They say food is one thing that unites us all. I couldn’t agree more. Check out these six fun books about food and learn about meals you can try at home. What’s better than eating food? Making it with those we love! Each book has a recipe that tells you the ingredients and steps to make each meal. Allowing children to help in the kitchen fosters curiosity and creativity.
1. The Fish Who Wished He Could Eat Fruit
Synopsis: Meet Theo! He lives in a fishbowl and sees children eating fruit every day. Theo wants to try the delicious fruits, but he’s stuck in his bowl. He falls asleep and dreams about eating different fruits in a Rainbow Water Forest!
Parent/Child Activity: Make a fruit smoothie or a fruit salad. Have your child help peel or cut fruits. Of course, safety first!
Feeding Therapist Opinion: I see why children like this book! It has colorful images and encourages children to like fruits as much as Theo does. This book is a good one to use when introducing different fruits.
2. Blue’s Snack Party
Synopsis: As Blue and Steve prepare for a snack party, they share several easy-to-make snacks. Blue also shares one of his favorite snacks at the end.
Parent/Child Activity: Pick one snack and make it with your child. You can use a pickle and cherry tomatoes to build a car. Get creative!
Feeding Therapist Opinion: This book is great to read before playdates or when planning a sleepover. It shares plenty of easy-to-make snacks like “smiley-face yogurt,” “apple juice pops,” “vegetable race cars,” and more! It may help children become more adventurous with food.
3. Daniel Tries a New Food
Synopsis: Mom Tiger is preparing two extra special dishes. Why? Miss Elaina is coming over for dinner! However, Daniel and Miss Elaina are anxious about trying the new foods. With Mom and Dad’s help, Daniel and Miss Elaina try the foods and realize they are delicious.
Parent/Child Activity: Make banana swirl as an extra treat! You can use frozen or fresh bananas. Have your child help you peel them.
Feeding Therapist Opinion: This book is great for teaching children how to try a new food. I like that Daniel’s mother uses positive encouragement and invites him to make banana swirl with her.
4. Freedom Soup
Synopsis: A grand
mother from Haiti makes a special traditional holiday dish with her granddaughter while sharing the history of the Haitian people. They sing and dance while making freedom soup which contains ingredients like pumpkin, potatoes, and carrots.
Parent/Child Activity: Make a traditional family dish with your child, or make a fruit cup using different colored fruits.
Feeding Therapist Opinion: The grandmother does an excellent job engaging her granddaughter while preparing the soup. I appreciate that she puts different items into the soup. The book may help children learn that they can put different foods together to create a scrumptious meal.
5. Bilal Cooks Daal
Synopsis: Bilal is excited to help his father make daal, the best meal ever! It takes a long time to make and requires hours of waiting. Bilal wants his friends to try daal because they have never had it. As he waits, more friends come over, waiting to try his favorite dish. Bilal worries that his friends might not like daal as much as he does. But he’s wrong. His friends love daal!
Parent/Child Activity: Make daal at home with your child. You can also make pizza at home, using your favorite fruits.
Feeding Therapist Opinion: This book is an excellent choice for parents who would have traditional dishes in their family. Parents can use it to empower children to share their family’s traditional dishes with friends. Likewise, it can help their friends be more willing to try new foods from different cultures because they might like them.
6. The Rice in the Pot Goes Round and Round
Synopsis: Sing along using the familiar “wheels on the bus” tune as you read this book about a fun family mealtime. The multi-generational family enjoys rice, noodles, dumplings, and much more!
Parent/Child Activity: Get your child involved when preparing multiple meals for an event or a special occasion like Thanksgiving. Add sing-along songs to the routine to make it exciting and engaging.
Feeding Therapist Opinion: Using songs in meal prep routines is a wonderful way to get children involved. Parents can sing the ingredients and steps to making their favorite meals. Singing during meal preparation may also help a child who is a picky eater become comfortable being around a new food.
Related
6 Great Reasons to Cook With Your Kids
Harvesting Family Fun With Crafts, Games and Food
Food for Thought: Teaching Kids to Eat Healthy
