WFMW – Serve It On A Platter

Originally published November 12, 2008 – This is something that is still working for us. In fact, we’re serving lunch up on a platter today, and we’ll be doing it at snack time, too! Serve it up!

I don’t know about y’all but my kids are picky eaters and even when they like something they often don’t eat very much of it before they’ve decided they’re “full” (which translates to “I want to go play now.”)

But for some reason that all changes when I serve food on a communal platter.

I do this often for snacks and even sometimes for lunch. For example, I might serve a platter with ritz or wheat thins, sliced meat, sliced cheese, assorted veggies and ranch dip. Or perhaps, I’ll serve graham crackers (broken into the little rectangles), raisins, apple slices and peanut butter to dip the apples in or spread on the graham crackers.

Maybe the kids think it’s more fun that way. Maybe it’s because they can pick and choose how much they want to eat of which item. Maybe it’s because they can combine and create different groupings. Whatever the reason, I do know that they like it, and they eat more.

Which means they won’t be asking for more food 15 minutes after they decided they were full.

Which is ideal since I’m trying to encourage them to eat at meal and snack times instead of snacking all day long.

Here’s a list of things that I serve on a communal platter:

• any combination of veggies and fruits and appropriate dips
• meats and cheeses
• crackers, graham crackers, animal cookies
• dried fruits and nuts
• finger sandwiches
• chips or pretzels
• Nachos – yes! Make a whole platter instead of individual plates.

So what would you add? Any suggestions?

Works for me Wednesday is hosted by Kristen @ We are THAT Family!