It can be hard to get your little ones to eat when they are so busy exploring, learning, and creating in the exciting world they inhabit, never mind getting them to be adventurous with their food. It is now understood through research that introducing children to a wide range of food early on in their development will reduce psychological issues around eating in the future. Fussy eaters are nothing new – this can develop when they are toddlers but identifying and nipping this in the bud early on can make life for you and them so much easier.

So what can we do to encourage our little ones to take the first bite? (Please be patient in some cases, it can take up to twenty times of trying a new food for the little one to accept it.)

Well… look no further, I have a tried and tested trick up my sleeve.

Themed food nights

One thing that has proven hugely successful in my house is themed food nights. The little ones absolutely adore it. We all put the countries (which we have written out on little squares of paper) into a hat and take it in turns each week to pick out a country. So far we’ve had Italy, Germany and Spain. We spend Saturday mornings crafting our themed decorations, making flags and themed outfits, then we research and develop the recipes and finally prepare the food. The little ones enjoy the sense of responsibility the tasks ensues at the same time as having fun – which is what it is all about. The best part of the whole thing is when the entire family sit down to eat the delicious food which the children have helped prepare and make, and most importantly to enjoy each other’s company.

Photo by Heather Schwartz on Unsplash

This weekend we are eagerly anticipating our Mexican themed food night! We are making piñatas and filling them with dried fruits instead of sweets to encourage healthy eating. We’re also making our own sombreros using paper plates, pom poms and ribbon, bringing a little bit of Mexico and Mexican food in Singapore! Although I can appreciate some of us have busy and dynamic family lives, you can tailor these themed food nights to fit with your lifestyle. For example, if you are limited for time, you can still create the atmosphere and alternatively order tacos or nachos through something like Deliveroo instead of slaving over a hot stove. The little ones will still embrace the atmosphere, especially the roleplay with costumes. If you have a limited budget, let their imaginations run wild and be creative with crafts!

Photo by Herson Rodriguez on Unsplash

You’d be truly amazed what inspirational world costumes are available or what you can make with what is lying around the house. The best part of all is that it is also educational for the little ones – they learn about ingredients, incorporate basic math with weighing/measuring, and learn about different cultures, how they dress and which flag belongs to which country. We even learn a word each from that country so it increases their understanding of different languages and how to apply words and phrases. Educational and fun, not to mention yummy!