In the modern age, having a classic family dinner seems almost impossible.
Most children have many after-school activities like piano or sports – and so do adults. Plus, even when everyone’s together, kids quickly bury their heads into one of their countless screens.
However, there are still ways to make dinner fun for children, especially when they’re little. And we’ve got a few ideas on how you can do just that!
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Serve Kid-Friendly Food
Sure, all healthy food is technically “kid-friendly”, but you know what we mean.
Children just love some foods more than others – but following their tastes doesn’t necessarily mean eating fast food or something unhealthy.
You could make some lovely tamales from Texas, hot dogs made from premium-quality sausages, veggie chips and fish with quinoa, or even mac and cheese – but with a hidden twist of cauliflower that children won’t even detect.
Go With A DIY Dinner
Interactive dinner experiences have always been a great choice for adult dinner parties – there’s a reason almost every house has a fondue pot these days.
However, that doesn’t mean kids can’t enjoy a DIY dinner – remember, the main reason children aren’t having fun during dinner is that they’re bored.
So, why not make things more interesting?
From time to time, you could serve a meal that they can put together on their own.
Find a homemade dough recipe and have a make-your-own pizza night.
You can do the same thing with mini hamburgers and tortilla pies.
And you’ll find picky eaters among kids are more amiable to healthy ingredients when they feel like they’re contributing somehow and doing something themselves.
Celebrate What They Like
Sometimes, the best way to get kids to eat something new is to combine it with something they already like.
In many cases, they’ll just flat-out refuse something they’re unfamiliar with, especially if it sounds like something they don’t like or reminds them of.
So, if they love pizza – and they probably do – try to make a tasty pizza with healthier ingredients.
They can get a taste of something they love, while still actually having a more rounded, healthier meal.
Or, if they ask for pasta all the time, try mixing in some mashed veggies, baked beans, and meat to your pasta meal to make it fuller.
Keep Experimenting
As a parent, it’s extremely easy to get into a rut – especially regarding what you eat.
After all, you’ve got tons of chores to deal with every day, and if you’re not a stay-at-home parent, you’ve got work to think about as well.
However, you need to break that mealtime rut if you want your kids to have fun during dinner and actually eat well – go beyond the quick and easy.
One of the best ways to break that habit is to carve out one day during the week when you’ll always try a new cooking technique, ingredient, or recipe.
And let the kids have their say in what you’ll make! It’s a great way to get them used to the idea of trying out new foods and new things in general.
Encourage Creativity
Make sure your children associate food with fun and positive things – they’ll have a healthier relationship with it down the line and have more fun at dinnertime while they’re little.
Why not use food to make them laugh with funny faces and voices – or invent ridiculous names for different ingredients?
It doesn’t have to be anything that’ll take too much energy; just do what you can to make each dinner an original experience for them.
Start With Dessert
Mixing things up is one of the best methods for keeping dinner interesting.
And if you want children excited about a sugar-free dessert that’s not as bad for them as the average chocolate bar, you can always use the old switcheroo and just serve it first.
A sugar-free chocolate pudding will seem much more exciting if you serve it before dinner, as will protein cheesecakes.
Of course, you can’t do that every night because it’ll just become a new routine – but it’s a great idea if you do it once in a while.
Teach Them How To Cook
At some point in their lives, your children will have to start cooking on their own.
And just like everything else, it’ll be easier to learn if they start while they’re still little.
Naturally, you shouldn’t let a 4-year-old operate a hot stove – but you can start by teaching them how to mix doughs or measure ingredients.
Soon enough, they’ll learn enough to start making simple dishes without your help.
And it’s a great way to teach them some responsibility too.
Of course, take every possible safety precaution, and teach them what each appliance in the kitchen does only when they’re ready for it.
