Introducing Kids to New Foods

Helping children to develop varied food preferences can make family mealtimes easier as well as setting kids up to enjoy a range of cuisines in the future. But sometimes kids can be a bit suspicious of foods that are new to them. Here are a few tips that may help you broaden your child,s food horizons.

• Persevere! Children are often suspicious of new foods. Research shows that it can take up to a dozen attempts at a new food before children finally accept it - but most parents only offer a new food 2-3 times before abandoning it. Keep persevering (frustrating as it may be) and children will gradually begin to accept new foods. Remember that children's tastes change - their favourite food one month may be "yucky" the next - and vice versa.
• Use the "Just one bite" strategy. Whenever a child turns up their nose at a new food try encouraging them to take "just one bite" before they leave the table. This strategy encourages kids to try new things without turning mealtimes into a battle. By presenting foods several times and encouraging them to try it each time, you will soon see which foods are just unfamiliar, and which ones they genuinely don't like!
• Don't let meal times become a battle. If children really don't want to eat a particular food, don't force them - and don't bribe them with promises of dessert either! Children may eat a particular food in order to get a reward or to avoid punishment but this doesn't make them like it - usually they end up disliking it intensely.
• Set yourself up for success. Offer new foods when you know your child is hungry - that way they'll be more receptive to new things. Offer new foods along with familiar and well-liked foods so that at least your child will enjoy some of the meal.
• Set a good example! Children learn by watching those around them. If the rest of the family is obviously enjoying the meal, your child is more likely to enjoy it. Also, modelling your own willingness to try new foods shows children the benefits of being open-minded about food.