Gathering around the dinner table and eating together is more than just a way to satisfy hunger. By eating the same food, regardless of age, it creates a greater sense of community and a positive environment around food that can promote the joy of eating and independent eating.
Shared food – smoother meals and positive experiences
When the whole family eats the same food, children have the opportunity to observe and imitate adults. By seeing how we handle and eat food, children can learn that food is a natural and positive part of life. This imitation helps them develop their own interest in food and new flavors. Being able to eat together also makes mealtimes more convenient, as parents don’t have to prepare different dishes and everyone can enjoy the same food at the same time. This creates a harmonious and educational environment for children.
Independent eating – a sensory exploration
For young children, eating is an experience for all the senses. When children are allowed to eat independently, they explore food by feeling, tasting, and even playing with it. This sensory exploration contributes to their development and helps them build a positive relationship with food.
Early introduction to family food
By introducing children to the foods that the rest of the family eats early on, they become accustomed to different tastes and textures. This can be especially beneficial as they enter more challenging phases, such as the neophobic period around age two. Already being exposed to the look, taste, and texture of food can reduce resistance to new foods.
Division of responsibilities that makes mealtimes easier
A clear division of responsibilities can make mealtimes more relaxed. If parents decide what is served and let the child decide how much is eaten, the pressure on both parties is reduced. When children eat independently from an early age, it is easier to trust their natural appetite and avoid stress around food intake.
Prepare food together – create community and interest
Preparing food together can also contribute to community and increase children's interest in what is to be eaten.By giving them small tasks in the kitchen, such as stirring, rinsing and cutting vegetables, they become more engaged. It makes cooking a fun and educational time together.
Food enjoyment that grows over time
Food enjoyment is a long-term process where positive experiences are built over time. By creating a pleasurable and exploratory environment around the dinner table, we lay the foundation for our children to develop a healthy and positive relationship with food. The same food for the whole family, and a safe and relaxed atmosphere, can help make every meal part of this important journey.
How to create simpler everyday meals:
- Plan meals in advance: Create a weekly menu with simple dishes that everyone can eat. This saves time and stress when it's time to cook.
- Customize family favorites: Choose dishes that the whole family likes and make small adjustments to adapt them to the youngest if necessary, perhaps skipping the salt or adjusting the consistency/shape.
- More options on the table: Serve dishes where everyone can pick what they want, like tacos, pita bread, and salads. It's easy to adapt to age and taste.
- Simplify cooking: Use the same base for several dishes, e.g. boiled potatoes can be mashed the next day.
Eating the same food as a family not only creates practical benefits in everyday life, it can also strengthen family bonds and promote a positive food experience for children. By inviting the little ones to the dinner table, we give them a chance to develop a healthy and positive relationship with food early on.
/Elin Oresten
Lic. nutritionist and founder of Knatteplock.
