Dealing With Finicky Eaters? How To Get Your Kids To Try New Foods

Posted on: 9 December 2017

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It's not always easy to get kids to try new foods. Unfortunately, if you don't get them to expand their palate, they could end up eating macaroni and cheese and hot dogs for a very long time. That's the last thing you want, especially if you want them to enjoy a wide variety of foods. Luckily, there are some things you can do to get them to venture out of their comfort zone, even at an early age. Here are four fun ways you can get your kids to try new foods, and enjoy it.

Start With One New Color

If you've got little ones who have just one or two favorite foods that they'll eat, try adding some color. Encourage them to try one new color each day, or each week. Begin with a color that's close to the color of their favorite food. For instance, if your kids favorite really is macaroni and cheese, add a food to their plate that closely resembles the same color. From there, expand on the color range, until they're willing to eat a rainbow of colorful foods.

Add New Textures

If your kids have decided that textures are important when it comes to their favorite foods, it's time to start expanding on the textures. This can be particularly difficult when you have finicky kids. However, it's important that you get them used to enjoying foods of a varying texture. Begin slowly by adding one new texture each week. Once your kids get used to one or two new textures, start adding a new one each day. You'll soon find that your kids are willing to try new textures without too much of a battle.

Sample the Menu

Older kids can turn into finicky eaters too. If you have older kids who have decidedly finicky tastes, it's time to venture out to a favorite restaurant. Choose a restaurant that your entire family enjoys and encourage your kids to sample new foods on the menu. Make it a family challenge to try just about every item that's available before you move on to another restaurant. By the time you're ready to try a new restaurant, your kids will be used to trying new things.

Start a Food Tour in Your Town

If you want to continue the family dining adventure, try starting a food tour of your town. Sit down as a family and make a list of local restaurants that you'd like to try. Each week, visit a different restaurant and try a variety of foods. Each family member can order a different dish that you can each sample. This will allow you all to get a few different taste selections at each restaurant. For example, you could visit a restaurant such as Tony Roma's or another local eatery.