No Pressure Dinner Zone

Hey there! Do you find yourself in a never-ending battle with a picky eater at your dinner table? Well, fret no more because we’re going to dig right into the magical world of creating a laid-back, no-pressure dinner zone.

Is your little one engaging in a veggie-launching contest with the dog (or you, if you’re pet-less) every time dinner is served? If you’ve exhausted the “just try one bite” approach without any success, it’s time to switch gears and explore a different strategy. Prepare to be amazed as the veggies miraculously stay on the plate! One playful tactic you can try involves concealing the rejected food under a napkin and engaging in a rousing game of peek-a-boo. Alternatively, you can pretend that the food has suffered a boo-boo and offer to give it a healing kiss. By infusing an element of silliness and fun into mealtimes, you set the stage for an expectation-free environment where their eating habits no longer take center stage (although, it’s important to nonchalantly model that you’re enjoying your own food and casually remarking to other families about its deliciousness). While your toddler’s food may remain untouched even after these playful interactions, don’t worry! It’s perfectly normal. It often takes between 12 to 20 exposures to a particular food before a toddler begins to feel comfortable simply touching a food that gives them the heebie-jeebies. Gradually, they may bring the once-offensive crucifer to their nose and take a sniff. In later attempts, they might even muster the courage to give it a little lick. Eventually, the remarkable moment arrives when they bravely place the previously forbidden food in their mouth (though they might still spit it out – but that’s perfectly alright! Look at how far they’ve come!). Ultimately, our end goal is for them to chew and swallow these foods just like they would a chicken nugget.

Add another touch of fun to your family’s dining experience with a delightful twist: a themed dinner with silly outfits! Allow your picky eater to choose the theme. Will it be the cozy comfort of pajamas or the vibrant charm of the color green? By allowing your little one to select the theme, you provide them with a sense of autonomy and involvement, which can greatly boost their confidence and put them in a jubilant mood. This joyful atmosphere may even encourage them to venture outside their culinary comfort zone and give previously rejected foods another chance. The beauty of a silly outfit themed dinner lies in its ability to create a “no pressure dinner zone,” relieving your child of any anxiety about trying unfamiliar foods. So, let your creativity run wild, making the evening a delightful and lighthearted affair for the entire family to cherish.

Yet another way to create a no pressure dinner zone is to surprise the family with silly table decorations: Grab some cardboard, finger paints, glitter, pom-poms, etc… (yes, huge mess, but totally worth the clean up) and have your picky eater make place mats for each member of the family. Then take your little one shopping and allow them to pick out colored napkins and/or oddly shaped utensils (think crazy straws!). It doesn’t have to be expensive – hit the Dollar Store. Later, when it’s almost dinner time, help your toddler set the table with the cool new stuff.

Creating a laid-back, no-pressure zone dinner atmosphere really is the secret recipe for transforming your picky eater into a culinary explorer.