Blog Archives

Tea Time: Exposing Kids to New Foods

4/17/2018

Division of Responsibility of Feeding (per Ellyn Satter)
- Parents are in charge of what and when
- Kids are in charge of if and how much
Don't
- Force kids to taste food
  - Instead model the behaviors you want to see (eat a variety of foods in front of them)
  - Make sure they are hungry (by limiting snacks) when they come to the table and offer new things first
- Get angry/frustrated
  - Instead be patient (it takes multiple exposures before they are ready to try something new)
  - don't rule out anything that hasn't been tried 10-20 times
- Plead/bargain/bribe
  - instead include kids in choosing and preparing new food items to try
- Say "good job"
  - instead enforce good manners at the table (yes please; no thank you, ask to be excused, no saying yuck to other people's food)
Do
- Read books about healthy eating/fruits and veggies
- Make it fun
  - blinded taste tests of apples
  - explore the feel of different veggies (hidden in a paper bag)
  - come up with clever names for new menu items
- Get creative
  - use dips/sauces to tone down strong taste of veggies
  - make smoothies
  - add small amounts to something familiar (rice, mac and cheese, tomato sauce, pizza)
  - prepare the same item different ways