Pumpkin Palooza | Saturday, October 26
Pumpkin Palooza | Saturday, October 26
By Sweta Sobrin, DCM’s Sr. Manager for Early Learning & Family Engagement
When my son was first starting solid foods, I was stressed. I worried endlessly about nutrition, building a healthy relationship with food, allergies, choking, on and on. For a few years, we had a “good eater.” We offered him small portions of what we were eating, and he happily ate handfuls of broccoli, pad thai, and samosas. I was so relieved that he was eating whatever was on his plate that we did not think too much about it.
Until… Around age 4, my child suddenly discovered that not only could he say “no” to the meal I prepared, he could go on a hunger strike until I caved and made him a PB&J so he wouldn’t go to bed hungry. Since he was a toddler, my child had been cooking with me; now, all of a sudden, he would not touch anything that was not mac and cheese. A year later, at 5, we are mostly back to eating the same meal as a family, with a few, “I’m not hungry!”s every now and again.
If this sounds familiar, here are some ways to spice up mealtime and add a side of fun to your plates!
Start with WHY. Know your food philosophy.
Understanding your family’s philosophy of food and nutrition is the base upon which you will build a lifelong healthy relationship with food. For some families, food is communal. Celebrations include delicious treats, and meals are times for gathering. For other families, food is a source of energy to power our days. Whatever your food philosophy, discuss those values as a family. Whenever I put a home-cooked meal on a plate and it goes untouched, I think about what we, as a family, use food for. Once I remember that, for us, food is energy, I can reframe the narrative from “he’s such a picky eater” to “he ate a big snack earlier with a lot of protein, and maybe that’s all he needs for today.”
Invite children into the kitchen.
So much of parenting feels like a power-struggle. If we’re able to let go of control, even just a little, we can empower our children in many ways. Start by making space for your children to be part of the cooking or decision-making. Show them the grocery list and task them with finding some items in the grocery store. Being able to choose and identify components of the foods they are eating can help demystify foods and open conversation about what different ingredients add to the dish. For example, baking soda in a cake makes the cake nice and fluffy! A pinch of salt or a squeeze of lemon can bring out the flavors in different ingredients.
Sneak learning into each recipe with hands-on meal preparation.
When kids help to prepare healthy foods, they are more likely to try and eat them. Here are a few intentional strategies to get kids involved in food science…Review the recipe; then have kiddos track down ingredients in recipes and place them in sequential order (to add in some math skills). Build in some STEM learning by using kitchen tools to work on measuring; engage in scientific thinking by observing cause-and-effect, and have fun making predictions! Be prepared for investigative inquiries like how? what? when? and then why? Have fun exploring the answers together.
Smelling and tasting brings in important sensory information and also serves to introduce new flavors and textures in a non-threatening way. During the tasting, take a deeper dive into sensory exploration. Cooking features lots of sounds, but as you begin to eat, consider – sight, smell, touch, taste. This will prompt an interesting conversation, and it may even make the meal experience better for all.
Food and nutrition can be tricky topics for many families. As caregivers, we want our children to grow strong and healthy, but sometimes we might struggle to create environments that encourage curiosity in trying new foods. Hopefully these suggestions can help your little ones get excited about new tastes. Every child is different; get creative and try new approaches until you find what works best for you and your family. Always work in collaboration with your child’s healthcare provider to determine what is best for your child.
About Sweta
Sweta has extensive experience in Early Learning Centers including leadership positions. She also has provided educator training and coaching for Early Childhood Educators in a variety of contexts including helping scientists engage children in STEM topics.
“I am beyond thrilled to part of a team of creative, passionate, and responsive professionals who fully believe in the power of play,” shared Sweta. “I am eager to implement DCM’s philosophy of joyful discovery and learning to directly strengthen family connections and build lasting relationships in the community.”
