Tired of mealtime battles? Deconstruct the meals!

If you are a parent of a picky eater, you probably feel exhausted by short-order cooking, preparing separate meals for everyone and listening to whining and complaining at mealtimes.

While it is never easy to parent kids through this frustrating, albeit developmentally appropriate, eating stage, research shows that giving in to demands or pressuring kids to eat food is not likely to help. As a mother of a reformed picky eater myself, I have tried all the wrong strategies when my daughter suddenly started refusing previously liked foods at the age of 2.  If I knew back then what I know now I would have avoided many mealtime battles with my little one!

One of the secrets of a peaceful mealtime with your toddler is including in a meal some acceptable options she feels comfortable with. But does it mean that you need to cater, cook separate meals, or, even worse, offer alternatives to what is on the table? Of course not! This will teach your toddler that you do not expect her to learn to like the foods the family is eating and will only further entrench the picky eating habits.

So what is a busy parent to do? Try serving “deconstructed meals” often as your child is going through the picky eating stage (this typically happens between 2 and 6 years).

Here is an example of a deconstructed salad I serve for dinner often, especially on hot summer nights. I often accompany it with some fresh cooked whole wheat pasta and olive oil with lemon juice for a simple dressing.

Many compound dishes can be served in a deconstructed way, providing all family members with essentially the same meal that picky eaters can vary slightly depending on their abilities and preferences. Here are basic rules for serving meals in a deconstructed way:

• when planning meals for your family, choose options with ingredients that can be served separately for everyone to add them to their own plate. Salad, wraps, sandwiches and pasta, fish and chicken dishes can all be “deconstructed.”
• serve meals family-style by placing food in serving bowls in the middle of the table and encourage everyone to serve themselves what they like.
• make sure to include at least one food in the meal that your child typically eats.  But do not worry if all your child is only interested in is his favorites like pasta or rice. There is an adjustment period he will have to go through to get used to this new way of eating. You will see more interest in new and less-liked foods over time.
• avoid pressuring your child to serve himself or try certain foods. While some children are more adventurous and compliant, many will react to pressure by doing the exact opposite and will take much longer to come around to eat and enjoy a variety of foods.

Here is another example of a deconstructed meal with all components – meat sauce, pasta and vegetables served separately.

This simple recipe for deconstructed quesadillas will work for the whole family. Aside from its practical benefit of bringing peace to dinner table, it is also incredibly fun to make with your kids. Some of my Facebook followers tried it at children and even adult parties and it was a hit!

 

 

More deconstructed meal ideas:

Deconstructed ramen makes a perfect family meal

Deconstructed cabbage rolls