Every night just before dinner the request for snacks begin. My daughter is teeny tiny and just does not have an appetite. What she likes one day she will not the next, I have had a hard time deciding on how to handle this.
There is always the old wives tale – they will eat when they get hungry.
Or you could go to the extreme, I remember as a child not being to get up from the table until my plate was cleared. The stubborn child I was, I spent many nights sitting there until it was time to go to bed.
My tummy says its not hungry !
How do you keep dinner time a fun, sharing family time when stressed about nutrition? I decided to do some research and found many different approaches. Below are some of the ones that I felt would work best in our home.
1. Change the environment – “picnics” are always fun inside & out, move to the dinning room for fancy dinner. We have done this and had great outcomes.
2. Change the utnesil or plate – big girl fork or spoon & fun paper plates.
3. Get them involved with cooking & setting the table.
4. Get them active treasure hunt or a fun game of follow the leader. This will get their appetite going.
5. TV can work some of the time and sometimes it can be a distraction. The key is mix it up.
6. Try a variety of foods & offer new ones.
7. This actually is the one suggestion I found on many sites – do not make meal time a battlefield. Provide encouragement, offer alternatives, & encourage them to enjoy family time. They may just begin eating once the control issue is gone. This is the one that I have not done but will change immediately.
8. Make it pretty – decorate with a smiley face or make into a flower. Use fresh fruit, veggies or anything you are having dinner to create a fun environment.
9. Take them to the farmers market, food shopping, or picking fresh fruit or veggies. My oldest loves helping Nana & Papa in the garden.
10. Try not to give drinks prior to mealtime. I think this is why I have such a hard time with breakfast – my daughter does not eat well so I still give her a bottle in the morning when she wakes up & before bed – whole milk, scoop of enfamil next step, & chocolate syrup upon request.
Well I am interested in trying some of my newly acquired tips & tricks. Hopefully some of this will inspire you to make it fun and make it count! 
