Have you ever wanted to find a great way to help motivate your toddler and/or child to eat healthy and finish their dinner?
At lunch today, a smile beamed across my face. It was one of those “mommy moments” of complete satisfaction.
And it started when my two and three year old Max and Sophie sat down to eat their lunch. It was the typical chaos that lunch time brings feeding toddlers. Max asking for water, Sophie wanting a blue straw versus a red straw, one asking for crayons and the other wanting to go potty. FINALLY, after all the commotion and a spilled cup of water on the floor, their lunch was served.
Both of my kids are luckily very hearty eaters. They typically eat their healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner with enthusiasm and gusto. However, today was different.
Sitting on my little boy’s plate was a salmon sandwich on whole wheat bread and cut up cantaloupe. He typically likes to dip his fish sandwich in balsamic vinegar, (yes I know this is strange, but it actually is good!) However, today he wasn’t eating any of his sandwich, he wasn’t dipping his sandwich in the vinegar, and was only picking at the pieces of lettuce and cheese that were inside the sandwich. He wasn’t even eating his cantaloupe, which is one of his favorite fruits.
Meanwhile, his two year old sister Sophie devoured every last bite of her salmon sandwich and cantaloupe and soon started asking for a cookie. “Mommy I want a Pumpkin Cookie. A cookie mommy……PLEEEEEASE????”
After having just made pumpkin cookies that were fresh out of the oven, the kitchen smelled REALLY good. I told her I would get her a cookie and she was happy. Then my little boy added to the excitement and chimed in with the request for a pumpkin cookie also. The only problem was, he had not even touched his lunch!
I am sure even my Grandma’s Grandma had the same response to this classic mom situation.
“Eat your dinner first and then you can have a cookie.”
Sure enough, this timeless age old approach of food motivation once again worked like magic in helping my son eat healthy and finish his lunch. Within minutes, my little guy devoured his entire salmon sandwich, polished off all his cantaloupe, and delightedly indulged in the privilege of having a Pumpkin Oatmeal cookie right out of the oven for dessert.
Nutrichef w/Heat Red Silicone Handles, Oven Safe, 10 Piece Set
Salient Features
With healthy desserts, everyone wins. My son not only finished his HEALTHY salmon sandwich and fruit but also received a HEALTHY cookie as a treat.
Everyone was happy.
I smiled with satisfaction.
