Mealtime Environment
Mealtimes are about more than just the food on the plate. The environment we eat in plays an important role in developing healthy eating habits, enjoyment of food and positive family relationships. Children learn by watching adults and those around them. A calm, predictable and supportive mealtime environment can help children feel more relaxed around food and more willing to try a variety of foods.
Children should be offered three meals and two small snacks each day. Offering a variety of foods across meals and snacks helps children get a range of nutrients. Eating breakfast has also been shown to support concentration and learning during the school day.
How can you create a positive mealtime environment?
Create Structure and Routine
- Aim for regular meal and snack times each day.
- Offer meals and snacks at a table or designated eating area where possible.
- Avoid snacks 30-60 minutes before meals to support appetite.
Eat Together and keep mealtimes relaxed
- Share meals together as often as possible. Children learn by watching others and are more likely to try foods when they see them being enjoyed.
- If eating together is not possible, try to sit with your child while they eat.
- Minimise distractions such as TVs, phones, tablets and toys.
- Keep conversations positive and focus on the day rather than what or how much your child is eating.
- Allow enough time for meals without rushing.
Support independence around eating
- Offer a variety of foods and allow children to decide how much they eat from what is offered.
- Respect signs that they are full and avoid pressure to eat or finish everything on their plate.
- Encourage children to explore and try new foods in a relaxed, positive way.
Involve children in mealtimes
- Encourage children to help with age-appropriate tasks such as planning meals, preparing food, setting the table or making drinks.
- Offer age-appropriate cutlery and opportunities to develop feeding skills.
