can reach the counters safely. Let them help, let them make a mess and let them decide if they like something. Don’t make them “Finish their plate” or “Hide dessert until they are done with their food”… It will leave to bad eating habits, trust me.

So I thought it would be fun to share some little tips and tricks to make meal time fun. Enjoy and let me know if your little one likes one of these!

Charcuterie style snacks

I don’t know what it is but serving something in a different plate than normal, will cause inquisitive minds to wonder and check out more food. Put fun things in there like some fruit, a raw veggie, maybe some cookies or pretzels and something new! See what they like. Below I made strawberries, carrots, pretzels and “ants on a stick” (celery with PB and raisins)

2. Use different utensils

Sometimes forks and spoons get boring. So get out something different like fun little animal picks (amazon), tongs or even corn on the cob holder. Mixing up and making meal time different, can cause them to try new foods

3. Try it a different variety

my daughter absolutely hates cooked carrots. But I catch her stealing my horses carrots (raw) right out of their food bowls! So if your kiddo doesn’t like a certain vegetable, maybe try it raw, throw it in the air fryer, steam it or add some sauce. And if they don’t like it, then that’s ok too. Find another similar item that they can enjoy instead.

4. Show them where food comes from

If you are able, I strongly suggest buying some plants and growing some food. Even if you live in a high riser in New York, you can buy a patio tomato plant and grow it on the window sill. Showing kiddos how we grow and harvest food not only teaches them responsibilities but also shows them how much time and effort goes into making it. We have always had a little vegetable garden and nothing gets my daughter more excited than harvesting peppers or tomatoes. They normally don’t even make it back into the house as she already devoured them before we hit the first step! If gardening isn’t your jam, try driving to a “you pick” farmers market or neighbors vegetable patch! It’s so good to get outside and one with nature!

Hope these tips have been helpful! Enjoy!❤️