12 Gift Ideas for Fussy Eaters

So much of my work is with parents who are worried or frustrated with their children’s eating. And so much of my advice is around how to help make mealtimes enjoyable and relaxed. Providing they are healthy (and of course hungry) once eating becomes a positive thing to do, without pressure or stress, children are more likely to want to eat or to experiment with new foods.

Here is a hand-picked selection of gift ideas perfect for building positive relationships with foods - great for stocking fillers or birthday presents! (Click on image or hyperlink for where to buy).

1. Chopsticks

Not just for sushi…There are lots of beginner chopsticks available which can not only help develop hand eye co-ordination, but also encourage eating to be an enjoyable and challenging activity. There are so many to choose from but I think these are cute.

2. Food picks

I discovered the power of the cocktail stick by accident with my kids! I now offer them little fruit forks or fondue sticks whenever they have fruit salad, but this concept could work just as well for other foods - I’m thinking peas, sweetcorn, pieces of chicken or fish, pasta… Obviously I don’t recommend using cocktail or fondue sticks for little ones (mine are older now) but these Bento Food Picks are just perfect for toddlers.

3. Easy-Grip Cutlery

A quick browse on the web will give you so much choice here, but personally I like this ergonomic cutlery set from Nanas Manners. This one is targeted at children aged 3+ and looks super comfortable to promote enjoyable and independent eating.

4. Colourful Placemats

How about a personalised placemat like this to help your child feel comfortable at the table? You can use the images, numbers, or whatever the theme is to initiate table-talk and take the focus off the actual food. Any conversation that diverts focus away from the food or eating can take the pressure off and be helpful for creating a enjoyable stress-free mealtime.

5. Kitchen Helper Items

Anything that encourages children to be involved in food preparation or play, if they are willing - and without associated pressure - can be helpful for stimulating children’s natural curiosity about food. Not On The High Street has a great range of little chef accessories and toys which can be personalised for that extra special touch.

6. Cookie Cutters

I love these smiley face cutters from Lakeland which could be used for making all sorts of fun sandwiches or shapes out of fruit or foods like cheese or meat slices.

7-9. Food Games & Activities

Encouraging avoidant eaters to feel comfortable about new foods doesn’t have to happen just at the table or in the kitchen. Any game or activity that involves visual exposure to different foods can be helpful. Here are a few of my favourites:

10-12. Messy Play Activities

Sometimes fussy eaters don’t feel comfortable touching food or getting messy in general. Encouraging messy play can have a knock-on positive effect at the table, so this Christmas why not get them into fingerpainting, playfoam or slime (just don’t be too quick to clean them up!)

Please share any other food-related gift ideas you have, I’d love to hear them!

If you or anyone you know is feeling stressed out with mealtimes, or could do with a fresh approach to managing family food, please email me at hello@juliawolman.co.uk - or send me a message via my Instagram or Facebook pages - to find out how I can help.

NB. I have not been paid to promote any of the items listed above. I have chosen them because in my opinion they are all great products! Please be sure to check that items are age appropriate before you buy.