Family-Style Meal Service

Family-style meal service means serving foods in bowls or dishes on the table. Children are encouraged to serve themselves, or serve themselves with help from an adult. Enough food must be placed on the table to provide the full required portion size for all the children at the table.

Family-style meal service has some advantages…

• Family-style meals allow children to identify and be introduced to new foods, new tastes, and new menus. Children are often unsure about new foods. Seeing new foods and watching others serve themselves gets them interested. They are more willing to try a small serving when they see other children trying new foods.

• Children can choose the amount of food they want to have on their plate. When foods are served family-style, children may choose to take a small portion of food, knowing that the food will still be available if they would like a second serving. Children feel more in control to judge their hunger and fullness throughout the meal, knowing that more food is within easy reach.

• Children practice good table manners and new skills with their hands and fingers. Serving themselves gives children time to practice skills like passing, pouring, and scooping foods. Taking turns, sharing, and politely turning down foods are all a part of the table manners children learn by participating in family-style meal service.