Isn’t it exciting to try out new foods?For adults, it can be a fun and thrilling experience to eat dishes you’ve never seen or heard of. Unfortunately, we can’t say the same for kids. Getting them to eat anything that isn’t candy, chocolates, or chicken can seem impossible. The human body naturally dislikes vegetables since it’s bitter and this could signal dangerous toxins. This sensation is even stronger in kids.The good news is there are many ways to motivate children to try foods outside their comfort zone. We’ve got 12 listed right here. Read our guide below and learn how to get kids to try new foods:
1. Mix New Food With Old Favorites
Add new foods with classic favorites. If your toddler loves fried chicken but you want to introduce carrots or potatoes, mix them. Instead of giving separate carrot pieces, mix them in with tiny chicken bits.Doing this gives kids the chance to try something new while still having the food they already know and love. If they reject the new food, they still get to eat the portions they like and still feel full.
2. Small Portions
When introducing new dishes, give them in small portions. There’s always the possibility your kid might reject it, for no reason at all. Shoving a whole plate of something new can seem intimidating and it’ll be a waste if your kid chooses not to eat it.Giving new food in small portions also help convince kids to give them a try. It’s a small piece, easy to eat and decide whether they like it or not. Giving them a bigger portion might make them feel like they have to finish it all, which could scare them away.
3. Make It Fun
Trying new food shouldn’t feel like a punishment. Instead, aim to make experimenting with new foods a fun and exciting ordeal. Make your next Crab Dynasty meal an adventure.There are a lot of ways to make experimenting with new food fun. You can make it into a game, like the first one to clean their plate wins a prize. You can also promise a positive reward, like an extra 30 minutes of playtime.Why is this important?Making eating time fun helps your kids get excited. They’ll want to try it because it’s fun. They won’t realize you’re altering their menu and getting them used to new types of food groups.
4. Give Enthusiastic Descriptions
Take time to describe new foods to try. Instead of calling something bitter or different, try to paint it in a positive light. Describe the new food to make it similar to things your toddler already likes.For example, if your kid loves fried chicken but not fish, you can say fish is somewhat like chicken. You can say fish is like the chicken of the sea and that it even tastes a bit the same. This gets even better if you fry the fish to make it look like traditional fried chicken.Use enthusiastic descriptions to help your kids associate the flavor with the food they love. This association helps them get excited instead of dreading their next meal.
5. Moderate Expectations
Keep in mind that all these tips could fail or take time to produce noticeable results. Lower your expectations and you might be in for a pleasant surprise.It’s rare for young kids and toddlers to adapt to trying new foods on their first go. It might take some convincing and this could stretch to a few days or weeks. Don’t get mad when they don’t meet your expectations
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[…] But, if they tend to be hesitant to try new things, keep some of the following tips in mind for your picky eater: […]