How to encourage children to eat new foods

CryptoGuru Level X³

November 1, 2016, 8:54 am

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So today i wanted to take the time to talk about picky eaters and ways i get them to try new foods. I have three girls all of them have different appetites. My middle child has the worst time when it comes to foods she has never tried before. Sometimes its like pulling teeth to get her to eat. One thing for certain i never give up, and i keep trying until they try it.

Broccoli for example is one of the things my child hated. The first time i gave it to her i gave it to her plain. She pushed it to the side and ate around it. The second time we had broccoli i drenched it in butter and she loved it! If at first you don't succeed dip it in butter.

I do not allow TV and other electronics at the table. The less distractions that you have at the table the better try and keep them to a minimum. My living room and kitchen are close together and you can watch the TV from the kitchen. We have to turn it off before we sit down or else it takes forever for them to eat. Trust me if you do this you will be able to get them to finish their food.

Positive attention and reinforcement is important. I always applaud my kids when they try something new even if they don't like it. While they are eating i try and give them attention by asking them how the meal is. I always make sure to have desert available because i can use that as a bargaining chip for them to finish up their plates. Remember kids will be kids and we have to always be one step ahead.

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ermini2

ermini2

yea and this is partly my fault for giving her new foods when she was a baby...but you know what she has come a long way since then. she does have her moments though just like the other 2...lol

yes i believe that no TV or electronics while eating is huge in keeping them focused and doing what they should be doing. another thing i do is not give them an alternative, for instance what i make is what we eat. lol i cannot sit there and make 5 different meals for everyone, this kind helps with them trying new things because in reality, they have no choice. lol may sound cruel or whatever but thats how it was when i was growing up. of course i make things that they like and will eat but occasionaly i will throw in a new meal to the mix and they have to try it. lol nice topic jkeys!

10 years ago

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CryptoGuru

CryptoGuru

Thanks Ermnini i appreciate your response. We have a personal experience with this especially with our kids. My mom use to make us 2 things growing up partly because i didn't want what she was making for everyone else. This was after we moved to CT and we where out of queens. When we lived in queens i remember not having alot and also the lights being turned off. Anyway i agree with you these kids need to eat what we make and thats it. I can post so many videos of kids and families who just don't have anything to eat. I hope that one day they understand that they have it good and that we do the best we can.

10 years ago

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ermini2

ermini2

oh wow, you were spoiled!!!! hahaha but yea "you get what you get and you dont get upset" ....my motto! ROFL

10 years ago

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Lynne

Lynne

Oh Jkeyz2.. the neverending dinner dramas... LOL I am so with you.

I am in complete agreement that when it comes to meal times it is about being with family. We have the same rules. Everyone must sit at the table, no TV, toys, phones, books or laptops are allowed near the table at dinner time.

Regarding new foods, well that is always tricky. I think what is quite important is to not fuss too much, but keep trying gently. My daughter hated egg and now loves it. She also didn't like rice but now she loves it.

I don't offer my kids alternatives. They don't have to eat what is on their plate, but if they don't eat it they can't have anything else.

10 years ago

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CryptoGuru

CryptoGuru

Lynne it seems we have alot of the same parenting techniques. I love that we can relate on these issues because it shows that we are not the only ones who practice this. Kids will eat whatever we put in front of them if they are hungry enough. The thing is with my kids they will choose to skip meals rather than eat and that is a big problem. They have no idea how good they h?ave it thats for sure.

10 years ago

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Lynne

Lynne

Oh my gosh Jkeyz2 yes, you are so right and that is what I tell my children too. If they are hungry enough they will eat it. My kids will do that too. They choose not to eat supper and then have a little toddler tantrum an hour later when they ask me to make them a sandwich or something else because they are hungry.

A trick I have learned now is to always keep their plates exactly how it was when they left the table if they didn't finish their food. I just put it in the fridge. Then when they ask for something else I give them back their supper to finish.

I don't mind making them a sandwich or giving them lots more to eat if they have finished their food.

10 years ago

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ermini2

ermini2

yea thats a super great idea! my kids usually end up eating anyways because i also offer no dessert if they didnt eat their dinner

10 years ago

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ermini2

ermini2

that is exactly how we do dinner in our house. everyone sits together as a family, no toys, tv, or electronics. they have a choice, to eat whats on their plate or theyre going to be some hungry hungry hippos once bedtime hits. lol

10 years ago

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Lynne

Lynne

Yes same here, except like I mentioned in reply to Jkeyz2 I keep their supper plates in the fridge and when they moan they are hungry later they get to sit down and face down that piece of broccoli yet again! LOL

10 years ago

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fulstaf

fulstaf

I was babysitting my nephews, they didn't wanna eat vegetables, so what I did the next day, I told them to help me in the kitchen, so they did, and they have become so involved, they have finished they're meal, cause they were so proud and can't wait to tell their mom about the adventure.

9 years ago

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Rock1987

Rock1987

Let's be honest, our kids will not immediately like everything they taste for the first time. And if they know that swallowing is optional, they will be more willing to actually place the new food in their mouth. So keep a pile of napkins handy and teach your child to use them as needed, without making a big fuss. This important skill will help him be more comfortable around new foods at home, at school, and in his friends' houses.

Smaller kids and those who are very sensitive to new smells, tastes and textures may avoid any interaction with anew food because they do not want it to touch other things on their plates. In this case, keep a little "tasting plate" next to their regular place setting. They can choose to put the new food on it and just keep it close without tasting or even touching it. It still counts as the important exposure they need before they are ready to try the food.

9 years ago

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wilkan80

wilkan80

My child is too picky with food. he used to eat everything but not anymore. I didn't know kids that young can protest and refuse to eat until they are given what they want.

9 years ago

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sephzer

sephzer

Don't just serve them a very common dish. Be creative that your children will think that the food which is being served is delicious and yummy.

9 years ago

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tophew

tophew

For me to encourage the children to eat new food i would make it a surprise to them so that they will be shock at first taste, also its really important to make our children have knowledge about food on what is healthy or what is not.

9 years ago

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naknakdatu

naknakdatu

Same here, no ipad, no tv, no phones before eating. And my wife always find ways in order for the kids to eat their food. Sometimes my would sit beside them and starts to read stories while the kids are listening they tend to eat their food slowly. And we always make sure that we are complete each we eat.

9 years ago

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vinaya

vinaya

I am a new parent. Currently, my baby feeds only from his mother's breast. However, in few months, the baby will have to start other foods as well. How to encourage the baby to eat new foods will certainly come with a challenge. Since the baby is only feeding on milk, I will have to use milk as the basic ingredient when I am ready to feed the baby with new food. Milk is sweet, therefore, I am sure the baby will like the sweet taste. Therefore, initially, I will have to try food that contains milk and is sweet to taste. Then for a change, I will have to try food with no milk products or sugar content.

9 years ago

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saygorem

saygorem

I totally agree with you. Children should learn to eat in the table without the distractions of any phone or tablets present in the table. We can teach children to eat new foods by presenting it as fun to eat. Make a meal a happy meal like Mcdonalds happy meal. Incorporate design in the food so that the kids are fond to eat beautiful looking foods.

9 years ago

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jaymish

jaymish

I agree with you, putting butter on the broccoli, that was a genius idea. To get kids to eat food, I find the best way is to hide it in other foods. Like for example, I would have pureed the broccoli and mixed it with a meat in a meat pie or a samosa.That way the kids are getting the nutrients without the opportunity of rejection.

Also, the method of cooking contributes to the taste. Broiling the broccoli, for example, would be a big no-no for me. I would bake grill, or fry it.

Parents actually make their kids hate vegetables. If you make it bland what do you expect?

9 years ago

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gelotologist

gelotologist

My idea for me would be, you just need play with your kids. Play and fun have fun with them like it's a distraction for them. I remember when my mom forced to let me vegetable and what she did is mind blowing like she just did some magic or she just hypnotized me, jk.

9 years ago

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jemuelterrado

jemuelterrado

Kids are so hard to push eating some new foods somehow there are mom's techniques how they do it naturally. I always notice my aunt is not having a difficult time in feeding his baby and the method she is doing is putting colorful but nutritious food mixed with foods she wanna feed to her baby. One way also is playing around with the spoon imagining it is an airplane and the baby behaves and enjoys a lot. There are also tastes that only baby eats so why not try in mixing it with food you want to be eaten by your babies.

9 years ago

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Pixie06

Pixie06

The solution to this problem is to try new recipes with the same food. For example when it comes to pumpkin my nephew likes to eat pumpkin gratin only. We tried to cook the pumpkin in many other ways but he refused to have it. I have noticed that if the TV is on then instead of eating my nephew's attention often gets diverted and for that reason we have now moved the TV to another room.

9 years ago

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Barida

Barida

It is not always easy to teach kids to start eating new foods, but what has always worked is that of trying to eat with them. I mean they will feel comfortable to eat the food once they see you, as the mom/dad, eating the meal with them.

9 years ago

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ColdFlameChris

ColdFlameChris

Introducing new foods to children is gonna be hard. What we do is we just tell them that it's the same thing as the food that they loved to eat so they'll have a chance to try and taste it. Next, will depend whether they like it or not. If you're gonna encourage kids to eat new foods, make sure that they taste better.

9 years ago

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Destiny00

Destiny00

A great way to get kids to try new foods is to involve kids somehow in the preparation. If they are able to slice the vegetable, they may be more eager to try it. Something as simple as choosing the new food together at the market may entice your child to try new foods.

9 years ago

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