Fun with Food: Turning Mealtime into a Skill-Building Adventure

We’ve all heard the phrase, “Don’t play with your food!” But what if playing with food is actually one of the best ways to help children learn to eat more foods?

In feeding therapy, play-based strategies are an essential part of helping children build comfort and confidence with new foods. Instead of focusing only on taking bites, we encourage children to explore food in ways that feel safe, engaging, and even exciting. When pressure is removed and curiosity is encouraged, learning naturally follows.

Every time a child interacts with food, their sensory system is hard at work. Most people are familiar with the five basic senses: touch, smell, taste, sight, and hearing. However, there are additional sensory systems that also play a major role in feeding. Proprioception helps us understand where our body is in space. The vestibular system supports balance and movement. Interoception allows us to recognize internal sensations like hunger and fullness. All of these systems contribute to how a child experiences food.

For some children, exploring a new food can feel overwhelming. The texture may be unfamiliar, the smell strong, or the appearance unexpected. Through play, we allow children to interact with food in manageable steps. Touching, stacking, squishing, smelling, or even just looking at a new food helps their sensory system gather information in a non-threatening way.

There are many simple ways to bring “food play” into your home. Counting pieces of snack foods on a placemat turns snack time into a learning activity. Stacking crackers or fruit slices while counting builds both fine motor and cognitive skills. Using yogurt, applesauce, or mashed potatoes to create silly faces on a plate makes exploration fun and creative.

For older children, involving them in cooking can be especially powerful. Choosing a recipe together, measuring ingredients, and preparing a dish creates connection and ownership. Often, children are more willing to taste something they helped create.

The most important part of food exploration is keeping it fun. Follow your child’s interests. If they love animals, pretend to feed toy animals different foods. If they enjoy coloring, use small food pieces to fill in shapes or designs on a piece of paper. If they like building, create structures or patterns with snack items. When food becomes part of play instead of a source of pressure, children begin forming positive associations.

Feeding challenges can be stressful for the entire family. No one wants mealtime to feel like a battle. By incorporating preferred activities and playful exploration, families can begin shifting the atmosphere at the table. Even dedicating one evening a week to a new recipe or a structured food activity can make a meaningful difference over time.

Playing with food does not mean ignoring manners or structure. It means recognizing that learning happens through experience. When children feel safe, supported, and engaged, they are more open to trying new things.

So this week, consider giving yourself permission to loosen the rules a little. Let curiosity lead. Have fun, not fright, with your food!

~ Breanna Wolf, M.S., CCC-SLP/L (Speech-Language Pathologist @ MTC)