Sensory-Friendly Thanksgiving Meal Ideas

Everyone deserves to have a nice holiday. If you’re exploring ways to make your Thanksgiving meal more sensory-friendly for your child, Pediatric Therapeutic Services (PTS) can help. We’ve put together this list of sensory-friendly Thanksgiving meal ideas that can help you and your child make the most of the holiday, whether you’re in charge of cooking or visiting family for the holidays.?

Involve Your Child in Meal Planning and Prep?

When you or other family members are preparing for Thanksgiving dinner, allow your child to help. Ask them what foods they think are a good fit for the holiday and let them craft a menu that feels right for the holiday and approachable for them.?

Prepare Sensory-Friendly Backup Foods?

Does your child have favorite foods? Bring them with you as a backup to the Thanksgiving meal. Sometimes, knowing that there are other food options available that feel safe can help reduce the anxiety around new foods or lesser-preferred food options.?

Your child will have something to eat no matter what, even if the holiday meal isn’t quite right for them. Let your other guests know about the backup options for your child. This can help prevent any surprises or comments that bring unwanted attention to the switch.?

Dress Up the Food for The Holiday?

Are the sensory-friendly foods your child prefers not traditional holiday foods? Dress them up with Thanksgiving designs. You can make any food a holiday food with some decoration and enthusiasm.?

Thanksgiving can also be an opportunity to enjoy your favorite foods, even if they aren’t perfectly healthy. Dress up healthier foods with flavors or textures that your child enjoys. Enjoy the holiday and have a meal that’s focused on gratitude and togetherness.?

Make the Table Itself Sensory-Friendly?

You can create a sensory-friendly holiday table in addition to food. Creating a calming atmosphere for a meal can help reduce sensory stimulation and may make them more open to trying new foods or foods that aren’t their favorites.?

Use calming, warm colors for decorations. Fall colors are great for this and still fit the Thanksgiving theme. Remove any bright lights, turn off televisions in the background, and other sensory factors that can contribute to overstimulation prior to the meal.?

Have a Pre-Thanksgiving Taste Test

Knowledge is power and comfort. You can help your child take some of the anxiety out of a big meal by preparing some of the dishes in advance for them to try in a relaxed and controlled environment without so many people around. They can take their time, explore the dishes on the menu, and even let you know if they may need additional options before the event.?

Consider the Textures Your Child Enjoys and Incorporate Food with Those Qualities?

When you’re crafting your Thanksgiving meal, take some time to think about the foods your child enjoys. Do they prefer soft textured foods or crunchy snacks? If you’re not sure why your child likes a certain food, ask! This can help you craft a menu of sensory-friendly options.?

Children who prefer soft foods may enjoy mashed potatoes, sweet potato pie, or breads. If your child likes some crunch in their foods, consider roasted vegetables, nuts (allergies allowing), or salad.?

Provide Thanksgiving-Themed Activities at the Table

Having themed activities available for kids and adults at the table can help take away some of the focus on the food. This may help reduce stressors around eating for your child and give them something else to focus on while they try new things or have a few foods that aren’t quite their favorites.?

Whatever your child creates can be added to the table as a Thanksgiving Day decoration for this year and even future years if you decide to save their creation. ?

Learn More About Making the Holidays Sensory-Friendly with PTS

Your Thanksgiving meal can be more accessible to the children in your life with sensory needs. By including them in the planning, you can get their thoughts as you build your meal and allow them to feel more in control of the process.?

If you want to learn more about creating sensory-friendly holiday activities and meals at home or at school, contact PTS today.