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Parentpedia
Introducing New Foods
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Let's face it, many toddlers are fussy eaters, with palates as sensitive as those of the most discerning food critics. Getting them to eat something other than, say, noodles or pieces of fruit can be a real challenge. And vegetables? Please.
However, don't give up -- this a great time to introduce new foods to your child because they're deciding what tastes and textures they like best.
A child's taste buds are highly sensitive at this age. Since you're selecting what they eat, don't fall into the trap of letting them eat only what they want. "The Yale Guide to Children's Nutrition" suggests that you prepare relatively simple meals and offer small...
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Do you have any tips for getting my kid to eat vegetables?
Introduce vegetables by color--and with new dipping sauces. Pick a color for the week such as green and only serve green vegetables during the week such as broccoli, peas, and cucumbers. The next week try yellow, squash, peppers, or yellow tomatoes. You can also line up ranch, melted cheese, Italian dressing and honey mustard for dipping. Have your kids keep a list of veggies according to their colors and by the end of the month have a veggie rainbow meal using their favorite colored vegetables from each week. Some great vegetables to try are colorful peppers, carrots, snap peas, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, cherry tomatoes, and cucumbers.
Tips fo Picky Eaters
Almost all kids have specific flavors or textures in food that they just don't like. Some children are even more finicky, and won't eat foods with certain colors, or will have rules like not allowing different foods to touch each other on their plate. The important thing with any child is to not force food upon them; thisdvsdvs puts them on the defensive, and their developing senses of individuality will kick into teenage proportions, which just sets the stage for major battles at the dinner table.
Introduce new foods to your children in small portions. Have them try a couple bites of something new instead of filling their whole plate with it and expecting them to finish everything. Also, prepare a backup dish that you already know they will eat so that they will still eat something during the meal.
Some experts say it can take multiple exposures to a particular food for young palates to develop a taste for that food ? essentially saying, to some children almost everything is an acquired taste. Keep in mind that overly-seasoned recipes and complex flavors will overwhelm many children?s taste buds. Start them off with simple flavors and preparations. Appreciating food is just like learning a sport or how to paint ? you have to start with the fundamentals before you break into advanced technique.
Make tasting new dishes fun, not a chore. It?s best not to offer them rewards of sweets in exchange for trying something. Make the adventure and possibility of discovering a new favorite food a reward in itself. You should also try things with your kids so they see that it?s ?safe? when you like something, as well as bond with you when neither of you likes it. Sharing a laugh over how bad something tastes is a great experience to share with your children.
Involve them in shopping and prep
When a toddler has picked out the red peppers from the farmer's market or torn the spinach for the salad, they are more willing to try them at mealtime.
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March 07, 2008
Parentpedia > Toddlers > Eating & Nutrition > Introducing New Foods
It's hard enough trying to get my husband to eat his fruits and veggies, unfortunatly my daughter has started this rebelious behavior as well. My sister said I should get a blender. The minute I brought it home, I plugged it in and got... read moreNot Acceptable?