Is it my cooking!? 4 reasons your child may prefer to eat at childcare.

At the start of our Fussy Eating Workshop, we ask parents to introduce themselves and tell us the challenges they are having at mealtimes.  Like lifting a pressure valve, parents share their issues with nods around the room:  Refusing to come to the table, only eating with the TV on, throwing food, tantrums… and there is always one exasperated parent; “why does my child eat everything at childcare but they refuse the same food at home!?”

While we acknowledge not every child will do this, it is a common phenomenon that has parents questioning their cooking skills.  No matter how much they try to replicate the food (many parents begging their childcare cook for the recipe), their child refuses the same meal at home.

4 reasons your child may prefer to eat at childcare

There is so much more to your child’s mealtimes than the food in front of them.   Mealtimes at childcare usually have the following 'ingredients':

1) Mealtimes are social:

Research indicates that children learn by social role modelling. If they observe their friend eating and enjoying food, they are more likely to do the same.

2) Child-sized, supportive seating:

 Childcare centres have furniture made for small people.  The tables and chairs are small enough that the children's feet are able to reach the floor.  This ensures children are stable when they are seated.  This helps them feel comfortable so they stay at the table longer, focus on their food and use their hands to use utensils or to pick up food.

3) Routine:

Most childcare centres have a consistent daily routine.  They know that children thrive on knowing the structure of their day.

Most childcare centres offer children food at staggered intervals ensuring there is adequate time between playing/learning and eating.  This ensures children have built up an appetite.

Children engage in mealtime routines such as washing hands, plating up their own food, and putting leftovers in the bin at the end.  This routine helps children get ready for eating and signals the end of the meal. The mealtime routine is consistent for all meals and snacks.

4) The childcare workers provide the food; the children decide whether or how much to eat:

 Most^ childcare workers understand that their role is to provide food for the children and it is the child’s role to decide how much they want to eat.

Research tells us that children will be more willing to try food when they can explore the food in their own time.  Children benefit from an environment that does not put pressure on them to eat or try food.

Other considerations:

•  Childcare centres tend to provide a filling meal (e.g. lasagne, rice and beans etc.) at lunch.  This may impact their appetite for dinner.
• Children are tired when they come home from a day of childcare.  We know fatigue can be a factor in mealtimes, especially at night when their muscles are tired which makes sitting and chewing difficult.
• Meals provided at childcare are usually soft and easy to chew, such as stews, rice, pasta.  Children may refuse food if it is difficult to chew.  If you suspect your child is having difficulty chewing (e.g. spitting out food, pocketing food in their cheeks, taking a long time to eat a meal) we recommend you seek medical advice from your GP.
• Ask the carers the last time your child ate. If a late afternoon snack is offered at childcare it may impact your child’s appetite for dinner.

A few suggestions to try at home:

• Self-serve, family mealtimes.  See our article about How to make family mealtimes work.
• Ensure your child is in a seat where their feet are on a stable surface.
• Provide a daily routine, ensuring 2-3 hours between snacks and meals and a mealtime routine such as setting the table, washing their hands and scraping their bowl.
• Follow Ellyn Satter’s division of responsibility in feeding
•  Be aware of your child’s fatigue following a day at childcare.  Some children benefit from an earlier dinner on childcare days.  Provide foods that are quick to prepare and easy to chew.  You may like to plan ahead with frozen dinners. See our parent resources page for some of our favourite recipe websites.
• Take the pressure off yourself.  If your child has had a large nutritious lunch at childcare, provide something simple and small such as toast, soup or sandwiches for dinner.

Not sure if your child is old enough for self-serve meals?  Take a look at this great video from SBS via Facebook.

^ If you have concerns that your childcare does not follow these principles of positive mealtimes, speak to them about your concerns.  We offer education to childcare staff and families.  For more information please email us: [email protected]

Note: We are aware that not all children will eat at childcare. If you are concerned about your child’s eating at home, at childcare and/or any other settings please seek help from your GP or Paediatrician. You can contact us if you have any concerns [email protected].