Mastering the art of introducing new foods to
your child
Like adults, young children are also afraid of trying new foods. They prefer foods
that look, smell and taste familiar, and mistrust anything that are unfamiliar to
them. So, introducing new foods to young children may be a trying experience for
parents.
According to a study, children did not accept a new food until they've been served
it an average of ten times.
Ten times! This means that you, as a parent, must not give up that easily, if you
don't succeed the first few times. Keep trying and sooner or later, your efforts
will pay off. Your little one will soon learn to eat a variety of foods that form
the basis of a well-balanced diet, to promote growth and good health.
For children, learning to eat healthfully from young also helps to establish a foundation
of good nutrition and healthful lifestyle habits that can help to reduce the risks
for obesity, heart disease, cancer and other chronic diseases later in life.
To make the art of introducing new foods to your child a happier experience, here
are some tips that you may want to try:
Do's:
• Offer new foods at the start of meals. That's the time your child
is the most hungry and is most likely to try new foods, with the least fuss. But
make the rest of the meal familiar.
• Offer no more than a teaspoonful of the new food, alongside other familiar foods.
Give a second helping if your child asks for more.
• Before offering the new food, talk about it - the colour, shape, size and feel.
Let your child (if he is old enough) to help you prepare it. This will spark her
interest in the food and she'll be more willing to taste it.
• Make eating a fun and learning experience for your child. Use your imagination
and create funny names for food - such as bugs bunny beanies (baked beans on toast)
or popeye potato (mashed sweet potatoes).
• Serve up new foods in a variety of shapes, colours and textures. This will entice
your child to try a bite.
• Let your child see you eating and enjoying the new food. Your child may be tempted
to try the new food, and in time, will learn to like it.
• Treat food refusals matter-of-factly and steer the conversation away from food.
• If your child accepts a new food, reward him with praises, kisses and a hug. This
positive reinforcement will encourage your child to continue to try new foods.
Dont's:
• If you child repeatedly rejects a new food, don't make an issue of it. Instead,
give it a rest, then reintroduce it after a few weeks.
• Do not resort to force-feeding and begging your child to eat.
• Do not use food as a reward or punishment, as this will promote unhealthy attitudes
about food.
References:
Dietz WH, Stern LS, editors. The American Academy of Pediatrics Guide to Your Child's
Nutrition. Making Peace at the Table and Building Healthy Eating Habits for Life.
New York : Random House; 1999.
Larson Duyff, R. The American Dietetic Association's Complete Food & Nutrition
Guide. Minneapolis : Chronimed Publishing; 1998.