Book themed meal ideas for toddlers

To be honest, sometimes as a parent I can get in a rut. Each day can feel like a one stint after another on an assembly line overseen by a demanding baby or toddler. This is especially true at mealtimes. Heat up the peas, pour the milk, scrub the dishes, and repeat. Repeat…19,000 times.

Feeding our kids is just in the job description, but washing out bottles and plating dino nuggets with yams day in and day out can get tiresome. But, if you get a little creative, meals spent with babies and toddlers can transform into some surprisingly fun and valuable breaks from your day.

In fact, just by talking, reading and interacting over scrambled eggs, you can make a huge impact on your baby’s IQ, future education and lifetime success. A few special mealtimes a week can help spark your creativity and get you closer to that all-important “30,000 words by 3 years” goal. Plus, studies show that just ten extra minutes of talking per day can a HUGE difference.

One simple idea is to grab a board book and pair it with a fun meal to match — then read, discuss, and compare. Think of it as “wine pairing,” but for good kid’s literature and mashed carrots. Your baby will be beyond thrilled. And, high chairs are great for keeping captive audience members in place.

Here are five easy combos to get you started. Remember to adjust textures, sizes and amounts to make these sessions safe and age-appropriate. If your baby is a newborn or still very small, just reading or singing to them while they take their milk or formula is a great habit to start!

1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle
This is a classic you may already have on your shelves. Start with apples, strawberries, green pears or grapes, and focus on making the plate “a rainbow.” Add orange cheese and wheat bread to your rainbow to make it filling. Make munching sounds as you read about the caterpillar’s tasting journey, and share the vibrant, colorful illustrations that make this book so special. Show them that the colors of their food match the colors in the book.

2. Paris: A Book of Shapes, by Ashley Evanson
This cheery book is a shape-filled learning experience set among the classic sites of Paris. Make your baby say ooh-la-la by throwing together some quick, European “charcuterie and crudité” composed of triangle cheese, circular crackers and grapes, and some ham or chicken. Make yourself a tasty plate while you’re at it! Compare shapes and sizes of the food and illustrations. This “Hello, World” series has books about New York and London, too. You can talk your baby around the world and then settle in for a well-deserved nap.

3. Green Eggs and Ham, by Dr. Seuss
You can’t go “food-themed” and leave out this classic from the eternally inspiring Dr. Seuss. Mix some spinach into eggs for your “green,” and pair with a little ham, cheese and bread. Add some fruits and veggies, and you’re set! This is a longer one, so you will have plenty of words at hand to keep your baby engaged and giggling. As the Dr. himself said, “A person’s a person, no matter how small…Children want the same things we want. To laugh, to be challenged, to be entertained and delighted.”

4. The Rainbow Fish, by Marcus Pfister
Introduce the concept of sharing to your baby or toddler and catch his eye with sparkly scales on the page and on the plate. Turn a piece of wheat bread on its side to make a “diamond,” spread on some cream cheese and top with “scales” made from sliced strawberries, cucumbers or oranges. Blueberries make for the perfect bubbles. Let your baby or toddler share his “scales” with you, just like the Rainbow Fish, and feed you by hand. You will score major parental points with this one.

5. Pete’s a Pizza, by William Stieg
It really doesn’t matter if you’re feeding a newborn or a toddler — just talking and reading during mealtime pays off big. But if you’d like to add on a “prep” aspect to this one, you can add even more words and make an afternoon activity out of this rib-tickling title. Put together mini pizzas on top of pitas, tortillas or bread with whatever your toddler likes: Alfredo, marinara, cheese, veggies, and meats. This book is big on being silly, so you can get in some memories and laughter while beefing up your word count.

And remember, this idea isn’t about achieving the perfect theme, or the most beautifully plated brunch on the block. The entire aim of this activity is to simply increase the number of words you speak to your baby. So whatever books and ingredients you have lying around; feel free to combine them! Even making up story of your own will get the job done. Your baby won’t know that your plot lacks a resolution or that your ingredients aren’t coordinated! You are feeding them while talking and engaging — and amazingly, for a baby, that’s enough.

This piece was originally posted at VersaMe.com. VersaMe created the Starling the world’s first wearable engagement tracker that helps encourage and reinforce positive parenting behaviors.