Getting toddlers to sit down and eat as a family is a challenge for most parents, us included! What we try to do is to spin interesting stories and silly conversations to keep their interest. Sometimes it is the Diesel Food For a Diesel Engine while at another time it might be something like Eating Salad Like a Giraffe! Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but when it does, it is a great way of capturing their imagination while stretching your own.
We had another silly, but fun conversation at dinner today. Before I get into it, here is what was served so you get an idea:
- Fettuccine with Turkey meatballs
- Green beans with olive oil
- Mixed salad
- Plain yogurt, Feta cheese, grated Parmesan cheese
- Plain milk, water
The twins love to eat pasta with a sprinkle of organic cheese (their word for grated Parmesan cheese). They mostly nibbled on the pasta and took only a few bites out of the meatballs. My daughter tried the feta cheese and a little milk from her glass.
The delicious green beans were not even touched! Our initial offers were met with stubborn resistance from both the twins! I knew I had to think of something interesting to nudge them into at least trying a few of them!
An idea popped into my mind as I announced -
“Hey guys, I am hearing a faint voice from your stomach. Let me get closer and use my special powers to listen to what it is saying”
Daughter: (with a huge grin as she lifted her T-shirt to show her stomach) – what is my stomach saying baba?
Me: Hmm..let me listen. I think it wants to eat a green bean. Just like my stomach…Mmmmm, these beans are d-e-l-i-c-i-o-u-s!
Daughter: (giggling) Really? Give me a bean, give me a bean..
I popped one of those beans in my mouth as I announced loudly “bean coming…bean coming”
It worked…she went straight for the beans and pulled one out from the main dish in the center, imitating “bean coming…bean coming” as if to alert her craving stomach!
Me: Now ask what your little stomach would like to eat next…
Daughter: (lifting her T-shirt) My little stomach, what would you like to eat now?
Me: My stomach says it wants another green bean…
Daughter: Me too, give me a bean, give me a bean…
Bean coming…bean coming….
I had her hooked, and even though I enjoyed it a lot and wanted to laugh out loud, I kept the game going! Popping the whole green beans one by one in my mouth and relishing the rich tomato-onion sauce, I continued to eat while pointing to my own stomach. She imitated my every move and ate a few, one after the other, enjoying the taste and making Mmmm… sounds!
After a while, as she seemed satisfied and full, I asked again – “now what does your little stomach want to eat?”
She paused for a moment and reflected back – “it’s full now, it wants to drink a little milk”
Well done, I thought! I didn’t press any further as she finished her milk and left the table.
Bottom line – get creative, get silly and just try new ways of encouraging your kids to eat more fruits and veggies.
Good luck and let me know how it goes!
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