Dessert with the main meal?

Wait, what? Dessert with the main meal? Are you out of your mind?

You might be thinking, "Absolutely not!" and you may have some solid reasons for feeling that way. But before you dismiss the idea entirely, hear us out. There’s been a growing trend of parents experimenting with serving dessert during the meal, and the results are surprisingly positive.

After receiving plenty of encouraging feedback from parents, we figured it’s time for a blog post. If it works for others, it might just work for you – and we wouldn’t want you to miss out on all the details. So, let’s take a closer look at why some parents are making the switch and how it could benefit your family too.

1. Reducing the Pressure Around Meals

A common issue for many families is the pressure surrounding dessert. The idea that dessert is something to be "earned" once the main meal is finished can lead to anxiety for the kids – and a fair bit of stress for the parents too. Parents have shared that when their child had dessert with the meal, it helped avoid the drama of wondering when dessert would appear. By offering dessert alongside the main course, it becomes just another part of the meal rather than a special prize, which means no more negotiating.

We all know that bribes like “finish your veggies and you’ll get dessert” can work in the short term, but let’s face it – they don’t have legs for the long haul. Bribes end up teaching kids to associate food with rewards and restrictions, and they can also lead to ignoring their body’s cues. Our number one tip for mealtime success is to remove the pressure, and unfortunately, bribes and bargaining only add to it!

2. Igniting Curiosity

Serving dessert with the main meal encourages children to approach eating with a sense of curiosity. They might alternate between bites of sweet and savoury, or even come up with creative concoctions we’d never have thought to offer them! This playful experimentation can actually reduce resistance to eating the main course, keeping them engaged and interested in the meal – and who knows, they might just surprise us with their culinary inventions! Fancy a chicken nugget spread with squished blueberry and topped with a chocolate button?

3. Building Autonomy

Serving dessert with the main meal also helps kids feel more in control of their choices. They get to decide how much of each food to eat, which encourages them to listen to their own hunger cues rather than feeling like they have to finish everything to "earn" their dessert. This approach helps children see that all foods are equal, and they have the power to choose what they need. When kids feel in charge of their decisions, they’re less likely to exert control through food refusal.

4. Boosting Appetite

Some children don’t realise they’re hungry until they actually start eating. A little dessert can help spark their appetite and get them motivated to dig in. Parents have noticed that when dessert is served as part of the meal, their kids tend to eat more of the healthy options they might otherwise avoid. It’s like a tasty little nudge to kickstart the meal!

5. Balanced Blood Sugar Levels

Having something sweet with a meal helps prevent the blood sugar spike and crash that comes from eating sugar on its own. The protein, fibre, and fats in the main dish help stabilise blood sugar levels, making the dessert less likely to cause post-meal energy surge followed by an energy dip later on.

6. Improved Relationship with Sweets

Many parents worry that serving sweets with meals might lead to unhealthy habits. However, offering a small dessert alongside the main course can actually normalise sweets, making them feel less like a “forbidden” treat. Parents have found that this approach helps kids stop obsessing over dessert and develop a healthier attitude towards food. It also helps when parents shift their language – instead of calling it "dessert" or a "treat," they simply talk about the meal as a whole. Less fuss, more balance!

Objection your honour!

Still not sold on the idea? We are not here to convince you either way, but experience tells us that the top reasons parents worry about serving dessert with the main meal are unfounded when they follow a few simple rules...

• Keep Desserts Small and Simple
  Offer smaller, portion-controlled options like fruit, yoghurt with a drizzle of honey, or a few chocolate buttons. This keeps things balanced without overshadowing the nutritional goodness of the main meal. Once the dessert is gone, that’s it – no need for extras!

  (For some helpful guidance, check out the portion sizes recommended by the Infant & Toddler Forum here: Portion Sizes for Toddlers)

• Incorporate Healthy Desserts

  Dessert doesn’t have to be loaded with sugar to be enjoyable. Think fresh fruit, baked apples with cinnamon, or a homemade smoothie. These sweet treats are still delicious but pack in more vitamins and nutrients than your usual sugary options.

• Use Dessert as a Learning Opportunity

  Get your little ones involved in planning or making the dessert. It’s a fun way for them to see how simple ingredients come together to create something tasty – and they’ll feel proud of their creation, helping you avoid highly processed ready-made desserts.

• Dessert Isn’t Essential

  While it’s a tradition in many families, there’s no need to serve dessert every day. Create your own family traditions where mealtimes are a time of connection and dessert is knocked off its pedestal!

While serving dessert with the main meal might not suit every family, it’s a game-changer for some. From easing food anxiety to helping kids self-regulate their eating, it fosters a more relaxed, balanced mealtime atmosphere. So, if you’ve found yourself locked in endless mealtime standoffs over dessert, why not try serving it alongside the main course? It could be just the shift your family needs to turn dinnertime into a stress-free, enjoyable experience.