New year, new foods. Right? Let’s take a step back. Getting your little ones to try new foods can be challenging. As much as you want to push new foods, the process must be done slowly and at the right time. Here is something new to try in 2023:
Create an area on the kitchen table or somewhere that is “child-height” to house snacks for the day. Start with a snack that your child may eat, but not a regular, favorite snack of theirs. Prepare something and leave it in the designated area. Don’t say anything, but be prepared to eat the same snack for a few days. Prepare it for other families who are willing to eat it. When your little one asks what they can have for a snack, you can talk about what you have made and let them know that’s the snack choice. You can offer them other nutritious options, but encourage them to try what is in the new snack area. Try preparing something new every week or two, depending on progress.
Here are a few things to remember when preparing snacks. Don’t stress about the nutrition so much. Try to create simple snacks that include fruits, vegetables, cheese, dips, spreads, whole grains, nuts, seeds, eggs, lean meats, and/or legumes. If many of these are unfamiliar to your little ones, start with something they know. Create snacks that are colorful and nicely displayed. This will help draw their eyes towards it. Let them try foods separately before combining them. This will help them recall what they have already tasted. Lastly, don’t get discouraged when they are not ready to try something new! This process can take time and some little ones may need extra encouragement. Happy New Year!
Kathy Chraghchian, RDN