Sometimes Playing with Your Food is OK

How many times do you have to tell your child “don’t play with your food.”  If your child is anything like mine they are either playing with their food or wearing it.

I ask myself….why?  Why is he playing with his food?  Does he not like it?  Is he prolonging the inevitable? Is he bored?  Maybe he’s not hungry? Then one day I thought to myself, you know what? I’m going to play with my food too.  That night we had green beans, mac and cheese and meatloaf.  I pretended like the green beans were all the teachers at school.  The mac and cheese noodles were the students and the meatloaf….well the meatloaf was the school.  It was amazing how my son’s face lit up!  I made the green beans stand at the corners of the “school,” saying things like….”slow down, no running, no pushing please” my son was laughing hysterically.  Then when the students would run (on my spoon of course), I would simply EAT THEM!  Before I knew it, my son was eating all his dinner and loving every moment of it.

Yes, it’s true, not every night can be a night to play with your food.  But it’s amazing how much more enjoyable meal time can be when you relax and laugh instead of letting frustration “eat” at you.  You will be amazed at the imagination your child has when it comes to making their food come alive.

So go ahead, it’s ok…..play with your food!