How to Encourage Children to Try New Foods

You must have heard it a million times: "I don't want it mommy!" You're afraid your child will only eat macaroni and cheese for the rest of his life. Don't worry. There haven't been any documented cases of someone living off one type of food forever! Encouraging children to try new foods is definitely a challenge, but one you can accomplish with these simple steps.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Limit the snacks before your children's' meals. If a child is not hungry he will not eat a new food that doesn't appeal to him.
2. Offer the new food when your children are not cranky, tired or fussy. They are naturally more reluctant at that time.
3. Try one new food at a time. Offering too many new foods at one time can frustrate a child. Keep your expectations realistic.
4. Plan the meals so that the new food is offered with your children's favorite foods. They will be more likely to try and accept it that way.
5. Serve the new food over and over. Statistics have shown that children may need to be offered new foods more than 10 times in order to try it.
6. Allow your children to play with the food. The more they touch it and smell it, the more likely it may make it to their mouth!

Tips & Warnings

• Don't force your child to try a new food. It can make a child develop a negative attitude towards new foods that may last a lifetime.