Parent-Child Visit Snack Tips

When visiting your child for an hour or more, it is a good idea to bring a snack and drink to the visit. If the visit takes place during a meal time or is for an extended period of time, you may want to bring a meal that you can share together. Sharing a meal with your child is a great way to connect to them by bringing foods that are part of your family’s culture and traditions and engaging in mealtime conversation.

While sharing a snack or meal with your child

  • talk about what you are eating (name each food, what food group, where does the food come from, does it grow in the ground, what color is it, etc)
  • ask them about their day (“tell me about the best thing you did today”, “who did you play with today, what did you play with him(her)?”, “what did you eat for breakfast this morning, did you like it?”
  • involve them in preparing the food, set up your table space together, clean up together

Parent Child-Visit Snack/Mealtime Do’s and Don’ts

DO /

DON’T

Bring foods that are nutritious, such as
fruit, raw veggies & dip, yogurt, muffins, granola bars, pretzels, microwave popcorn
Bring healthy meals that reflect your culture- serve in large containers and serve “family style”, encourage child to serve own portion and encourage trying new foods (“one bite” rule- just try one bite)
Treat your child with A LITTLE something special, such as.1 or 2 donut holes (munchkins), 1 special cupcake , a Pudding snack cup w/a little cool whip and a cherry, individual “snack size” bags (mini cookies, crackers, chips), fun foods like Animal Crackers or Goldfish (GREAT for conversation)
Bring something to drink (100% Juice, Juice boxes, water bottles, Juice in a sippy cup, extra bottle / formula for babies, baby bottle of water, Low-fat milk, low fat chocolate milk as a treat)
Keep cold foods and drinks cold if possible (bring an insulated bag with an ice pack)
Bring a fun table clothe, napkins, child’s favorite plate/cup from home
When feeding an infant, hold them close to you and feed them the bottle, look at them, talk softly, or sing while feeding
Allow toddlers to eat finger foods independently, like cheerios; allow young children to try using a spoon/fork even if it’s not perfect! / Bring “junk food”; foods that are high in sugar or salt (candy, cookies, donuts, chips), fast food, or fried food
Bring too much food, or serve your child a large adult-size portion
Force your child to eat everything on the plate or finish foods they don’t like
Bring a large amount of a “treat” food- that children will want to keep eating, such as a dozen donuts, a big cake. big bags of chips or cookies
Bring foods that are choking hazards for young children (whole grapes, popcorn, peanuts)
Bring soda, “Kool Aid” or sugary fruit drinks, drinks with caffeine (iced tea, soda)
Spend a lot of money on restaurant / bakery food- instead make your own! (Dollar Store is great for fun paper goods)
Worry about spills…accidents happen. DO have your child help with cleaning up!
Put an infant in a baby seat/carrier and prop the bottle.
Feed young children from your plate; insist on feeding them when they want to try to do it themselves.