Mealtimes with kids can feel like a constant negotiation. From picky eaters to food throwing, many parents face daily battles at the dinner table. If you’re looking for ways to create a more peaceful and positive eating environment, consider trying Family Style Meals. Maybe you’ve noticed your little one eyeing your plate, seemingly more interested in what you’re having than their own pre-portioned meal. This is where the beauty of family style dining comes in.
Serving meals “family style” simply means placing dishes of food in the center of the table and letting everyone, including children, serve themselves. Instead of pre-plating individual portions, you bring out bowls and platters of each dish and allow each family member to choose what and how much they want to eat.
While some parents worry about the mess, the time it takes, or potential food waste, the advantages of family style meals far outweigh these concerns. Let’s explore the incredible benefits this approach can bring to your family’s table.
Unpacking the Amazing Benefits of Family Style Meals
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Building Trust and Empowering Kids:
Family style dining is deeply rooted in the principles of the Division of Responsibility in feeding. This approach, championed by experts in child nutrition, emphasizes that parents are responsible for what, when, and where food is offered, while children are responsible for how much and whether they eat. By offering food family style, we genuinely respect this division. We trust children to listen to their own bodies and decide how much to put on their plates from the healthy options provided. This trust is foundational for developing a healthy relationship with food in the long run.
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Portion Control, Kid-Style:
When we pre-plate meals, we’re making assumptions about what our children should eat, often based on adult-sized portions or our own perceptions. This can lead to over- or under-serving. A plate piled too high can be visually overwhelming for a child, making them less likely to even start eating. Conversely, we might underestimate their hunger. Family style meals eliminate this guesswork. Children can take small portions to start, and go back for more if they’re still hungry. This self-regulation helps them tune into their natural hunger and fullness cues, crucial skills for lifelong healthy eating habits.
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Fostering Independence and Autonomy:
Toddlers and young children are constantly striving for independence. The phrase “I do it myself!” is a common mantra in households with young kids. Family style meals tap into this desire for autonomy. By allowing children to serve themselves, we’re giving them a sense of control and independence at mealtimes. This can be especially valuable when so much of a child’s day is structured and directed by adults. This feeling of control can make them more engaged and positive about mealtime.
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Encouraging Food Exploration Through Interaction:
Trying new foods is a multi-step process. It’s not just about tasting. Interaction with food – seeing it, smelling it, touching it – is a crucial part of becoming comfortable with new items, especially for picky eaters. Family style meals naturally encourage this interaction. Even if a child isn’t ready to taste a new vegetable, simply having it on the table, passing the bowl, or putting a tiny bit on their plate is a positive interaction. These small steps can pave the way for eventual tasting and acceptance.
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The Messy Benefit: Sensory Exploration:
Yes, family style meals can be a bit messy, especially initially as children learn to navigate serving spoons. However, embrace the mess! Messy play with food is incredibly beneficial for children’s sensory development. Eating is a sensory experience involving taste, smell, sight, sound, and touch. Allowing children to touch their food, even get a little messy, enhances their sensory exploration and can make them more comfortable and accepting of different textures and foods. This is especially helpful for children who are sensitive to textures or are hesitant to try new things.
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Boosting Fine Motor Skill Development:
Serving food family style provides excellent opportunities for children to develop their fine motor skills. Using serving spoons, tongs, and other utensils to scoop and transfer food helps refine their hand-eye coordination and strengthens the small muscles in their hands and fingers. These are crucial skills that contribute to their overall development and independence.
Embrace Family Style Dining for Happier Mealtimes
Family style meals are more than just a serving method; they are a philosophy that promotes trust, independence, and a positive relationship with food for children. While there might be a learning curve (and a bit of extra wiping!), the benefits for your family’s mealtime atmosphere and your children’s development are well worth it. So, ditch the dinner drama and give family style meals a try – you might be surprised at how much everyone enjoys it!
