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Why you shouldn’t just make cakes and cookies with your fussy eater

I bet you’re more likely to say to your child “Shall we make some cakes or cookies?” than “Let’s make lasagne!” or “Wanna knock up a curry with me?”

Why is that?

⭐ Because kids love cakes and cookies (doh!). Even fussy eaters.

⭐ Because we somehow think they’re more fun for kids to make – pretty pink icing, dinosaur shapes, hundreds and thousands…

⭐ Because it feels like a definite ‘activity’ to keep them occupied.

⭐ Because it doesn’t matter how they turn out – cakes and cookies are only an ‘extra’, a treat.

But what does your child glean from it? 

⭐ Cakes and cookies are fun!

⭐ Cakes and cookies are the better than other foods!

⭐ I get my mum’s/dad’s time and attention when we make cakes and cookies. (I barely get it at all when s/he’s busy cooking meals.)

We really do need to flip this on its head!

I’m not suggesting you never make cakes or cookies with your child – but make plenty of savoury stuff with them too!

It will really help to create positive and pleasurable associations with the healthy, nutritious foods you really want them to eat!

Here’s why!

⭐ The process of layering a lasagne or crushing garlic in the crusher or watching a knob of butter melt into a puddle in the mashed potato may seem mundane to you – but it’s just as much fun to a child as stirring a cake batter or cutting out cookies. It’s all new and interesting to them!

⭐ They’ll feel ‘grown up’. They helped to make the real deal – the bit the family are going to sit down and eat as their meal.

⭐ Children are more likely to eat – or at least try – things they feel ‘ownership’ of.

⭐ It’ll trigger their curiosity in savoury foods.

⭐ They’ll see the components of a meal rather than just the end product. For instance, if they put the chopped red pepper in the pasta sauce they’ve always enjoyed, their attitude towards raw red pepper sticks could become less negative.

⭐ They’ll be handling the foods. And that interaction with the foods creates a comfort and familiarity with them – which is the first step towards becoming receptive to the idea of eating them. Even toddlers can tip cups of rice into a pan, rinse vegetables, mix the ingredients of a salad dressing… and lots lots more!

Make a shift towards savoury cooking with your child!

Find out exactly HOW to cook savoury food with your fussy eater in a way that maximises the chance of them actually eating it here.