Books and Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers To Make Mealtime FUN

Winter can be dreadful as a parent. My kids love playing outside, and it’s just not always possible with three kiddos, especially when it’s close to mealtime and layers of clothing are needed to go out.

Like most parents, our worst time of day is the hours between 4-6 p.m. when I am preparing dinner and the kids want to “help.” So, this winter I’ve made it my goal to do more meal-time theme nights to keep everyone happy. I have found when I give each of my kids a job, meal time runs MUCH smoother, even if it is messier.

After renting TONS of food-related books from our library, here’s what has been on our menu of books and coordinating meals and activities:

Pancakes, Pancakes by Eric Carle

This book is fabulous for starting the discussion of where food comes from.

Meal: Pancakes, of course. My kids also love when I add a few drops of food coloring to make their ‘cakes blue or green.

Activity: Have your child help you stir in the ingredients, or add special additions such a blueberries {perfect for counting} or they can mush bananas to toss in the batter. My kids love using chocolate chips to make faces, too.

Peanut Butter and Jelly by Nadine Bernard Westcott

This book is based on the play rhyme and has illustrations kids love.

Meal: PB&J of course!

Activity: Spread a blanket out on the floor and have a picnic! My kids absolutely love doing this. We usually just coordinate with easy-to-pick-up foods.

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett

This book is perfect for stirring imagination.

Meal: Spaghetti and meatballs

Activity: Use Play-Doh to make pasta! Kids love rolling out the dough and making snake-like pastas. Make a few balls for meatballs too. For older kids, discuss what foods you would like to see fall from the sky.

Pete’s A Pizza by William Steig

This book is perfect for kids who like to act as you read. Also perfect for sensory seekers.

Meal: Pizza. We love using whole wheat English muffins or Naan bread, and letting the kids put on their own sauce and toppings. Even if it looks like a mess, it still tastes great!

Activity: Pretend your child is pizza {this is what the book is about} — roll them out, toss them in the air if you are able, and place “toppings” on them, such as red checkers for pepperoni or pieces of white paper as cheese.

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss

This rhyme will get stuck in your head and the kids will want you to read it over and over.

Meal: Add some green food coloring to eggs and serve with pieces of ham.

Activity: Make an egg bar and let kids mix their own batch of eggs, adding in the toppings they like.

Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin

This book will make your kids giggle…and you too!

Meal: Tacos

Activity: Make tortilla chips using corn tortillas to go with your taco meal. Cut up the tortillas into triangles to discuss shapes and talk about how the shape will go from soft to crunchy in the oven. Buy a few different salsas and let your child taste test them and rate their favorites.

Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

This book is perfect for teaching about healthy eating habits.

Meal: Veggies. Can accompany just about any meal of course 😉

Activity: Make faces using veggies! Use cherry tomatoes, baby carrots, sliced cucumber, mushrooms, etc. and let your children experiment. {My kids will eat ALL their veggies if I just let them play with them first!}

How do you shake-up meal time at your house? I’m always looking for new ideas!