Many young children are hesitant to try new foods. It is completely normal for young kids to reject foods they have never tasted before. Here are some tips:
- New foods may take time. Kids don't always take to new foods right away. It may take up to a dozen tries for a child to accept a new food.
- Small portions, big benefits. Let your kids try small portions of new foods that you enjoy. Give them a small taste at first and be patient with them. Be a good role model by trying new foods yourself.
- Try only one new food at a time. Serve something that you know your child likes along with the new food. Offering too many new foods all at once could be overwhelming.
- Offer new foods first, at the beginning of a meal, when your child is the most hungry.
It’s springtime and a great opportunity to enjoy the fresh flavors of the season! Here is a fun way to introduce a new fruit that some kids may have not tried before – kiwi!
Photo provided by Cami Wells
Bunny Face
Yield: 1 serving
Ingredients:
- 1/2 of a whole wheat English muffin
- 1 tablespoon low-fat strawberry cream cheese
- 1/2 of a kiwi, gently rubbed under cool running water, peeled and cut in half
- 2 small blueberries, gently washed under cold running water
- 1 strawberry, gently washed under cold running water and cut in the shape of a triangle
- 6 pretzel sticks
Directions:
- Wash hands with soap and water.
- Spread cream cheese on English muffin.
- Have your child decorate with blueberries for the eyes, strawberry for the nose, pretzel sticks for the whiskers and kiwi slices for the ears.
Nutrition Information:
Source:
Healthy Tips for Picky Eaters, MyPlate, United States Department of Agriculture
This newsletter has been peer-reviewed.
