Is there a trick to eating your food without your toddler trying to steal it?

I wish I haven’t found a way yet if I’m eating something I try to make her something that looks like it and it’ll sometimes work but other times she just wants what I have in my hand instead

We just have all our meals together at the same time, he’s got food in front of him he isn’t after mine

I have never related to a post more 😅 even if I try eat the same thing with her she loses it because she just wants mine. I made the biggest mistake of getting us matching coloured water bottles. Every time I sip mine she goes mental 🤣

I checked your profile and if your kid is just over a year, it's a good time to start teaching them about your food and my food. I do remember going through that stage. I felt like I had to sneak food all the time. But you are allowed to eat food and your toddler is capable of understanding that, or will be soon.

What I would typically do is feed my toddler first. Then I would eat, and if she saw me and wanted some, I would tell her I'm sorry, this is my food, if you want more I can get you more when I'm done. I knew she wasn't hungry because she had just ate, and typically she would accept it. It took maybe a month or two, but she got it. I was able to even get her to wait patiently and play with her toys while I ate my breakfast, if I promised something fun afterwards.

She's almost 2.5 now and she's fine around us when we eat. She still steals my husband's food but that's because he's a pushover.

If it was spicy i'd explain that it was spicy - we taught 'spicy! With hand motioning spicy and exaggerated facial expression' and offer her own food again. If she keeps going i let her eat it - obviously not scotch bonnet level lol but she would have a bite and not like it so again i'd reinforce SPICY!!! Attached to hand gesture. Mine is now 18 months and if I say its mama's its spicy (even when its not i just want to eat my food lol) she'll say spicy and wave her hand in spicy motion - good to teach them tastes now!
But also i have hidden in the pantry and scoffed a sandwich so needs must sometimes 🤣

Eat at the same time so she’s distracted rather than feeding her first.

I thought eating things that were spicy would be alright. Nope. She likes the pain. 😆
My mom says, you can hide it, share it, or trick them, but other than that, there's no real hack to it.

You can guve a 1 year old spicy food if they dont like it at least they will leave you alone. In Asian culture babies eat spicy food much sooner than in the West and they are fine

Pretend or eat what they eat and suddenly their food becomes exciting. For the things they cant eat, you just have to eat in secret 😆

I don’t have a trick but I’m starting to set that boundary with my 2.5 year old. ESPECIALLY if he just ate and now I’m eating and he’s asking for some I just go “this is mommy’s food, (name) just had his breakfast. It’s mommy’s turn to eat”

This doesn’t always work but I’m taking baby steps

Eat fast and standing up lol all jokes aside it’s hard, BUT I’ve learned to just eat while cleaning up OR eat after while they are going to nap or bed. You’ll get it 😊❤️

it’ll take some time. Some days are easier for me than others