We are so excited to be launching a big update to the Learn Play Eat app. đ Thanks so much to those of you who have already seen our app, weâve listened to your feedback and used it to help build this new version with an improved design and new features! If you havenât tried…
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A quick routine before mealtimes, can help prepare kids mentally and physically. It can put them in a positive frame of mind, which is essential for being able to eat to the best of their abilities. A routine might differ to fit each family, but we like to use a little from each of these…
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You may hear health professionals mention the term âfood jagâ. This means when a child wants to eat the same food again and again. For us, the food jag was baked beans. When my son was around 2 years old it was the only thing he wanted to eat for several months. And at the…
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I used to dread mealtimes. When you have a child who is a picky eater, it is difficult. Youâre wondering if they will eat what youâve spent time and money on preparing, and worried about their nutrition and health. And often, kids are less able to eat or try new foods because of this tension.…
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When my son was younger and going through his âpickiestâ stage, we were worried about how much protein he was getting. He couldn’t eat any meat, and didn’t have much dairy either. We know many other parents share this concern. We’ve written this post to share some alternatives to animal proteins which you could try,…
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This week we chatted to some parents about which foods we would like our kids who are picky eaters to be able to eat. Fruits, vegetables and meats came up a lot, and in particular apples were mentioned a couple of times. So I thought Iâd try focusing on apples and put together some ideas…
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At Learn Play Eat we talk a lot about using the âDivision of Responsibilityâ (DOR) approach by Ellyn Satter to help picky eaters at family mealtimes. DOR says that the parents should provide the food and decide what the meal is, when it will be and where, and the children decide if they will eat…
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For children who are picky eaters, and even more so for those who have a food phobia or ARFID, tasting and eating a new food can be tricky. Feeding therapists tell us that pressuring a child to try a food, through âjust one biteâ or a âno thank youâ bite might work in the short-term…
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Watching TV shows or movies which feature food are a great way to encourage an interest in food. It can help children who are picky eaters and those who have food phobias to normalise food and make it seem less scary. There are 3 different types of shows which can be used for this: Entertainment…
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For all children to develop a healthy relationship with food itâs important to consider how we talk to them and teach them about food; this is especially true for picky eaters. Feeding therapists and paediatric dietitians say that young kids do not need and are not yet able to learn the complex details of nutrition,…
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