Food Foundations

Mealtimes with children

Food Foundations Sub Food Foundations News

Mealtimes with children provide the perfect opportunity for positive discussions around food and can help to develop healthy habits that last a lifetime.

When having discussions with children around food, always talk about what is important to the child at the current time – that way it is relevant to them. Keep it fun, informal and appropriate to the child’s age. You don’t have to be 100% accurate, as long as there is a loose connection and it is important to the child now – then it’s a great way to promote healthy eating. For example:

When children are eating: bread, rice, cereal, pasta or noodles, you could talk about how these foods help to make them:

  • Run fast
  • Do puzzles
  • Climb trees

When children are eating: fruit and vegetables you could talk about how these foods help to make them:

  • Grow long hair
  • See in the dark
  • Fight off nasty colds and the flu

When children are eating: meat, fish, poultry, eggs  you could talk about how these foods help to make them:

  • Grow tall
  • Jump high
  • Have strong muscles

When children are eating: cheese, yoghurt, custard and milk you could talk about how these foods help to make them have:

  • Strong bones
  • Strong white teeth
  • A healthy tummy

Ask them how the food ‘feels’ in their mouth, is it:

  • Crunchy?
  • Squishy?
  • Cold?
  • Chewy?

Getting everyone involved in mealtimes creates a valuable learning and eating experience!