Even a trip to the grocery store can be an opportunity for play. Ask young children to help find fruits and vegetables that start with the first letter of their name. You may find that Abigail starts liking apples and that Ben suddenly starts eating bananas. Once you get home from the store, let children sort the foods by color or texture.
4. Decorate the table
Atmosphere is everything, but your kids probably aren’t looking for candlelit tables and fine china. Instead make their food more attractive by using colored plates, crazy straws, funny placemats, and party favors.
Foundation: celery or carrot sticks, crackers, banana slices, pineapple slices, orange sections, grapes, tortillas, cheese cubes
Decorations: raisins, seeds, nuts, cherry tomatoes, shredded coconut, berries
Look to your child’s favorite books to inspire new menus. Otherwise picky fans of Dr. Seuss may devour a meal of green eggs (scrambled eggs mixed with spinach) and ham. Seek out other titles, such as How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World , Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, or Growing Vegetable Soup, that inspire great recipes.
7. Sing for your supper
If your child loves music, listen to some Sesame Street healthy snack songs, like the “Mango Tango” and “I Love Fruit.” You can make up your own lyrics to celebrate the silly joys of whatever is on the menu that night.