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Kids' parties
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| Transform a normal lunch or dinner into a party. Here's a great way to make sure kids love to come to the table. All you have to do is use a little imagination, perhaps inviting some of your child's friends and classmates. An imaginatively decorated and set table can constitute a game in and of itself, motivating kids to gladly eat even their least favorite foods. Whether preparing for an everyday meal or a special birthday party, the basic ideas to entertain and delight are pretty much the same. |
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A SPECIAL SEAT FOR EVERYONE |
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For starters, kids always love to have a special table set up just for them, separate from the adult table. If the weather permits, the meal can be served in the garden or on the terrace, that way the kids will feel a lot freer to move around and play. If the weather is bad or you don't have a garden or terrace, all you have to do is set up a smaller plastic table which, in addition to being on a kid's scale, will also create a detached, game-like atmosphere. This is the ideal arrangement for everyone; the kids are free to play without distracting the adults and interrupting the convivial flow of their conversation.
The table decorations play a pivotal role. Right from the start, the kids can be involved in the fun of setting the table. This way each one of them can express their own individual personality in terms of the dishes and cutlery they select to use. The trick is to avoid using just one service of dishes, opting instead for a playful hodgepodge and in plastic, if possible, to avoid the worry and hassle of nice dishes getting broken, while giving the kids an opportunity to customize their own seating area, with dishes and cutlery of their own choice. More patient, imaginative parents can organize question-and-answer games or a modified version of musical chairs to work out the seating arrangement in a way that will delight the kids.
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A little imagination always helps. The old ruse of "open your mouth an airplane is about to land" is always a surefire stratagem. But also the manner in which the dishes are prepared and the way they are served can play a crucial role. The ideal goal is for the children to learn how to take the food with their own hands or using the cutlery. If they are too little, it's best not to even give them cutlery because they are only liable to hurt themselves. In this case it's best to serve the food already cut so they will be able to perhaps manage it with a simple spoon. In order to make sure the kids are provided with a well-balanced meal and prevent them from eating only the pasta course while neglecting or skipping all together their meat and vegetables, it's often a good idea to prepare a complete, single-course meal including all the necessary foods. This strategy will also shorten the meal, but without making it any less tasty or complete. The servings could be presented in new and imaginative ways, artistically arranging fun new shapes, perhaps drawing inspiration from the kids' favorite cartoon characters and utilizing vegetables and fruit for added color and emphasis. If your little guests don't happen to like meat and vegetables, we recommend camouflaging these two key ingredients by tossing them into the blender and thereby rendering them more appetizing. In case the meal is to celebrate a special occasion, the best solution is to set up a buffet area from which the kids can help themselves; the fare can include little meat and vegetable tarts or little dishes of pasta salad. This way they are free to switch back and forth between play time and eating time.
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