Babies and everything related to them is very special. When we say this, things are meant to work accordingly. Extra care needs to be taken for the special soul right from the day they arrive in this world. The journey from breastfeeding to feeding all kind of essential food to a baby is a task that is new for every mother.
Some Easy Creative Methods to Make Food Fun:
1) Vibrant Colors
No one prefers a dull plate of food. Colors and good presentation of food lifts everyone’s mood. Vegetables like beetroot, carrot, red beans (rajma) should be used. Juices of both carrot and beetroot can be added to give a color. Fruit salad with a topping of cream or some milk, homemade fruit juice, soups can be loaded with a decent amount of vegetables (e.g.: Broccoli, carrot, tomato, spinach) along with a few drops of lime and most importantly the food should taste good.
2) Presenting the Food in a Creative Way
A good way of presenting food is a mask to the healthy food that babies mostly don’t like. Curiosity and interest must be generated when the baby looks at the food. To do so try making designs of smiles (emoticon), ball designs, and favorite cartoon character’s feature (e.g.: the eyes of Minion, Minnie’s bow etc). These designs can be plated with the food that is served.
3) Introducing New Recipes That Will Make Them Curious
A child mind is full of questions and curiousness. A new recipe paves the way to it and raises curiosity which in turn leads to developing a want to consume the food.
4) Keeping the Baby Busy With Toys While Feeding Them Food
Toys are babies best of friends and this friend is a very effective one for the mothers to keep their child busy while feeding. A baby’s hand and feet are the most active part while feeding so to control them a helper is needed and nothing serves best than the baby’s favorite toy or toys!
5) Make Them Eat on Dining Table With the Family
Habits never die. So it’s essential to teach a child healthy habits. One such is having the meal time with the whole family on the dining table. There are lots of bonuses on this. The child learns to communicate, sharing is initiated, by looking at the adults he/she learns the food habits and table manners and thus a healthy, positive aura is generated in the house.
6) Be Patient
With the birth of a child there occurs the birth of a mother. The transformation of an independent woman to a caring doting mother includes stages of changes both physically and mentally. Therefore patience is the key. The Patience factor is not just for the mother to develop but for the family as a whole. Each member needs to have the patience to nurture the child to make him/her a good citizen.
7) Preparation of Food
Nutrients should not be lost in the process of cooking. Therefore ensure that both the vitamins and taste are intact in the food given to your baby.
8) Appreciate Them as They Finish Their Meal
Care and love help the baby to grow healthy both in the heart and mind. Proper encouragement and appreciation must be given. (e.g. appreciate them as they finish the meal, we can act in a childish manner and also speak in a baby tone to connect to them at a closer level.
9) Do Not Force Feed the Baby
It’s quite unhealthy to force feed. This may lead to vomiting and stomach disorder. The baby’s system runs according to its capacity so it is not a thing to worry if she/he does not finish the meal. Of course, there are instances where it is required to visit the doctor if the child does not consume food on daily basis. Once a day not finishing the bowl of food is normal.
10) Be a Role Model for Him/ Her
A role model is very important for your child. Set good examples and behaviors which will reflect in her/his character and personality at later stages of her/his life. The family is the mirror which reflects the child.
11) Set a Timetable
It is very important to do things according to a definite time especially when it is about your baby. By setting a time table you will be able to perform all the task of your baby without leaving behind things to be done. A timetable very often also acts as a reminder.
12) Play Games
Games are engaging. Therefore to have a smooth feeding time it is necessary that the child remains distracted by the games being played with them, thus avoiding the chances of the child throwing away the food.
13) Do Not Bribe With Sweets and Chocolates to Make Them Eat
Habit begin from childhood and it is the responsibility of the parent to look after how the baby grows and with what values. When there occurs any form of bribe to make the baby eat, it is not healthy because in the long run it will develop into a bad habit.
14) Try and Try Again
Babies are not fond of all kinds of food but all vitamins are needed in a growing body. So in order to get the vitamins, a kind of food can be processed in various ways. In the end, the baby will like one of the recipes. Baby food can experiment but proper care must be taken when done so.
15) Morning The Best Time
Food can be allergic or reaction might occur in the baby’s body. Morning hours are the safe ones to try a new food because if anything happens you can rush to the doctor immediately.
16) Sing a Song
Babies are good listeners. Lullabies can get a baby to sleep, so can a song make feeding easier. When you sing to your baby while eating you connect to him/her and at the same time a fun environment builds up. So cheer up with your baby and make meal times the best time of your baby’s day.
Do share if how much you agree with the above-mentioned points. Also, do let us know if you use any other methods to feed your baby in a fun/creative way.
My baby is about two years and four months my baby do not take meal every day what can I do plz give some recipes for him
My baby is 21 months old. She eats completely one day and leaves half food the other. She sometimes doesn’t eat anything the whole day. And she likes and dislikes the same food depending on her mood. M really worried about her food habits.
What should I do please tell.
My baby donot take meal everyday he is 13 month old, he eats only rice but not everyday. He likes popcorn, apple, carrot ,eggs and plain rice.breasts milk is not sufficient for him. What can I do?
Same here . My baby doesn’t not take even a spoon full of any meal.
Very nice article. Keep writing.
Nice Article