How To Get A Child To Try New Foods?

It is important that the child learns healthy eating habits from an early age, as a varied and healthy diet is the cornerstone of every health. However, every parent knows that sometimes it can be difficult to get a child to try new foods and flavors. Today we share a few tips to make this task easier.

How to get a child to try new foods?

Be consistent

Even if your child doesn’t like the new food on the first try, don’t give up, but offer him the same food for a few days. At the age of one, a child’s diet should include fruits, vegetables, grains, and protein sources.

Establish a routine

At the point when your child is already eating solid food, you should start following a certain eating rhythm. So make a schedule for meals, and don’t give your child extra snacks between meals. While it can be tempting to give in to a child asking for treats and offer him a small snack before dinner, it just messes up the routine and the child’s metabolism.

Make sure your child is hungry before meal time

One reason not to give a child snacks whenever he asks, of course, is that the snacks fill his stomach. In order for a child to want to try new foods, he or she must be suitably hungry. If a child is already full when they come to the dining table, it is easy for him or her to refuse food that does not attract him or her at first sight.

Prepare tempting-looking meals

Young children are often more willing to try attractive-looking and beautiful foods. So, for example, arrange a usually dull rice in the shape of a bear and decorate it with colorful vegetables, and the plate suddenly starts to look much more interesting to the child’s eye.

Take advantage of the flavors your child likes

Combine familiar and new flavors for your child. For example, if a child already likes an apple, mix it with another fruit or serve it alongside another food. This works especially for slightly older children who may challenge their parents when it comes to trying new flavors.

Grow your own food

If there is space in your yard or balcony for a small vegetable garden, grow food with your child. When a child learns and sees how a vegetable grows from a seed, he or she becomes excited about food in a new way.

Forget contingency plans

If you want your child to eat healthy food that covers his or her nutritional needs, don’t make contingency plans. If a child knows they are getting something particularly good by refusing original food, they will take advantage of the information. So make it clear that the child should eat what is offered to him. However, don’t force him to eat. If he doesn’t want to eat, let him not eat and offer him food next time on schedule for the next meal.

Please set an example

You can’t ask your child to eat a variety of different foods if you don’t do the same yourself. Try to prepare different portions and come up with new ways to utilize familiar ingredients. Children imitate their parents in everything, so parents must also set a good example when it comes to food and eating.

Take your child with you to grocery shopping and cooking

Take your child to the grocery store and teach him or her to choose healthy ingredients. Sometimes the child may be allowed to decide what to eat at the next meal. The child can also assist their parents in cooking, which is likely to inspire him or her to eat a ready-made meal.