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Mealtime Options for Picky Eaters
FEEDING

Mealtime Options for Picky Eaters

August 12, 2020November 25, 2020 speechinthecity Leave a comment

Food is so important to everyone. There are several simple feeding accessories that make feeding time for your toddler easier. They are both functional and fun and are all affordable. 

Nutridashe

What is Nutridashe? 

The Nutridashe food picks make eating fun! Food Picks are an intermediate utensils. They allow the transition from hand to utensil by providing a simple, easy to hold object to grab food and place. Foodpicks are created for promoting the correct amount of food, providing independence and teaching different animals and fruits with their fun designs. They are so cute that they are perfect for your little one and your Instagram feed.

How can you use this?

  • The Nutridashe food picks are a must have because they allow a fun and safe environment to pick up food with. 
  • The use of the picks makes for an in between utensil and are reusable.
  • They involve less fine motor coordination than a fork or spoon
  • They are helpful with correct placement on the lateral molars for children in an oral motor program
  • They are great for picky eaters, and a way to make feeding fun and personal.  Imagine encouraging children to eat with a fun food pick like characters from their favorite show! For example, pair an unfamiliar food with a familiar character and encourage the child to eat the item because their favorite character enjoys it! With characters like Elsa, Anna, to Paw Patrol to fun fruits and veggies, there is truly something for everyone! 

Divided Plate

What is a divided plate? 

A classic, but always a necessity. These simple divided plates are great for separating foods during meal time. By separating the different sections of food it allows the child to eat without the food touching with correct portions and allows for the child to be able to finish a section! The different areas of the plate break up the meal so that the child can put foods in order of interest and have a bit more control of what section they want to try first, second etc. The different sections of the plate could also be used to show that they were able to finish the sections.  To use these plates during mealtime simply fill the plate with different parts of the meal such as vegetables, pasta and even a dessert! 

Melanie Potock, a pediatric feeding expert explains on her instagram how to start using divided plates with toddlers. Simply divide the plate into different food categories:

  • The smallest section holds a little bit of everything that is in the meal. For example, if your child’s meal was chicken nuggets and peas, place one chicken nugget and a few peas in the smallest section. She explains that this allows the child to see that the foods are touching. 
  • In the other two sections place the chicken nuggets and peas separately! 
  • Another strategy Melaine suggests is to include an additional empty bowl to the side of the plate for food items that are “all done”. This allows the child to try the food and decide when/if they are done with it. Our job is to provide the food!

Interactive Game Plate by Bilby and Bear 

What is The Football Game Plate? 

This plate is seriously amazing. It is similar to the divided plate. It’s a Football Game portioned food plate that is perfect for all your picky eaters. It comes with a fun and interactive spinner that allows children to take charge of their eating. The plate also comes with matching food picks to allow for easy eating. It’s something that your kid won’t stop using. This plate is also dishwasher safe.

How can you use this?

  • It’s a divided plate but better, as it allows for many divisions of the food which allows for more “wins” in taking bites and eating meals for picky eaters.
  • The plate and spinner combo allows for a fun game alongside mealtime. Because the plate looks like a game and is a game, it allows for the easy division and correct portions of food during mealtime and in order to complete the “game” the child has to finish.
  • The plate is designed for progressive eating and food engagement. 
  • During any meal use this plate to make a game out of eating. With the fun colors and picks that will make any picky eater want to eat. 
  • For example, set the plate down filled with some delicious food, spin the wheel, check what it lands on, and use a matching food pick to encourage your child to try the food. This method allows the eating to be in control with the child because they are using the spinners and food pick to enjoy their meal! 

Curious Chef: Fruit and Veggie Prep Kit 

What is the Curious Chef Fruit and Veggie Prep Kit? 

The Fruit and Veggie Prep Kit by the Curious Chef gives children all the tools to whip up a healthy meal or snack with fruits and veggies. It includes an apple cutter, melon baller, knife and peeler which are the most perfect utensils. The ability to prepare food and eat food allows children to partake in perspective taking activities by allowing them to be incharge of what goes on their plate!

How can you use this?

  • Children can take charge of their snacks and meals by actively preparing them
  • Children see what ingredients work together to make meals
  • Children discover that flavor and taste might be something they enjoy

Constructive Eating Plate & Utensils

What is the Construction Eating Plate & Utensils? 

This product includes both a divided plate and kid friendly utensils that work together. The plate has written and visual cues that allow the child to “push” and “bulldoze” the food into their fork or spoon. It also includes ridges to cue the child into the correct placement of the utensil. The utensils work seamlessly because they promote lip closure and allow for the correct hand placement. They are another item that makes eating fun for little ones.

How can you use this?

  • The fun colors and utensils make it look like a game. 
  • It improves fine motor skills by giving visual prompts and being able to control the utensils. 
  • The interactive designs are realistic and can be personalized and “picked out” by the child that match the child’s play interests
  • Picky eaters who resist have trouble with non preferred foods, will see their food is now in combination with their favorite cars, trucks etc. 
foodmealtimepicky eaters

Related Posts

Getting Through Mealtime With Picky Eaters
Getting Through Mealtime With Picky Eaters

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Welcome to Speech in The City's blog. Here you'll find out lots of resources to help you or your child in speech and/or feeding therapy. We are always looking for new families to meet and professionals to learn from -Rebecca

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