Family-style meals are a way of serving food where children and educators sit together and share food from common serving dishes. Children are encouraged to serve themselves, choosing which foods to take and how much to eat, with help if needed. They may also help set and clear the table and clean up spills.
This approach fulfills children’s need for independence, builds confidence and teaches them to trust their hunger and fullness cues. Offering family-style meals allows them to practice their fine-motor skills, social skills and hand-eye coordination. Not every meal, snack or food needs to be offered family-style. Choose what works best for your setting and the children’s needs.
Dishes and Utensils
Having the right serving dishes and utensils on the table makes it easier for children to serve themselves. Consider using:
- Small jugs or pitchers for pouring milk, water or smoothies
- Serving bowls with wide rims to make handling easier and to catch drips
- Small tongs that fit comfortably in little hands
- Measuring cups, scoops or short-handled spoons to make serving easier
- Squeeze bottles for condiments like ketchup, jam or salad dressing
- Plastic serving dishes that are lighter and cooler to the touch than glass or metal
Preventing Illness
- Ensure children wash their hands thoroughly prior to meals and snacks. Remind children to cough and sneeze into their elbows to keep hands clean.
- Teach children to only touch utensils by the handles and the outside of dishes.
- Have extra utensils on hand in case children drop them or put them in their mouth.
- Use two or three smaller serving dishes per table instead of one big dish. Smaller dishes are easier for children to handle, and reduce waste if one gets contaminated.
- Keep food items covered until served.
- Discard leftovers.
- Take a break from family-style meals during outbreaks or when illness at the setting is higher than usual.
Tips for Success
- If family-style meals are new to your child care setting, start gradually. Start by encouraging children to serve themselves one or two foods that are easy to scoop, while educators model serving other foods. Over time, children can serve themselves most or all of the foods.
- Encourage children to start by taking one or two scoops so there is enough for all their friends. Remind them they can have seconds once everyone has a chance to take a first helping.
- Facilitate play related to family-style meals. Children can pour from jugs during water play, scoop beads or sand, pick up yarn using tongs, or set a table in the dramatic play area.
- If any children have allergies, food intolerances, or special dietary needs, staff must be careful to keep their food separate and prevent cross-contamination. Pre-plating food for children with special food needs may be required.
Learning from Others
It can be helpful to see how family-style meals have been implemented in other child care settings. The videos below provide examples:
- Family Style Dining with 2-Year-Olds – YouTube
- Starting Family Style Dining – Part 1 –
- Starting Family Style Dining – Part 2
Adapted with permission from CELEBRATE Feeding “Serving Family Style Meals” available from www.celebratefeeding.ca
