11/08/2025
🥄 Handling Food Refusal at Family Gatherings
The holidays can bring big emotions for little eaters — new foods, new smells, new people, and a lot of attention.
If your child tends to refuse food at family gatherings, here are a few gentle reminders to make the day smoother (for both of you):
🧡 1. Take the pressure off.
Encouraging, bribing, or pleading (“Just one bite!”) often makes picky eating worse. Instead, try to relax and let your child observe the food at their own pace.
🍗 2. Keep a “safe plate.”
Offer one or two foods they always accept — even if that means a roll and applesauce next to the turkey! Familiar foods help your child feel secure in a busy, unpredictable environment.
👃 3. Let them explore.
Touching, smelling, or even licking food is part of learning. They don’t have to eat it to be making progress.
💬 4. Focus on connection, not consumption.
Talk, laugh, sing, and play at the table — these moments build comfort and curiosity far more than pressure ever could.
✨ Remember: a skipped meal doesn’t mean failure. It means your child is still learning. You’re giving them the space and support they need — and that’s exactly what helps them grow.
