Trying new foods can be a thrilling experience, especially if you’re a parent of a picky eater. We know the struggles that you may come across with a child that is particular about what they eat. That is why our feeding therapy team came up with this list of 5 Ways to Encourage Trying New Foods for your picky eater.
We believe, that is list can be helpful for those who are new to their child denying their offerings of food at the dinner table and those who have been undergoing a mealtime battle for years with their child. These tips and tricks should be very beneficial for you, your child, and the overall mood when starting and finishing up mealtime.
1. Play with Food
Playing with food allows the child to interact with food without pressure. It will allow the child to have fun with food! Here are some activities that we recommend for play at the dinner table:
- • Paint with purees
- • Dig in rice/beans
- • Stamp with veggies
2. Read Books
Reading a book about food can help the child learn about new foods. While reading the book discuss the color, shape and texture of the different foods in the book. Research has shown that looking at picture books with fruits and vegetables can help the child learn to eat them. Here are some books about food:
- • Creepy Carrots
- • Monsters Don’t Eat Broccoli
- • I will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato
- • Stone Soup
- • The Very Hungry Caterpillar
- • Dragons Love Tacos
3. Plant a Garden
Planting a garden will allow the child learn about vegetables. The child can help plant, water and pick the vegetables. Here are some vegetables to plant in your future garden:
- • Tomatoes
- • Peppers
- • Cucumbers
- • Zucchini
- • New veggies that you want your child to try
4. Get Involved in the Kitchen
Getting the child involved in the kitchen will help with exposure. Here are some tasks the child can help with in the kitchen:
- • Washing
- • Stirring
- • Rolling
- • Measuring
5. Muffin Tin Meals
Serving meals in a muffin tin will help with exposure to different foods. When serving the muffin tin, provide a variety of foods. Include preferred foods and foods the child is still learning to eat in the muffin tin.
Want more help encouraging new foods and working with your picky eater? Call Chicago Pediatric Therapy & Wellness Center at 773-687-9241 to have one of our feeding specialists perform an assessment and make some guided recommendations for your child to help make meal times a success! Good luck and happy eating!
