Mealtimes

Mealtimes

Creating a relaxed and fun atmosphere at mealtimes can help children to make positive associations with healthy eating. Where possible, if staff can sit with children they can show good examples of table manners, introduce new foods and model good eating practice. This can be achieved by:

• having areas for meal and snack times clean and bright with displays relating to healthy eating.
• allowing time for children who are slow eaters, and not to rush them.
• recognising that all children have different levels of appetite and not putting pressure them to finish their meal if they explain that they are full. This can help build healthy habits, such as eating in response to hunger rather than in response to stress. To reduce food waste,  serve small portion sizes to start with, and support children to ask for more if they wish.
• using positive language such as “it’s fun/nice/delicious/an experiment/an adventure”, and staying away from language such as “because it’s healthy”. Focus on the positive health outcomes from fruit and vegetables, for example “it makes you feel full of energy”.