Avoid mealtime meltdowns with these handy tips to make your family meals less stressful with a toddler in the house. Bringing your toddler to the family table at mealtimes is a great way to encourage him to try more foods. But it can be fraught for a family who has previously enjoyed calm and relatively mess-free meals! To avoid mealtime meltdowns (whether yours or your toddlers!) you need to let go of a few rules and make family meals fun for everyone. Here, we look at creative ways to encourage your toddler to develop a healthy relationship with food. The new normal: family meals Mealtimes are an opportunity for your toddler to test boundaries and assert their own choices – which can make for very messy eating. Even so, you should try to eat with your toddler as often as you can. That means pulling his high chair up to the table and serving him smaller portions of whatever you’re eating. Have your toddler carry placemats to the table and be an active participant in the meal activity. Encourage them to stand up at the bench to help “prepare” meals. Arranging food on the plate to look like a smiley face or a number can help them learn and feel more included. Children learn by example, so if they see you eating a variety of foods, they are more likely to do so too. Research shows that children who eat with their families are likely to consume a wider range of foods with an increased intake of fruits and vegetables and are more likely to have higher nutrient intakes1.