IS IT OK TO USE A DIVIDER PLATE?

Yes! Divider plates help to organise food on a plate, which can be especially helpful for children who are sensitive to the way food looks, prefer less “mixed foods” or need a clear visual of their meal options.

However, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Encourage Variety: Use the sections to offer a range of foods, including familiar favourites and new textures or flavours.
• Promote Exploration: While a divider plate keeps foods separate, we would encourage you to still place different foods in each section so that your child can get used to foods touching. Eg. add strawberries and yoghurt in one section.

Divider plates can support positive mealtime experiences but we also encourage you to also use, or work towards using, non-dividing plates and bowls to reduce dependence. For more tips on mealtime tools and strategies, check out our resources:

• Learn more in Toddler to Table
• Listen to our podcast on mealtime strategies