Mealtime tips for introducing tooth friendly foods and drinks
Overview
Once mealtime starts, there are a few things that can make it more comfortable and enjoyable for your child. These include helping your child stay at the table, keeping things clean, and letting them explore food by touching it and trying new things gradually.
Staying at the table
It can be hard to keep children at the table during meals. The resources below, created with Saskia Grassie, offer tips based on what has worked for other families. These simple strategies can help make mealtimes more positive and less stressful for you and your child.
Exploring food with hands
Touching food with hands and fingers gives lots of information about how food might feel in the mouth and some children may need to do more of this to learn about foods and feel safe. Try not to discourage this at mealtimes – sensory learning is important. The feel of cutlery can be challenging for some children, and it is not uncommon for children to dislike the feel of metal cutlery handles. This page provides information on cutlery and adjustments you can make.
Wiping face and hands
Having faces and hands wiped briskly, especially during a meal, can be a very negative experience for many children and may contribute to their anxiety around mealtimes and unwillingness to come to the table. As soon as possible, teach them how to wipe their own hands and face, and leave a clean cloth within reach. Sometimes just knowing the cloth is there can be enough, and children may manage to tolerate messy hands and food on their face for a little bit longer. If you don’t like mess, it can be hard to allow your children to get messy, but this is an important part of learning about the sensory properties of food and learning to manage different textures.
After the meal, wash with a bowl of warm water and a cloth at the table, or at the basin or sink. Make this part of your routine so your child knows they can always get clean.
For children who need more calming, sensory, deep-touch input on their hands after the meal to help ‘rub out’ the challenging feel of different textures, you may find it helpful to try some hand-calming activities. See here for more about hand-calming activities.
Food chaining
Food chaining is a method of gradually introducing new foods by connecting them with familiar favourites. For example, if your child likes mashed potatoes, you might next introduce mashed sweet potatoes if it is the texture they like the most. If they like the colour of plain mash, you might introduce mashed potato with a little grated mild cheese next or chain to a slice of plain boiled potato.
Other links
NHS Lothian: This website provides detailed information about food chaining.
Watch again
Jump straight to what parents and early years professionals have said about food and drinks.
