Offer a Variety of Healthy Foods
Ever felt like you’re auditioning for a cooking show where the judge is a pint-sized dictator who only eats beige? Welcome to the daily roulette of ‘will they eat anything green today?’ If your fridge looks like a produce stand and your kid still thinks grapes are ‘too spicy,’ this is for you. Let’s embrace the chaos and maybe—just maybe—get a pea past enemy lines.
Introducing a variety of healthy foods early helps wire your kid’s brain to accept new tastes and textures, making them more adventurous eaters (and less likely to survive on a diet of air and cheese puffs). For parents, it’s a win for sanity: less mealtime drama, more nutrients, and maybe—just maybe—a moment of pride when they ask for seconds of something that grew in dirt.
How to do it
Start small by placing a tiny bit of a new food next to something familiar on your child’s plate. Don’t make a big deal out of it—avoid fanfare or bribes. Instead, casually mention it, such as, “Oh look, broccoli joined the party tonight.”
Let your child interact with the new food at their own pace. They can touch it, sniff it, or even ignore it; simply being exposed to new foods is a big part of the process.
Keep rotating different options and make sure to eat the new foods yourself. If it helps, use exaggerated “mmm” noises to show how much you enjoy them.
Above all, stay calm and patient. Remember, food fights are only funny in cartoons.
Key Tips:
- Start with very small portions of new foods.
- Avoid pressure, bribes, or making a fuss.
- Allow your child to explore new foods without expectations.
- Model positive eating behavior by enjoying the food yourself.
- Stay relaxed and consistent—patience is key.
