Ideas for making mealtimes more fun for a toddler

[Toddlert]

Any tips of making toddler meal times more fun please? DD is 20months so reasoning or anything complicated doesn’t work.
I do all the usual, offering varied foods, putting a bit on her plate every meal time sitting with her, getting her involved in cooking etc. that I think will all help long term

but short term, I’ve noticed if it’s more fun she’s more likely to give things a try.
I bought a unicorn fork and that worked for 2 days to make dinner exciting, I imagine if I bring it back in a fortnight it’ll be exciting again but it lost its magic for now. I also tried a princess bowl, that worked for one meal but then stopped.
Is there anything you do to make meals more playful that I can steal?

I’ll be honest my daughter is 2 next month and I wouldn’t describe meals as at all playful or fun. She either eats loads or not at all. I think your putting too much pressure on yourself

Tong style chop sticks

I think this is a 'rod for your own back situation'. Offer varied, healthy food. Let her eat what she wants of it. Clear away. And meal time is over. That's it. No stress, no bribery, no rewards, no punishment, no comment even on what she eats or doesn't.

Yes it’s not meant to be ‘fun’. Eating should just be relaxed not a coercive thing even at that age.

I used to put a huge platter of bite size veg, fruit, protein and small amount of carbs (varied bits each day) and they could eat as much it as little as they wanted. They could even get up and play in between eating and I’d leave the platter out from around 12-2. They would eventually eat it it all.

Some days it would be squares of toasted sardines on toast (one of their favourites), or eggy bread, or chicken breast cut up into cubes etc. All bite sized, served with salad bits, bits of ham, cheese, fruit, veg etc. No pressure, and all choices would be theirs.

Tell her the gossip from work.

Honestly, just put the food out and eat it. She can eat it if she wants. Just sit and chat and don’t put the focus on the food.

Thanks all, I’ve noticed if it’s fun she eats,
if it’s not fun she gets bored and makes her own fun (throwing usually) then doesn’t eat and then is hungry, crying and up all night.
but looks like it’s a consensus on not making it fun!

I don't do this sort of thing every day. And its not planned or thought out so much, just off the hoof or if I'm in a good mood.

Make pictures with the food you offer.

Occasionally I would make a face on the plate/bowl with the food, e.g. make a bowl of porridge into a bunny by sticking bunny ears in the top (banana cut in half length ways), raisin eyes, nose.

Use biscuit cutters! I sometimes make fun shaped sandwiches. My youngest loved a train sandwich (I used the excess to make tracks, blueberries for wheels, apple slices for clouds).

Use a gingerbreadman cutter in a pan to poach eggs in a shape. Add seeds for eyes and chopped olive for buttons.

Micky mouse shaped pancakes (my kids fav cuddly was a micky mouse).

Invite 2 or 3 favourite teddies (or dolls) to join you fir the meal. Set them a place, sit them opposite side of the table (just out of reach). Always ask the teddies if they're finished or if they want more. Good way to model table manners with the teddies, too!

Seasonal: frankenstein toast (avocado on toast cut to shape and black icing pen to draw scars and face). Frozen ghosts (a real treat - banana frozen, dipped in yoghurt or white choc, choc drop for eyes, frozen again). Eyeballs in jelly (blueberry squashed in a lychee and suspended in strawberry jelly).
Christmas tree toast - bread cut with xmas shaped cutters and given the spinach eggybread treatment.

As long as my kid tries their food, I don't care how much they eat. And food will be thrown. Don't pressure yourself.

@Ohfudgeoff Thank you these are great ideas, as you say it’s not something to do every day but I’m sure I can do a smiley face in some porridge at the weekend

As long as my kid tries their food, I don't care how much they eat. And food will be thrown. Don't pressure yourself.
I don’t think I’m pressuring myself, I don’t really mind how much she eats if she’s not hungry, but I do mind if she doesn’t eat just because she doesn’t want to sit still, and then is complaining about being hungry. If I can make a couple of simple switches that encourage her then I’m happy.

Yes it’s not meant to be ‘fun’. Eating should just be relaxed not a coercive thing even at that age.
tbf I don’t know why it can’t be fun sometimes. I don’t think Mickey Mouse pancakes as a suggested by another poster, is coercive. She can eat it or not, I don’t say anything (except asking her not to throw) if she chooses not to.

@Screamingabdabz ill try the platter idea so she’s not restricted to sitting down.

Let her eat what she wants of it. Clear away. And meal time is over. That's it. No stress, no bribery, no rewards, no punishment, no comment even on what she eats or doesn't.
just to be clear there is no bribery or rewards or punishment.

We have a very fussy eater - he’s always been this way since weaning. I totally agree that mealtimes should be relaxed and that making fun food/games are a rod for the back etc etc they are totally right! BUT! Quite honestly I do whatever it takes to get food into him which includes reading him a book or telling a story (distraction works) and playing endless games like putting the food on a spoon then saying “now I hope no one takes that food” then turning around, then he eats it and we have to go all round the family asking “DD, did you eat DS’s food” no? Etc etc. it’s torturous but it works!! We also did books and stories with our older child who was a good eater but needed attention to eat. Also you need to be at the table with them the whole time ideally. It’s difficult if you are trying to get food for other kids or doing things but trying to stay there with them helps with mine at least!

I’m not saying that’s the advice that a specialist would give because they would probably say the opposite but it’s what we do. Good luck x