How to help a toddler try new foods

Most young children go through a stretch of saying no to new foods. It is common, and it usually eases with time and patience. These low-pressure habits can make new foods feel safer.

Offer, don't push

Put a small amount of the new food on the table or the plate and say nothing more about it. Pressure, bribes, and "just one bite" tend to make children dig in harder. Your job is to offer; your child decides whether to eat it.

Always include something familiar

Serve the new food next to something your child reliably eats. Knowing there is a safe option on the plate takes the stakes out of the new one.

Keep portions tiny

One green bean or a teaspoon of something new is plenty. A small amount is less overwhelming, and less is wasted if it is not eaten.

Let them explore

Looking, smelling, touching, and licking are all steps toward eating. A foods I explored chart can help you notice that progress.

Eat together when you can

Children learn a lot by watching. Seeing you eat and enjoy a food, without commentary, is one of the simplest forms of encouragement.

This is a family activity and general information, not medical, feeding or nutrition advice. If you have concerns about your child's eating or growth, talk to your pediatrician.

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From the maker: Picky Table is run by the person who makes MunchGuard, a free iPhone and iPad app where parent-approved mealtime videos play while a child is chewing and pause when they stop.