When I was a kid, my best friend’s mom made every Friday “Finger Food Friday”. Every Friday she served only foods that you could eat with your fingers. I can remember thinking it was so fun, and begging my mom to have finger food Friday as well. Now that I am an adult, a mom of two and an occupational therapist I reflect about how something as simple as finger food Friday can get kids excited about eating. I am often talking to the families with whom I work about ways to get their kids excited about food and meal time. The trick is to keep the focus on the food; you want the food itself to be the reward. Below are some ideas of fun ways to present foods to kids, without distracting from the star of the show, the food itself. These ideas can be used when presenting a new food that he or she has never tried or to make a meal fun on a bad day! ~ Kristen Burke, OTR/L

Use kid sized tongs as utensils.

Use cupcake topper to pick up pieces of food.

Use cookie cutters to cut foods into fun shapes.

Have trucks or trains deliver food to the child.

Use fun, kid friendly plates, place mats and silver ware.

Use cupcake cups for foods. These come in so many shapes and colors; they are a great way to make meals exciting!

Let kids feed an animal or doll.

Send to a friend!