Mealtime is vital in every family. When everyone in a family sits down to enjoy a meal together, it is also an excellent time for bonding. Families that eat together tend to be healthier and happier than those that don’t. Also, Kids who eat family meals tend to build a sense of belonging, leading to better self-esteem.
Creating and maintaining a delightful meal experience is one of the few ways to help your little ones have a positive attitude to food and other diverse areas of their world at large. Foods engage the heart positively, and here are some tips to make your little ones have positive meal experiences.
1. ENGAGE THE KIDS.
Involving the kids in the meal preparation process is a fantastic way to make the experiences memorable. Even if, as a parent, you can work faster alone, your kids will feel important when asked to help. Kids who get involved in the meal preparation process are more likely to eat meals, but these activities also help teach them more about teamwork and cooperation.
2. MAKE SIMPLE AND QUICK MEALS.
In creating a memorable eating experience for the kids, you need to spend less time in the kitchen and more at the table. To achieve that, ensure you make quick and simple meals rather than elaborate menu items. Opting for a simple meal means everyone is more likely to be relaxed, and the mealtime gets filled with laughter and caring.
3. SELECT MEALS EVERYONE CAN EAT
Mealtimes should get filled with love and laughter, and thus you need to ensure everyone gets interested in the meal. By serving foods each family member loves and can eat, you avoid unnecessary negative moods and kids’ temper tantrums. Also, consider each member’s schedule and organize mealtime when everyone can eat together.
4. PROVIDE CHILD-SIZED UTENSILS
To make mealtime particularly delightful to much younger kids and babies, you need to introduce them to fun kids’ utensils such as the easy-grip baby bottles. These perfect on-the-go products help satisfy your little one’s beverage needs as they indulge in family meals. You can also convert these Baby bottles with handles into a standing sippy cup by simply removing the top cover. Also, provide your kids with tiny spoons and plates to scoop up their food more efficiently.
5. ENCOURAGE GOOD CONVERSATION
Family meals time goes beyond sharing healthy meals; it’s also an important time for bonding. Meaningful social learning also happens during mealtime, and you can achieve this by encouraging excellent and positive conversations. Kids can learn and practice new vocabulary during meals and can share their thoughts with other family members.
6. ELIMINATE INTERRUPTIONS AND DISTRACTIONS
In this modern world, gadgets and other technological devices make it easier for kids to get distracted from family bonding time. To ensure your meal times remain a pleasant moment for your kids, you need to turn off the TV, Radio, and all other items that can cause distractions. If your pets also demand attention at mealtimes and are distracting, you can put them in another room.
