Provide opportunities, not pressure.
Offer the foods available for the meal and allow children to decide whether and how much to eat from what's provided, following program procedures and any individualized feeding plans.
-
Avoid requiring children to take “one more bite.”
-
Don't use dessert or preferred foods as rewards for eating other foods.
-
Avoid comparing how much different children eat.
-
Respect children's expressions of hunger, fullness, and discomfort.
Make unfamiliar foods approachable.
Children may need repeated opportunities to become comfortable with a food. Encourage exploration without making tasting a requirement.
-
Describe the food's color, shape, or texture.
-
Allow children to look at or smell a food.
-
Model a positive, neutral attitude toward different foods.
-
Offer familiar foods alongside less familiar options when available.
Keep mealtimes calm and predictable.
A consistent routine helps children know what to expect. Provide enough time to eat without rushing, and minimize unnecessary distractions.
Partner with families.
Families can share information about children's food preferences, cultural traditions, allergies, and feeding needs. Communicate observations without judgment and work together when concerns arise.
Try This Today: Observe your classroom's next meal. Notice whether adults are encouraging exploration or unintentionally pressuring children to eat. Choose one phrase to use, such as, “You can decide if you'd like to try it,” instead of “You need to take a bite.”