Simplay3 Blog

With the holiday season in full swing, mealtimes can feel a little more unpredictable for families with toddlers. Changes in routine, special treats, and busy schedules can sometimes affect a child’s eating habits, especially when familiar foods are replaced with new or seasonal options. These children’s eating behaviors are very common in toddlers and are often a normal part of development.

With changing routines and new experiences, trying new foods can feel like a big obstacle and may temporarily influence a child’s diet.

Supporting toddlers through these phases helps build positive mealtime experiences and encourages exposure to nutritious foods over time.

There are many ways to manage this problem and ensure that holiday meals can go off without a hitch, below are a few we can suggest:

How to Handle Picky Eating

Make Sure They Come to the Table Hungry

Holidays often mean the presence of snacks, treats, and sweets that can throw off a toddler's normal routine. Avoiding these snacks when possible will ensure that little ones come to the dinner table ready to eat.

Consistent meal and snack timing can support healthy child’s eating habits and help toddlers feel more interested in meals.

Less is More

Especially if there are new foods present, a big helping of food can be overwhelming for toddlers. Smaller portions also help toddlers feel less pressure while learning how new foods fit into their child’s diet. Giving them small portions of new foods will make eating them more manageable. If the plate ends up clean, you know that your child was well fed and they could request more if they needed.

Be a Role Model

Kids are always watching what we say or do, even for the little things we overlook! If we model healthy eating habits, they will want to do the same. This means putting similar items on your plate as theirs and visibly enjoying them, that way they will know this new food is safe to try.

Let Them Be in Control

You may be responsible for what they eat, but toddlers develop their independence during this time. Putting meals in front of them on their terms by allowing them to communicate what they're smelling, tasting, and feeling helps to demystify what's on their plate.

Encouraging toddlers to describe what they see, smell, feel, and taste helps make new foods less intimidating. Even touching or smelling a food without eating it can be a positive step forward. These small interactions build familiarity and confidence over time.

Make Trying New Foods Fun

Turning family meals into a playful experience can help picky eaters feel more relaxed. Simple activities like arranging food into fun shapes, naming foods creatively, or letting toddlers dip fruits and vegetables into sauces can spark curiosity. Keeping the focus on fun rather than pressure encourages exploration and positive mealtime experiences.

Keep It Consistent

As frustrating as it may be, making repeated offerings of new foods increases the likelihood of them getting eaten. It's suggested that toddlers will try a new food between 8 and 15 times after being first introduced to it. This has a great deal to do with what we mentioned earlier- putting kids in control of their eating habits helps to make the process go more smoothly.

Tips for repeated exposure:

• Offer new, healthy foods alongside one or two familiar favorites

• Serve it prepared in different ways (raw, cooked, sliced, mixed)

• Keep portions small to avoid overwhelm

• Stay neutral and avoid pressure or rewards

Get Them Involved

Helping prepare meals allows toddlers to explore foods in a low-pressure way while building confidence and independence. When children feel proud of their contribution, they’re often more willing to taste what they helped create.

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