9 Practices for Enriching Mealtimes in Early Learning Settings

September 5, 2024

*Today’s guest blog post is by the authors of the practical new book Meaningful Mealtimes_ —_ Yev Veverka, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Susan A. Ramage, R.N., M.N., Christy Baker, OTR/L, CLE, Kelsey Milne, M.S., & Emilie Dupont, M.Ed.*

Mealtimes are a great opportunity to foster social connections, teach new skills, and introduce children to a variety of foods. However, creating a positive mealtime experience isn’t always easy, especially in early learning settings. Here are some strategies you can use to help enrich mealtimes and make them more enjoyable for everyone involved:

1. Self-Reflect

You bring your own mealtime history and values to your experiences with young children. Reflecting on your own history can help you understand how it influences the expectations or hopes you have for mealtimes in your setting. Ask yourself:

• “What do I remember about my own childhood mealtimes?”
• “What were the rules and expectations?”
• “How did we interact during meals?”
• “How did mealtimes make me feel?”

2. Develop a Mealtime Vision that Reflects Providers, Families, and Children

Creating a shared mealtime vision can be meaningful for providers, families, and children. Your ideal vision for what meals look like can reflect the collective goals and values of everyone involved, ensuring that mealtimes are safe, positive, and fulfilling for all.

3. Create a Calm, Supportive Environment

Set up a mealtime environment that is calm and comfortable, well-organized, and with minimal distractions. Your eating area can help children feel calm and regulated, and support them in shifting their attention from other activities to the mealtime experience.

4. Build Clear Structure and Routines

Establish consistent mealtime routines to provide structure and predictability. This helps children know what to expect, reducing anxiety and creating a more stable, enjoyable experience.

5. Reduce Pressure on Children

Avoid pressuring children to eat certain foods or specific amounts. Offer various choices when possible and allow children to decide what and how much to eat.

6. Observe Carefully and Teach Children to Communicate Their Preferences

For children to feel safe and respected during mealtimes, they need to know that they can express preferences and needs, and that adults will notice and honor their communication. Children express mealtime preferences in many ways: through facial expressions, body language, gestures, or spoken words.

7. Celebrate Diversity

Embrace and celebrate the diversity of food cultures and practices in your program. Talk with families and provide opportunities for them to share information about their special foods, experiences with food preparation, or mealtime traditions (if they wish).

8. Provide Opportunities for Learning

Notice and take advantage of learning opportunities within mealtime. Expand your conversations around food. Discuss where different foods come from, how they grow, their nutritional benefits, who harvests them, and how they’re prepared and used by different cultures.

9. Build Motivation Through Repeated Positive Experiences

Repeated positive mealtime experiences help build intrinsic motivation, making children more likely to engage with and enjoy mealtimes. Infuse mealtimes with fun and creativity.