Type C Mom Hacks

If dinner time in your house feels like a negotiation, a meltdown, or a full-blown stand-off…you are not alone.

From throwing food, throwing plates, and throwing tantrums, meals were such a struggle. Who know you’d spend so much time convincing someone to eat? I knew adding pressure would do the opposite, so I decided to buckle down and see what worked—and what was easy on me.

I knew that my toddler was just going through it—all the big feelings, the “I’ll do it myself” phase, and the control she so desparately wanted. But, in the end, I knew I honestly just wanted her to get some nutrients in her belly, like all parents.

Hack 1: The “safe food + new food” rule

Always include one guaranteed win on the plate. For my kiddos, it was always a fruit or yogurt. Any new food was always hit or miss, and sometimes you just have to call it something different! I used to give my oldest protein pancakes (which he wouldn’t eat, for some unknown reason), but if I called them “hot breakfast cookies”, that worked. Honestly? I’m just glad he ate something.

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Hack 2: Remove pressure completely

No “just 2 bites” battles. Believe me—I was queen of ‘one more bite and you can have a lollipop.’ But I soon realized that I wasn’t teaching him anything. Turns out, if you’re willing to slow down and eat with your toddler, especially if you’re eating the same thing, sometimes they’ll eat, too.

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Hack 3: Serve smaller portions first

Overwhelm is a hidden trigger. Start small, then offer more if they seem interested. Using a normal plate didn’t help me here—I realized I was offering larger portions than they’d eat even with something I knew they’d eat. Using portion plates helped me regulate how much I was offering, which unexpectedly lowered my expectation of them at mealtime.

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Hack 4: Eat together when possible

Modeling > convincing. I know I said it already, and I’ll say it again. How many times have you noticed your kid doing exactly what you just did two seconds prior? The same applies with eating. The more they see you eat and explore your food, the more they’ll feel comfortable and safe to do the same. Win-win!

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Hack 5: Make it fun!

I wish this hack worked 100% of the time, because it truly is a great time. Choose a song, whatever your toddler wants, and pick a word in that song. Whenever that word is sung, you have to take a bite! My husband loved Tequila by The Champs, and my toddler couldn’t stop giggling. Great memories, but be sure you can keep up the chewing with whatever song you choose!

I also loved to give different options for plates or cups, but we all know that any cups we offer need to be spill-proof, especially for those younger ones.

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Hack 6: Give controlled choices

“Do you want strawberries or bananas?” This is terrifying because for those of you with older toddlers, you know how fast that decision can change, which results in none other than our beloved tantrums. But, if I’ve learned one thing, it’s that teaching them to make a decision with confidence is difficult but absolutely pays off in the long term.

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Hack 7: End the meal calmly (no power struggle finish)

Food stays food. No emotional ending. I’d feel like a bad mom if my kid didn’t eat enough. How could I possibly send them to bed without them eating their dinner?? Do I give them a snack? The most you can do is offer food. It’s up to them (and their need to control everything!) if they’d like to partake.

Mealtime doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be less stressful than it was yesterday.

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