If you want to get your kids to try new foods, there are a few smart hacks you can use that should have them eating an entire menu of new food in no time at all. You may think that you’ll never get to a stage where your child is happily trying new foods all the time, but it can and will happen if you are consistent.
Read on if you’d like a few hacks to help get you started:
Give The New Food A Fun Name
Try giving the food you want your child to try a fun name. Many parents have had success by calling broccoli ‘mini trees’, for example. You can get creative with the food you want to serve. When you keep it lighthearted and have fun with it, your child won’t feel under so much pressure to try/like foods.
Eat Your Meals Together
One of the best things you can do if you want your child to try new foods, and just in general, is eat your meals together. When they see you eating a variety of foods, they will follow your lead. It doesn’t matter how much you tell your child they will grow up to be big and strong, they aren’t going to pay attention to you if you’re not taking your own advice. Making a menu template together can be a lot of fun and give your kids an idea of what’s to come. Try this for the week ahead and you should all look forward to your meals.
Give The Illusion Of Choice
You don’t want to give your kids too much choice when it comes to their meals or they will really take liberties. Instead, give the illusion of choice. Let them decide which new food they want to try out of two or three foods. Giving them the illusion of control (something all kids want) will make them much happier.
Rotate Foods Your Kids Already Enjoy
Make sure you also regularly rotate foods that your kids already like. This will break things up for them and ensure they’re not eating new food after new food, throwing tantrum after tantrum. It’ll be so much easier to sneak new foods in this way, too!
Take The Surprise Out Of It
Taking the surprise out of new food will help them to prepare themselves for what’s to come. Make sure you explain to them what it might taste like. Compare it to other foods they have tried, and talk to them about the texture. Try not to ask them if they ‘like’ a food either – kids won’t be able to tell this right away. Instead, ask them what the texture is like, what it tastes like to them, etc.
Don’t Label Them
Don’t label your kid a picky eater – even if they are being quite picky at the moment. As soon as you label your child, they will live up to the label forever. It gives them a sense of identity. Don’t make such a big deal out of it, and make sure you keep trying them on foods before you give up. It can take a handful of tries before your child finally likes one new food.
This is a collaborative post.
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