01/23/2026
who says painting is only for paper?
for breakfast this morning, i served a new type of toast (pumpkin brioche from trader joe’s—recommended by one of my clients!). my kids were a little wary at first, so i added a small dish of melted butter and let them paint their toast before eating. 🎨🍞
instant fun, less nerves, and more willingness to explore and taste.
💡 tip: don’t always expect eating with new foods. encourage exploration first—touching, smelling, painting, licking, or taking a tiny bite are all important steps toward comfort and confidence at mealtime! it was served with preferred favorites (strawberries and yogurt) so if they didn’t eat the toast or only took a few bites, I knew they’d fill up on the other foods. most importantly, i didn’t offer another option like a waffle or pancake when they inevitably told me this wasn’t what they wanted. I said “ok, let’s try painting it first.”
