Embedded Files
What is a Mealtime Routine & Why Is it Important?
What is a Mealtime Routine & Why Is it Important?
One of the most important things you will do as a parent is provide healthy meals for your child, and we're not just talking about what you feed them. Establishing a consistent mealtime schedule is just as important in helping your child develop healthy eating habits, such as knowing when their tummy is full and how to enjoy family meals.
In addition to helping your child develop a healthy relationship with food, scheduling meals and snacks gives your child a sense of security because they know they’ll have another chance to eat soon. Knowing when the next snack or meal will be helps take away any pressure for your child to eat when they're not really hungry, and it can also help prevent hunger-related tantrums.
Sample eating schedule:
Breakfast: 7 a.m.
Snack: around 9:30 a.m.
Lunch: noon
Snack: 3 p.m.
Dinner: 6 p.m.
Strong4Life
Most of us prefer our lives as predictable as possible. If you had no idea what was happening from one moment to the next, you’d probably feel frustrated and confused. For a child with a developmental disability this type of unpredictability can be even more upsetting. Visual schedules allow for your child to see a clear picture of what is expected throughout a routine, which may allow for less frequent upsets regarding miscommunication.
The following are several different visuals to support mealtime routines and expectations, in order to ensure a positive and successful mealtime for your family.
Page updated
Report abuse