"Just three more bites" - most parents have said it. It feels like the right thing to do. But it turns out, the opposite approach often works better.
At Aussie Kindies, we don't ask children to finish everything on their plate. Here's why, and what we do instead.
Why we don't push it
According to Raising Children Network(opens in new tab), children are more likely to enjoy their food, and try new things, when mealtimes are relaxed and low-pressure. Pushing children to eat, through pressure, bribery or insisting they finish, often makes them more resistant to food, not less.
It also helps to remember that children's appetites change a lot from day to day. Growth, activity levels and energy needs all affect how hungry a child is at any given meal. A child who eats very little one day might eat a lot the next, and that's completely normal.
What we do at Aussie Kindies
Under our Lifelong Learning Curriculum (LLC), our educators focus on:
- Letting children choose - food is offered, not forced, and children decide how much they want to eat
- Eating together - sitting and eating with children makes mealtimes social and calm, not stressful
- Encouraging children to serve themselves - this builds confidence and helps children feel more in control at the table
- Staying relaxed - spills and mess don't need to be a big deal, a calm response keeps mealtimes a nice experience
This doesn't mean anything goes - our menus are still carefully planned to give children the nutrition they need. It's the approach to mealtimes that's relaxed, not the standard of food.
Our new Spring menu
Our new Spring menu was developed with our nutrition partners, The Biting Truth(opens in new tab) and Woolworths@Work. A few dishes are built around choice, like our Build Your Own Burrito Bowls, where kids pick their own fillings and build their own plate.
It's a good time to talk about this too, with National Nutrition Week(opens in new tab) coming up on 12-18 October, which is putting a spotlight this year on positive food experiences for kids, something we already try to build into every mealtime.
A few things to try at home
- Put food in the middle of the table and let your child help themselves
- Try not to comment on how much they've eaten
- Keep offering foods they've said no to before - it can take quite a few tries before a new food is accepted
- Look at what your child's eaten over a few days, rather than worrying about just one meal
If mealtimes have been tricky at your place, you're not alone, and it doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong. Have a chat with your child's educator if you'd like some ideas - they see your child eat every day and can share what's working at kinder.
Find out more about our approach to food on our Healthy Menu & Nutrition page, or read more about supporting fussy eaters.