1. Introduction
Are you struggling with thoughts like “Planning daily meals is so hard…” or “I cook but my kids won’t eat it…”? When you include children’s input in meal planning, mealtimes become more enjoyable and their appetite increases! Planning meals as a family isn’t just about food preparation – it’s an opportunity for communication. In this article, we’ll introduce tips for enjoyable family meal planning and ways to make children want to eat on their own!
2. Practical Points and Examples
- “Why does incorporating children’s opinions increase their desire to eat?”
Getting children involved in meal planning from the start is effective in bringing out their “I want to eat!” motivation!
- They’re more likely to eat what they’ve chosen themselves
- They’re more willing to try not just their favorite dishes, but new menu items too
- They can experience the joy of not just “eating” but “creating”
Tip: “Listening to children’s opinions” helps them enjoy eating more proactively!
- “Ideas for Enjoyable Family Meal Planning”
Making an effort to incorporate children’s opinions makes it even more fun!
- ① Hold a “Menu Meeting” once a week
- Discuss “What would you like to eat this week?”
- Parents suggest recommended recipes for children to choose from
- ② Balance “Favorite Dishes + New Menu Items”
- Example: “Monday is pasta day!” + “Let’s have vegetable soup too”
- Develop a habit of choosing balanced meals, not just favorites
- ③ Make it fun with lottery or cards
- Decide “Which dish should we have today?” using cards or drawing lots
- Plan meals with excitement
Tip: Using “child-friendly methods” naturally increases their interest in food!
- “Ways to Make Meal Planning Family Time”
Make meal planning not just a task, but an enjoyable time for family conversation!
- Set themes for each day of the week
- Monday: Pasta Day (meat sauce or cream pasta)
- Wednesday: Soup Day (potage or hearty soup)
- Friday: Request DAY (children’s choice)
- Create shopping lists together
- Have children list the “necessary ingredients”
- Finding ingredients at the supermarket is fun too!
- Assign family roles
- “Rice ball duty” or “salad duty” – divide simple tasks
- Having small roles increases interest in meals
Tip: Children are more positive about meals when they’re involved in the planning!
- “Points for Smooth Meal Planning”
- Provide choices → “Which would you prefer, curry or hashed beef?”
- Consider nutritional balance while choosing → “What side dish should we add?”
- Use fun names → “Energy-Boost Bowl” “Surprise Plate”
Tip: Create a “fun atmosphere” and “thoughtful choices” for smooth planning!
3. Points to Note and Tips
- “Don’t force new menu items”
→ Start with children’s favorites and gradually add new ingredients!
- “It’s OK if they don’t eat it!”
→ Don’t worry if it doesn’t work the first time! Keep serving it, and they might eat it someday.
- “Parents should enjoy too”
→ Enriching mealtime by enjoying conversations like “This combination is great!”
4. Summary and Next Steps
Making meal planning a family activity increases children’s interest in food and naturally boosts their desire to eat! Let’s start with:
- Hold a “Menu Meeting” once a week
- Set themes for each day and plan balanced menus
- Get help with shopping and cooking to build interest in food. Planning meals together with your children will make every mealtime more exciting!
