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Family Meals

Tips for mealtime

Tips for mealtime

By planning ahead and establishing routines, you can help make mealtime fun and pleasurable. Here are some tips for a successful supper hour:

  • Allow time to adjust. Everyone needs some time to mentally switch from the day’s activities to the evening schedule.
  • Establish a before-mealtime plan. Children find routine comforting, so try having them do things in the same order every night: put away backpacks, change clothes, play for a while, share school papers with a parent, help with dinner, and then eat together.
  • Plan meals in advance. You can also double the recipe and freeze half for a future meal.
  • Include children in meal preparation. Even little ones can learn to set a table or stir batter. It may be messier, but you can use this time to chat about your day and unwind with your children.
  • Feed your baby first. Nursing or giving a bottle prior to mealtime can satisfy your baby and free you up to enjoy the meal with others at the table. Your baby can still be included in the family’s meal by sitting in an infant seat near the table or in a nearby swing. If your baby is eating solids and is hungry, try giving her finger foods or a quiet toy at the high chair.
  • Gather everyone together. Line up all the children to wash hands. Think of a song or rhyme to make it fun. Then, have everyone sit down at the table before the meal is served.
  • Begin the meal with a ritual. You could give everyone a chance to say what was good about his or her day.
  • Enjoy each other’s company while eating. Try to focus on the quality of the mealtime, not the quantity of food eaten.
  • Encourage good manners and positive comments. You could play a word game of 20 questions or riddles to lighten up the conversation.

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