Planning for a summer holiday!

As we enjoy the warmth and excitement of these sunny days, we wanted to touch base with you regarding an important topic close to our hearts: maintaining the wonderful progress your child has made in their food therapy journey.

With summer vacations beckoning, filled with tempting treats and unfamiliar dining experiences, we want to ensure that your child continues to thrive and embrace the foods they've learned to eat during therapy sessions.

Below, we will dive into strategies to keep your little one's eating habits on track while still savouring the joys of summer!

Strategy #1: Stay Consistent!

While you're on holiday, try to maintain consistency in your mealtime routines and structure. This means having a structured meal schedule of five meals daily (3 meals + 2 snacks) with 2-3 hours between meals. In other words, no grazing! When your child is hungry for meals, they are more motivated to eat, which is especially important on holidays when preferred foods might differ slightly.

Consider bringing with you “stimuli” or items to help your child associate current mealtime expectations at home with new environments. Examples include any visuals used in therapy, preferred dishes, cutlery or placemat.

Finally, consistency also means continuing to use the strategies you have learned during food therapy sessions. For example, if you anticipate the food might differ from at home, provide a few “warm up” requests, such as licking the food a few times or eating dab-sized bites. Also, before the meal begins, offer a reward for trying this new variation of food (even if you wouldn’t do this at home). Using strategies learned in sessions, can keep your child successful and reduce mealtime challenges.

Strategy #2: Find opportunities to offer your child preferred foods.

Pack familiar snacks: It can be helpful to bring along some of your child's favourite snacks or foods. Having familiar options available can provide comfort and stability while your child adjusts to the new surroundings.

Plan meal options: Look for restaurants or accommodations that offer a variety of food options suitable for your child's preferences. Having a plan in place ensures you have access to familiar or preferred foods while allowing your child to try new dishes at their own pace.

We also recommend scheduling a few tasting sessions before your holiday to practice foods that likely will be offered while away. The more preparation, the better.

Strategy #3: Gradual introduction of a brand new food.

If your child is open to trying new foods, consider gradually introducing local cuisine during the trip. Start with small bites, small portions or sharing plates, allowing them to sample different dishes without feeling overwhelmed. Keep your expectations low while on holiday, meaning if your child tries something new, excellent! If not, that’s also ok, as eating even familiar foods in new environments can challenge their comfort levels.

And finally, if eating is a struggle while on holiday, send us a message to schedule a session with your therapist as soon as you are home. We are here to help reset your mealtime routine and get your child’s eating back on track.

Enjoy your holiday and the opportunity to continue expanding your child's culinary horizons!