There is nothing worse than spending ages chopping, cooking, mashing or blending a whole load of different ingredients, only for your toddler to throw it on the ground - totally bypassing their mouth.
And while it can be extremely frustrating, there are plenty of things you can do to not only save yourself the hassle of cleaning up, but also teach your child not to do it in the first place.
1. Take it away
If your little one is throwing their food on the floor in a playful manner it could be a sign that they are not actually hungry. Instead of giving them free-reign to throw the whole thing on the floor, take the dish away from them and say: "You must not be hungry if you are throwing your food on the floor". Not only will this stop them wasting food, but it also shows them that dinnertime is not playtime.
2. Don't give out to them
Your toddler is not being malicious by throwing their food, there could be any number of reasons as to why they prefer to flick it at your face then put it in their mouth! Ask yourself: Are they hungry?, do they not like it? is it too hot/cold? But don't give out to them - they're too young to really take it all in.
3. Serve small portions
This way they won't be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of food on their plate, and if they do start throwing food you'll be better able to stop it before it gets out of hand.
4. Use bowls and plates that stick to the table
This way it will be a lot harder for your little one to throw it away – although they may actually just put their hand in and get a handful and throw it on the ground.
5. Praise mess-free mealtimes
When your little one actually manages to eat a meal without throwing their food on the ground you should praise them. Your toddler will thrive off the positive feedback which will be a lot more effective than giving out to them.
