Have you got a child starting school in September?
A number of the parents I’ve been speaking to have been telling me that they’re worried about their child starting school and not eating any lunch. So, I’ve got some tips for you today to help you starting preparing your child to embrace school meals once they start.
Now is a great time to be doing this. Children go on a journey with their food choices, preferences and with developing their love of food. It takes time and so the sooner we can start, the more time you have and the less stressful it will be for both of you.
Some of the things you can be doing now are to:
- Prepare foods they already eat in different ways so they get used to the same foods looking different (they won’t make it like mummy does at school!)
- Explore more new foods with them both at and away from the table
- Look at a menu and talk to them about what sorts of food to expect at school
- Find pictures of school halls at lunchtimes so they are familiar with the environment
- Support them to be able to use their knife and fork independently
- Don’t let your concerns show, they may not be worried about school meals until they see you worrying about it
- Be reassured to know that many children eat better away from home and with their peers
- Remember that they aren’t going to starve if they don’t eat much lunch at school – though yes they’ll be hungry, hangry even, and need a decent, sustaining snack after school!
For more support to get your child school ready, why not join me for my masterclass on Wednesday 17 May at 8pm?