Kids Afraid To Try New Foods? See Some Tips!

Negotiating with children is not easy, especially if they feel repulsed by foods they do not know. Find out how to handle this situation that, sooner or later, every parent must face.

During childhood, children face many new sensations. That’s why they sometimes feel afraid to try new foods.

We often sin by offering them little understanding, as we take many things for granted that, for logical reasons, are still new to children.

Have you ever asked yourself “Why doesn’t my son want to eat spinach? It’s a nutritious and tasty vegetable!”. In fact, the child may not see it that way.

Children are discovering flavors, aromas and textures almost constantly. It is perfectly normal for them to find it difficult to adapt to them and, consequently, to feel a certain fear of trying new foods.

Disorder or bad behavior?

Parents must know how to differentiate a simple rejection from something deeper. There is a behavior called food neophobia which, although not considered a mental disorder, produces this type of problem in children.

It’s a primitive mechanism that makes people distrust foods they don’t know about.

It can have different causes, such as traumatic experiences (poisoning or suffocation), and it is characterized by the rejection of all types of food, without even trying.

On the other hand, it can also happen that the child wants to express his will and, due to a desire for independence, rejects the parents’ suggestions ‘just because’.

In any of these cases, it is necessary to be patient and observe their behavior well. Below, we’ll give you some advice that can be used to successfully overcome this rejection.

How to Overcome the Fear of Trying New Foods

1. Be creative

Humans are very visual beings. If something that comes through our eyes pleases us, it is very likely that we accept it without thinking too much.

Therefore, it is very helpful to ‘transform’ the appearance of certain foods, especially vegetables, for children to eat.

A good example is a fun sandwich, with ingredients that form a face and look friendlier to the child.

2. Encourage participation

If we like to choose our meals, why don’t we let children have a voice and vote too? We can propose healthy alternatives for them to choose.

In addition, it’s also a good idea to take them to the supermarket or the market and allow them to collaborate in the kitchen.

Thus, they will be proud to make their contribution and eager to try this food that they prepared themselves.

3. Short but steady steps

Filling the plate will not help if you want your child to overcome the fear of trying new foods. Rather, you should introduce them to your meals little by little.

Some options in this regard are creams and soups or cakes and sandwiches, as long as they contain other ingredients that the children know and like. In the case of fruits, juices and vitamins are exceptional.

Then tell the child what he or she experienced. That way, she’ll realize that that food she hated isn’t that bad.

4. Lead by example

It would be a real injustice to force children to eat vegetables when we do not.

So if you want your child to eat everything and adopt healthy habits, the first step should be to follow this guidance yourself. And, of course, do it in front of him and without complaining.

Often, even without meaning to, we are educating our children: we are the model they have to follow and they constantly watch us.

5. No pressure

Pressing, making it a condition to “eat the vegetables” to allow for an activity the kids enjoy or, worse yet, making them are the last things we should do.

With these practices, we will only be reinforcing the negative association of certain foods with unpleasant situations for the child. In other words: “if I don’t eat what I don’t like, I won’t be able to play video games”.

Thus, food is turned into an obstacle, an imposition that must be faced even if you don’t like it.

6. Insist, don’t change the menu on the first complaint

If our response to a child’s fear of trying new foods is to give them other foods they like better, they will hardly be able to overcome this fear.

We must be patient, give time and, as we said before, not yell at the child or make a fuss if he doesn’t want to eat.

In conclusion, the main recommendation is to be understanding. Childhood, especially between 2 and 7 years old, is a stage of discoveries that each child goes through in their own way.

You will find that over time and example as the main tool, she will follow your advice and vary her diet in a healthy way.