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Messy food play: helping children explore new foods

Healthy bodies

  • Date published:

  • Author: oliverkyle

Some children are more sensitive to textures and tastes than others. These children are more aware of differences in the way food smells, looks and tastes meaning they may have strong food preferences and a limited diet.

Messy food play is about introducing new foods, smells and textures through play. It is hoped by playing with food in a fun way, children will be more willing to try, and go on to eat and enjoy, new foods.

Top tips for messy food play

  • Play outside of mealtimes – make sure messy food play is outside of usual mealtimes, so children know they are not expected to eat anything. It can be helpful to play away from their highchair, dining table or wherever they usually eat.
  • Adults, siblings, friends join in – some children will want to watch others doing messy food play before joining in themselves.
  • Make it fun – use messy food play with games and activities your child already enjoys to create a positive food-based experience. For example, have tea parties with toys using real foods.
  • Start with dry foods first – once children are happy to play with dry foods slowly add liquid or move to wetter foods. Try using a sandwich/freezer bag or give your child plastic gloves so they can explore wet foods indirectly while they build tolerance, these can gradually be removed.
  • Remember children need lots of opportunities to explore new foods before they are likely to taste and eat them. Doing messy food play regularly will help build tolerance to new foods.

Messy food play ideas

Filling up plastic cups with dry cereal, oats, breadcrumbs and rolling a ball into them to knock them down

  • Pushing toys around in dry foodstuffs
  • Play a food guessing game by place foods in a feely bag for them to touch and smell
  • Finger painting with sauces, ice cream, cheese spread, yoghurt on a wipeable mat or mirror
  • Finding small pieces of fruit or vegetables or toys in wet bowls of noodles, rice or pasta
  • Mashing down cooked fruit and vegetables and making handprints on paper
  • Playing in jelly, mousse or custard then shaking sprinkles onto hands for decoration
  • Make faces on plates/bowls using fruits and vegetables
  • Make sandcastles with cooked rice or pasta and decorate them with cooked vegetables
  • Blowing pureed fruit and vegetables with straws