Easy to Use Tips for Holiday Meals with Your Picky Eater

Used with permission. Creative Commons.

If you've been following my three part series on Executive Function, part three will be published later this week. If you haven't followed but now are curious about it, you can find the posts here and here. 

While there is still time before the first holiday in our upcoming holiday season, I wanted to share a few quick and easy tips with you that will help alleviate some stress for you, your child and your guests as you gather together. 

Plan the meal at a "typical" mealtime

If you are able to have any say in the mealtime, try to have it as close to a typically occurring meal or snack as possible. Keeping your child on a routine will be very helpful. In a sea of changes, having relatively the same meal schedule keeps them anchored and feeling safe. 

Have regular meals and snacks 

This tip not only helps the kids but the adults too by keeping irritability ,from hunger, at bay.  Incorporate the snack into your gathering by allowing your child some input in the choosing of the snacks being offered. Chances are, everyone at the party will enjoy some of the same things your child does. Serve them right alongside more "adult" options. I have attended countless parties where adults end up gathered around the kid snacks instead of the fancy snacks. Crackers are almost ALWAYS a hit. 

Have a kid table

It turns out that the kid table really does much more for kids {especially picky eaters} than just giving the adults a kid-free meal. A kid table means FUN. It means less pressure, more laughs, less sensory stimuli, less commenting on what is or is not on your plate {most kids don't care what other kids are eating}, chairs that fit little bodies better and plates that are just the right size.  Now, if you can swing it, I would highly recommend covering the kid table with butcher paper and provide crayons, stickers and pencils to allow the kids a little fun while they eat or when they are done eating. This allows the pickiest of eaters to stay at the table with the others even IF they aren't eating. Remember, mealtime isn't JUST about the food. I also recommend serving the kid table buffet style which helps children learn their place in the eating dance. Find out more about buffet style meals from Ellyn Satter Institute and her Division of Responsibility {D.O.R}. 

Get out those smaller serving bowls and mismatched Tupperware and allow the kids to serve themselves-this builds confidence and takes the pressure off. Yes, this is a little more work in the form of dishes but this extra work translates to less work in the form of helping your picky eater. Trust me. 

Remember it's not about the food

I know, I know. It IS kind of about the food...but admit it...it really isn't when you get down to it. It's about reconnecting with those we haven't seen in months, sharing memories, new stories and gathering together. Allow your picky eater to be a part of THAT by taking the pressure off to eat perfectly that day. 

May your family have a blessed and joyous holiday. 

Until next time, keep growing and blooming. 

Jen


For more helpful tips on how to navigate a holiday meal with children who have special dietary needs or need ideas for what to say to well meaning relatives when your child isn't eating, take a look at Melanie Potock/My Munch Bug's article here.