URGENT: need some idea for food based exploring activity for a fussy eater.

[navyeyelasH]

I have a child who is a fussy eater 2nd day tomorrow. Am thinking having a few minutes playing with some food could be quite fun for him as his relationship with food is quite negative at the mo (he literally eats 3 things other than fruit).

My brain is asleep and I can't think of anything!

All I can think of is jelly. Ideally I would like us to play with 3 different types of food.

Any ideas?

At my kids nursery they made (and played) with porridge recently, and dyed it different colours (at least I think this is what they did, given the children's description!)

Cornflakes or other cereal has a nice crunchy texture. Cooked spaghetti, can curl it up and make shapes? (Or other pasta you could wear on your fingers)

I have a very fussy eater, but have never thought of this as a way to change it though! Will be interested to hear how it goes.

Spaghetti is a brill idea thank you so much. Porridge could be interesting but I bet it's a real bugger to clean!

He seems to do ok for breakfast I think it might be a slimy feel and look of food that puts him off, so will give cornflakes a miss for tomorrow but will definitely try it another day with some other children!

Thanks penona; I will let you know how it goes!

Anyone else awake enough to tackle this?

yy cereal, cheerios/rice crispies, you can thread the cheerios, make crispie cakes

also - allergies notwithstanding - modelling playdoh stylee with marzipan

angel delight - make a thin layer on a large-ish plate so that he can draw his fingers through to mark-make

Don't forget to risk assess [sigh]

BALD all great ideas thanks again - you are good at these threads!

Can you think of anything you would commonly serve up for lunch/dinner?

Beans could be good.

ARGH think brain think!

Spaghetti
Cornflour/custard powder
Rice (very satisfying to run dry rice through yourfingers.)

pst> I'm not going to risk assess this is a one of activity. Don't tell ofsted!!

Ok I might dye some cooked spaghetti (will that work?) and make rainbows from them with some sweets as flowers etc stuck on a page.

Then just generally just make a right old mess with jelly!

I love cornflour, the feeling is fab

(you awright colditz? hi five)

cooked pasta might not hold colour but worth a try.

let us know how you get on NEL

Message withdrawn

good call canto-ermermum

nope I cannot get a handle on your name

can you spell it out phonetically for me puuuhhhhlease?

Message withdrawn

My fussy eater one day declared she wanted a treat. I asked what she wanted and she said "frozen peas" which are always in my freezer. I gave her a look, and said "You're weird, but okay". She was about 3 then. She is six now and still loves frozen peas. Weirdo.

She is a much better eater now. So there is light at the end of tunnel.

Dried lentils
Dry rice

How about pieces of fruit/veg frozen into ice lumps - he can play/build with them as they melt and then gradually feel the fruit/vet inside.

can-too-chi-niiiiiiii

Got it

TVM

Cooked pasta is hard to dye with food colouring, never managed to make it take myself.
I have a big book of ideas which I will sort out tonight and post anything interesting up Navyeyelash

How old is he? If 2+ then get him involved in making stuff with you - mine love to make pizza, muffins, cheese straws, whisking eggs, dough for bread, fruit salad etc and help with lots of the "safe" preparation eg cleaning veg. Get him to butter his toast, make sandwiches etc. If he is invloved in what is being put in front of him to eat he may be more inclined to try it!

Thanks for all the great ideas everyone, the spaghetti turned out brill I put the food dye in the water as it was boiling.

He is 2.1 years and quite advanced in his understanding of events etc and we always make everything together but that doesn't seem to be working. Same with making things into shapes etc.

The playing didn't work either although he did have fun.

I wouldn't mind if he was fussy so that you had to hide things (that's just general toddler-ness to me), it's just that he really will only eat 3/4 bread based "meals".

I'm at a bit of a loss now he only comes for 1 morning a week so not sure a reward chart will work. He is a really sweet little boy I just wish we could get him to eat something a bit healthier!

Any advice?

I'm that your pasta turned out ok, mine never does

I think you'll be in for a long hard slog with this one if he only comes one morning a week but he'll eventually come round to your way of eating. Just keep on offering the healthy stuff alongside one if his guaranteed to eat foods