Eating at Christmas can be an overwhelming day for children. Their usual safe foods may not be accepted due to the pressure of the Christmas meal setting. Ham, bread and potatoes may usually be safe foods, but at Christmas they may be a little different. The ham cut thicker than normal, potatoes covered in an unfamiliar creamy substance, the bread not the same type as they usually have and many salads with exotic ingredients. Additionally, food is being served by relatives that your little ones might only see a couple of times a year. Given all this, it is easy to see that some children may eat next to nothing for Christmas meals.
Last year on Boxing Day (the best day for leftovers), I opted for some quiet, stress-free time away from the formal meal setting with my little guy (3.5 years) and had some fun with the leftovers.
We placed all of the Christmas dinner leftovers on the bench, including the ham, potatoes and bread he chose not to interact with the day before and let him decide what he wanted to do with the ingredients. I also reminded him that he didn’t have to eat anything he didn’t want to. He chose pizza. He enthusiastically cut up some Christmas ham with his Foost First knife, smeared tomato puree on some bread, grabbed a massive handful of spinach and rocket mix (a new first), then I helped him grate some cheese on top. He still didn’t eat any of the salad leftovers, but he was intrigued by them and wanted to know what they were. He ended up eating half of the pizzas we prepared, including the ham and bread he didn’t want to eat yesterday, and most of all, he had heaps of fun.
Food preparation and cooking is a great activity to do with kids. Not only does it build basic cooking skills, it allows them the opportunity to explore and learn about food at their own pace. And if there is no pressure to eat anything they are more likely to explore the foods in front of them – whether that be a prod, a smell, a “what’s that?” or even sneak in a little taste. This is all progress in their food journey.
We hope this inspires you to get creative with your Christmas leftovers with your little ones!
Eat happy!
Rachel Farrell
KDF Intern
