Calmer mealtimes with a fussy eater
A plate photo guide before the meal, a phone-down table, and a short celebration for every brave bite.
Bitzi is coming soon to the App Store and Google Play.
What is Bitzi?
Bitzi is a parent-held mobile app for children aged 18 months to 7 years that helps you serve a plate that suits their age and keep the meal calm and screen-free. You take a photo of the plate for a rough, friendly guide, then at the end of the meal you hold up the phone for a short celebration of whatever today's win was: trying something, sitting at the table or eating.
Meet the Bitzis
Five friendly food characters keep your child company at the table. They never ask for anything. They just turn up and cheer.
The LookerPip
Climbs up to the table and takes a good look at everything on the plate.
Pip is a tiny pea pod who is curious about everything, and a little cautious too. Before anyone eats, Pip walks along the edge of the plate and has a good look. Looking counts. Some days that is all that happens, and Pip is proud of it anyway.
The GreeterTomo
Waves hello to every food before sitting down.
Tomo is round, red and very polite. Every food gets a wave and a hello, even the ones Tomo is not sure about yet. Saying hello is the first step, and Tomo reminds everyone there is no hurry to get to the second.
The NibblerBram
Tries one tiny bite, then takes a break. Small steps are fine.
Bram is a small broccoli with a big heart. One tiny bite, then a rest, then maybe another. Bram has learned that a small step is still a step, and that nobody at the table is counting.
The ChatterboxPearl
Sits down with the whole family and chats while the others try things.
Pearl loves a full table. She sits with the whole family, tells her stories and asks about everyone's day. While she chats, the plates get explored without anyone making a fuss about it.
The Goodbye WaveDot
Waves goodbye to the plate when the meal is over, whatever happened.
Dot is a little pasta shell who closes every meal. However the meal went, Dot waves goodbye to the plate and says well done for sitting together. That is the moment the celebration begins.
Check the plate
Take a photo of the plate before you serve it. Bitzi spots the veg, protein and carbs and gives a rough, friendly idea of what suits a child of their age. A guide, not a rule: you choose what goes on the plate, your child chooses how much to eat.
A screen-free table
Put the phone face down and enjoy the meal together. No screens at the table, for anyone.
One small step at a time
Child only eats a few foods? Bitzi suggests ideas for similar foods to try next, moving from a favourite to a close cousin with a similar taste or texture.
- A food they know
- A close cousin
- The next small step
Celebrate the effort
At the end of the meal, hold up the phone and let your child tap the big button for a short celebration with a friendly character. It marks whatever today's win was: trying something, sitting at the table or eating.
Make the next mealtime a little easier
Bitzi is coming soon to the App Store and Google Play.
What we believe about mealtimes
You choose the food, your child chooses how much
This is the heart of Ellyn Satter's division of responsibility. Bitzi's plate guide is a starting point for what you offer, never a target your child has to hit.
Celebrate trying, not quantity
The celebration marks trying something new, sitting with the family or eating. It is a moment of warmth, not a prize and not a measure of how much was eaten.
No pressure
NHS and AAP advice both say not to force a child to eat. Bitzi never asks the child to do anything except enjoy the celebration.
What Bitzi is not
- Bitzi is not medical advice and does not diagnose feeding problems.
- The plate photo gives a rough idea, not a measurement.
- It is not a recipe library. If recipes are what you need, a recipe app will serve you better; see our comparison.
Questions parents ask
What is Bitzi?
Bitzi is a parent-held mobile app for children aged 18 months to 7 years. It gives you a rough plate photo guide before a meal, keeps the meal screen-free, and offers a short celebration your child can enjoy afterwards.
Which ages is Bitzi for?
Ages 18 months to 7 years. You enter your child's birth month and year so the guide and the characters fit their age.
Does Bitzi tell my child how much to eat?
No. The plate photo gives you a rough, friendly idea of what suits a child of their age. It is a guide, not a rule: you decide what goes on the plate and your child decides how much to eat. That split comes from Ellyn Satter's division of responsibility in feeding.
Does my child use the phone during the meal?
No. The parent holds the phone. During the meal it goes face down. At the end, you can hold it up so your child can tap the big button for a short celebration.