After noticing how Jennifer Anderson, the mom and registered dietitian nutritionist behind Instagram account kids.eat.in.color, playfully presented healthy foods for kids, I was eager to experiment with my 3-year-old. One night, instead of serving his food on a plate, I pulled out a muffin tin from the cabinet and began filling it with a mix of veggies, fruits, protein, and carbs I had on hand and presented this toddler charcuterie of sorts to my son. He was into it. Really into it. In fact, he wiped out the entire muffin tin.
Mom and pediatric dietitian Ashley Smith, who helms the veggiesandvirtue Instagram account, created an entire series around the concept of enticing kids to eat more adventurously and nutritiously by way of muffin tins with her Muffin Tin Monday posts.
But it doesn't stop with muffin tins. Mom and registered dietitian Kacie Barnes, from the mamaknows_nutrition Instagram account, gets kids to try healthy foods using playful utensils, like forks that look like construction trucks and picks shaped like animals. Following these accounts opened my eyes to a treasure trove of mealtime accessories that can turn eating into an adventure. If you're looking for a way to introduce an element of fun to your little one's meals and snacks, read on for plenty of ideas!
You likely already have one of these stashed in your cabinets, so why not use it to inspire your kids to explore different textures and flavors? Use a muffin tin to deconstruct dinners you're eating, like a Cobb salad, or to come up with an easy, last-minute dinner using whatever leftovers are in the fridge.
These colorful baking cups can be used for so much more than baking! Use them to separate different foods on plates and in lunchboxes or to hold dipping sauces to enjoy with fruits, veggies, and crackers.
Even the most ordinary foods can engage kids when they're set on a playful plate.
With this lion plate, tangerines transform into a lion's mane. The food play options are almost endless.
This construction vehicle fork makes a serving of bell peppers look irresistible.
Adding some veggie letters to spell out a message and cute picks to make vegetables and fruits more appealing is an instant mood booster.
Balls of rice become cuddly pandas with a rice mold.
Have a pill organizer? It works brilliantly as a travel case for stashing small bites of food.
There are lots of ways to cook and consume an egg, but this sweet fish-shaped egg mold feels extra special.
If your child is opposed to trying a certain fruit or vegetable, you might be surprised by their willingness to try it when it comes in an interesting shape.
Instead of lumping everything together on a plate, try deconstructing dinner using a compartmentalized plate in a cool shape.
Branch out from offering just forks and spoons as utensils. Offer unexpected tools, like small tongs, or introduce kid-friendly chopsticks.
Fruit and veggie kebabs are a visually enticing way to present a rainbow of fruits and veggies. All you need are bamboo cocktail skewers.
Let tiny fingers explore different foods with a pick. It's more fun and easier to use than a fork, and it keeps those fingers from getting sticky.
This silicone mat shaped like a face adds an element of play and keeps food separated.