Trying new foods can feel unfamiliar and create food aversions later in life. While these uncertain emotions may arise, it’s important to remember that patience can make all the difference for children to try new foods.

Some tips to make trying a new food more successful and enjoyable include:

1. Eat the same food with your children as this will make it more likely to try it. Remember they learn from watching you!
2. Avoid making separate food when children are first learning about trying new foods. Give a small portion of what you made for dinner.
3. Give small amounts of a new food to encourage trying a taste of it.
4. Make introducing new foods fun by making silly names for the new food, a song about the food, or make up a dance to do after eating the new food.
5. If a new food is not liked on the first try, wait to try it again and pair it with a favorite food the next time.

Other points to keep in mind:

1. The first 1-3 times children may just smell, touch, or play with it.
2. The next 4-6 times they may spit it out or nibble on it.
3. The next 7-9 times they may actually eat and swallow it.