Help! How Do I Get My Son to Try New Foods?

I used to give my daughter a can of peas and carrots. I would drain it and dump it on her tray. She made quite the mess but she loved eating them.

As for everything else just make him try or I mean offer him everything that you are eating at every meal. Try those chef boy single serve meals...chicken and rice, mac n cheese...etc.

Good luck.
Jen

My mother-in-law just gave me Jessica Sienfield's book Deceptively delicious. It hides the veggies. You still offer the whole veggies but the others are hidden in the food snd it has recipes like chicken nuggets, pizza... Many. I was so intrigued taht I did a little research and found The Sneaky Chef by Missy Chase Lapine. You always offer the other stuff that they won't eat know so that one day as they get older they will. I also don't let my 3 year old up until she has a couple bites of veggies. Also it works for me to offer the veggies first and then the fun stuff.

Gee, you're a busy lady! How wonderful that you're accomplishing all this.

First, I suggest that you not worry about it very much. You don't have time to worry! Think, however, about the quality of food he's getting. Anything prepackaged, such as the pizza rolls, is not quality food. You'd be better off with a small variety of fresh fruits, some organic cereal-based finger foods, and don't worry about the meat. Your child is going to want more as he gets older. Just be sure you make good stuff available and don't get stuck feeding him processed "food" that's advertised on TV. Take him with you to a good health food store, and see what strikes his fancy.

i have 3 children, my youngest is 14 mo boy. i've just always given them carrots, green beans, peas, broccoli, spinach, pretty much anything we eat and the boys love it all and the girl likes most of it. i'd say just keep offering it. my 14mo old has been eating "our" food since about 9 months when he stopped liking to be spoon fed. i'd start now though, because i have 14 and 11 year old nephews who won't touch veggies. i think if you offer them and he sees you eating them, he'll eventually find some that he likes.

This is what the dr told me when mine were that age. Keep putting a bite in their plate whether they eat it or not AND... YOU HAVE TO EAT IT BEFORE THEY WILL EAT IT. They have to see you eating it and saying it is good before they will even try it. They told me not to force, but encourage. And keep it up and don't stop.
I did without being forcefull and they all are pretty good eaters now.
Don't know if that is right or not but that is what the dr told me to do

Hey B. my son was the exact same way. He's 2 now and he's stiill picky on foods but a little less than he was after his first b-day.don't let the "its all because of junk food" advice discourage you, i actuallyasked my pediatrician if i could let my son eat pizza to get some veggies in him and he said as long as he doesn't eat it breakfast lunch and dinner 7 days a week then go for it. we eat hashbrowns and mashed potatoes too.... look at the nutrition on the side, they may npt be raw carrots but they are not sugar puffs. My two best tricks have been blending veggioes and fruits together into an applesauce like dish. try carrots and peaches, squash and pineapple, green beans and blueberries... throw in a little brown sugar and it all tastes good.

we have the same problem with our daughter. However, our doctor says that she is healthy weight and happy...to just back off and she will come around to new foods. Don't stop trying to introduce foods but don't push if your child won't eat it. We use dips whenever we can because she absolutely loves to dip her food in stuff even if the food and the dip doesn't match.... To me, it's gross but hey she tries something new (even if it's just a bite or two).

I agree that feeding time needs to be fun and the less stress the better. Offer a variety of foods (not all at the same time) and let your son play with them. Some time kids like to go through a hierarchy of exploration with new foods. I use this a lot in feeding therapy. (I am a speech and feeding therapist.) First step is tolerance of the food's presence (can he tolerate it on his tray with no pressure to eat it), then on to poking the food, picking it up and dropping it, picking it up and smelling it, tapping it to the nose, kissing it then licking his lips, licking it or tapping it to his tongue, touching his teeth with it and then putting it in his mouth. Most of the time, I dont get through all these steps in one session, but the kids I see are probably more severe than your son. Have I confused you enough?? LOL It helps if he can imitate these steps while you do this with your own piece of the food. Also, a BIGGIE, watch your own facial expression!! If you have a look of hesitance or fear, he is going to see that look and know right off that that food is something he is not going to like. Keep a happy, "no big deal" look on your face. Hope I havent gone on too much and that this helps you a little. Feel free to visit my website for a link to a list of feeding milestones. Let me know if you have any addt'l questions.
Good Luck!
J.
www.jennifermcveyslp.com

My son won't eat any vegetables. He never has. When he was small I worried alot that he was not getting the vitamins that he needed from the foods that he ate which was mostly chicken nuggets, pizza, meat and sometimes potatoes. My doctor told me not to worry just give him what he would eat. He said that with pizza, you have bread, cheese, tomato sauce and toppings so he is getting a lot of the food groups. I also gave him vitamins. His taste has changed some since then (he will be 14 in April). He still doesn't eat vegetables but is a very healthy teenager with a BIG appetite. I am hoping that one of these days he will start eating some vegetables but i don't worry about it too much now.

My son is also 15 months old and eats EVERYTHING from olives to avacados to steak... literally anything. He has never had a french fry or pizza roll--- he is only use to healthy foods.
I don't think that a 15 month old should have ever tried a pizza roll, or french fries... they eat what you give them and if you give them junk, that is what their bodies will want.

Try edamame (soybeans) They are yummy and easy to eat. Try feeding him sweet potatoes instead of mashed potatoes. Have you tried veggie soup or stew. He can eat the potatoes with veggies and meat. I think you need to stop giving him a bunch of carbs. He's eating what you put in front of him and that is the problem.

Also, I am assuming your son drinks juice and I would not allow that until he can eat healthy. I would do milk in the morning and at dinner and only plain water for the rest of the day. That may encourage him to eat fruit. When you do offer juice, only offer fresh pressed or fresh squeezed... without sugar and other additives.

HI B. - boy do I ever remember those days. Try a little smooth p-nut butter on celery and carrot sticks, my little ones loved that. Check to see if the meat you offer him is seasoned too highly - I always separated what I gave the kids from what my husband and I ate. Also, a little cheese sauce on veggies won't hurt (pretty much any cooked veggie). Try a thin pancake/crepe cooked and rolled around cooked, shredded meat, veggies and cheese (also a warm tortilla will work). Good luck and don't worry and try not to stress out too much over this issue or it will become a real battle - kids find their equilibrium in their own time - as he gets older, let him help cook in small ways - kids will almost always eat what they participate in creating.

Keep trying B.. I am a mother of two and I having been working in childcare for over 15 years. It takes many tries for a child to decide if they like the texture and taste. Many times smell and sight play a big role in whether they will even try them. Try soups, make your own, kids seem to love them. Try things like green beans (you can give them for snack even right out of the can) over and over again. If your offer a choice of two things he will usually choose one if he is hungary. The meat thing is a little harder. Many youngsters do not like the texture. Keep trying, meanwhile try some beans for protein. It will make You feel better. Most of all, it just takes time. Keep in mind though, if you give up now and just feed him those few foods that you know he likes, he will have a limited food intake for many years to come and it will be much harder to break later. Good Luck.

I have 2 yr old twins. Basically, the only thing that works is tough love. YOU have to be wiling to say "I am going to give my son XX for dinner and if he doesn't eat it, there is nothing else until tomorrow". Until you do that, he has no reason to try new foods because he knows you will continue to buckle under and make him mashed potatoes.

We went from having our son eat absolutely NO fruits and vegetables, and only fruit juice (no water) when they were just turning 2 - a nutri grain bar for breakfast, another bar for lunch and breaded chicken for dinner, goldfish throughout the day, and that was it. We'd read about all of the negatives surrounding giving your children processed food, and we switched their eating habits. In one day, we threw out all the bread, cookies, candy and crackers in the house. For supper, I would sit my children's plate in front of them (which was now grilled chicken and veggies, and a little brown rice (flavored with something, of course, like chicken broth, etc). For an entire week he would throw himself on the floor and boycott whatever it was. He refused to try any fruit, and wouldn't eat the chicken because it was naked and had no breading.

It took about a week. Finally, he got hungry and he realized the other stuff wasn't coming back. Now, a month later, he loves naked chicken and "bean-beans", begs for melon and eats an apple without me even cutting it up. He'll drink 3-4 glasses of water a day, and eats raisins as a snack instead of goldfish crackers. There are still things he won't eat, like sweet potatoes, but that's okay, I allow him to eat a few more veggies instead. And they also know that if they don't want to eat their food that's okay, but mommy's not making anything else until the next meal or snack time. They're cool with it.

Think of it like being a test at school. You don't expect your kids to "try" taking tests. You say "tomorrow's the test, that's the way it is. You don't have to get an A, but there will be a test". When you decide he will eat a healthier diet, and that's the way it is, that's when he will.

Note: I focused on only my son, even though his twin underwent the same food "makeover". She never had a problem with switching foods - he was the one who would throw fits, so I gave you the extreme. :)

You are doing a great job by still introducing foods to him. I don't know if you have heard the saying that it will take five times or more for a child to like something once he/she has been introduced a new food, but it is completly true. My youngest daughter I thought would be dinning only on grilled cheese at her wedding, but now at almost four she amazes me because she trys everything and likes almost everything. My oldest at five is still picky, but we have a rule that she needs to try everything given to her, and if she doesn't care for, she still has to eat half the small portion mommy and daddy give her. And to our amazment, she does. It is a long road, but just keep giving him those foods, and by around two , it seems 'magically' one day he won't fight you too much and he will just eat it!

My 2 year old son (a good eater) went through a phase around that age when he was teething and he refused to eat meat or hard veggies. It lasted about 6 months. It's important to get iron into their diet, so when he became anemic our standby became liverwurst on Ritz crackers. He loved it! He also loves the gerber graduate vegetables that are soft but whole pieces. He still prefers them to any I make. They will go through phases of liking or disliking different foods, especially new ones. I read somewhere that you have to offer a particular food 7 times or more before they will usually touch it. Another tip is to feed him in stages...only put his least liked food on the plate first (when he's hungriest), and if/when he eats that then move on to foods he likes better. That way he won't fill up on his favorite and leave the rest. Hope this helps.

sometimes you have to offer the same food over and over again. I heard as much as 15 times or more. And if he sees you eating he may be more apt to do the same.

good luck

I have a 1 year old little girl. When I am ready to get her to try new foods I usually mix it with another food. She loves chicken.......so I cut the chicken in very small pieces and add diced carrots to it so she will eat both. Moxing things is ag reat way for them to eat new foods.
If you want him to eat veggies. Mix it into the mashed potatos with some chicken pieces.
If you want to give him grilled cheese......Smuckers makes great frozen grilled cheese sandwiches. They are called "Smuckers Uncrustables". They even have PB&J ones. I also get very very excited when I am feeding her. I usually take a piece of her chicken and hold my tummy and laugh and say "Mmmm!!! I like it!! " Then she usually gets happy and eats her food and claps. Getting new "Toddler" plates is fun too. Get him a matching place mat with the matching bowl/plate, and let him try to self feed. I hope that advice helps some.

In order to get my children to eat veggies, I used to mash up green beans into the mashed potatoes and mix it together for them to eat--they loved it. Anything I wanted them to eat, they went for if it was mushed into the potatoes, i.e., green beans, peas, corn (though I don't recommend corn at this age), etc. To this day, my kids love veggies and salads and carrots, and even spinich and turnip greens! Good luck, hon!

Hi B., A child will eat whatever you introduce and provide. If you had not given him any "junk" (no nutritional value) foods, he would not have ever known what they were or tasted like. If you give a child vegetables and fruit, they will like that. Now that you have introduced foods that are less nutritious and perhaps had flavor inhancers like MSG in them, it may be a little more difficult. Since one year olds are just learning to eat solids, and eat very little, everything counts. Be sure what you give him is nutritious, and he will eat it. He will not starve, I promise. Remember the most nutrients (vitamins and minerals) are only in the dark green and yellow vegetables. Pizza, fries, macaroni, etc, are empty calorie starches that do not belong in anyone's diet. You are creating his lifetime eating habits that will either keep him healthy or create heart disease, etc. when he is an adult. Be wise in what you choose. If you are going to give him starches, be sure it is whole grain, like brown rice, whole wheat, oatmeal, etc. Your child will be healthier and happier for it! B. S. RN.CCM

I am a 49 year old mother of 4 children. My children's ages are 18, 16, 10, and 3. My mom is a dietician and she recommended to me when my first child was a toddler to put on his plate the food that the rest of the family was eating. If he eats it great. If he does not eat it have a back up plan. i.e peanut butter and jelly sandwich, banana, yogurt, apple-something he will eat, but not something that is an inconvenience for you to prepare. She said to always put the food the family is eating on his plate first and give him an opportunity to eat it. She also said to ask your child to "try" the food. And have a napkin or the garbage can handy to let him spit it out. She told me to never make them swallow anything they don't like. If you let them spit it out, then they will be more willing to try new foods. As a result, my older children will try anything now. Meal times need to be a fun time that everyone enjoys. If you make it a battleground it is unpleasant for everyone, you included. :o)

This may not sound helpful at first, but just keep presenting these new foods to your son. There was an infant development specialist (though I can't remember who at the moment) that found that children may not try a food until they have seen it up to 18 times. It seems like forever to keep giving them something they won't touch, but it has worked pretty well for us. Also, it helps to give them something you know they will eat with every meal. A lot of times my son won't touch one thing for a while, but once he starts eating something else, he's more willing to try the other thing. Hope that helps!

Use cookie cutters to make interesting shapes with the new food. If he likes cars there is a set of car cookie cutters, this makes it something appealing to his eyes and you know that it is good for him.

Make spears out of vegetables, baseball bats~create fun and he is sure to try the fun new shapes.

I would stop the processed foods as much as possible. Just like with adults, the child gets hooked on the taste and wont want to try the real food if he is not encouraged to. Of course dont force anything. But instead of placing the same things on his tray, give him applesauce or small slices of peeled apples, chopped real banana, canned carrot slices are soft and also sweet. Once he gets used to the more natural taste of "good" food he will be more likely to eat more of it. Bread, cheese, and potatoes are just not nutritious enough even though they taste good!

I am a 35YO mother of 16 month old twins. I hate to say that my twins try just about anything. I give them whatever we eat at home or out to eat. We just keep giving it to them just to introduce it. Keep giving it to him. My little boy can sometimes be picky but I try to praise him alot when he trys something new. Hope this helps. I live in Clarksville, TN, where do you live. If you live here and have not tried the MOMS club. It is a great place to meet other moms who stay at home and have young children.

Get the book: "The Sneaky Chef" It shows you how to sneak veggies into kids' fav foods. The book is inexpensive & very helpful.

My suggestion is to just give him whatever you are eating. If you eat a variety of different things, then he will have lots of different things to try. Most kids really don't like vegetables too much, but just keep giving them to him (just a little at a time - not too much or it could be overwhelming). I love to cook and serve vegetables in many different ways. That way, we never get bored with what we are eating! My kids are now 5 and 7; they always have to at least try what I serve for dinner. They are usually surprised at how good things taste! Since your son is still a baby, I wouldn't "make" him eat anything; just keep offering different foods as you eat them.

We had the same issue when my two year old was that age. We still do sometimes!! The biggest thing I hadto learn was that at that age, kids are trying to find ways to control. They are just figuring out cause and effect and see that it upsets you when hey don't want to eat. A lot of times they are just looking for a reaction so not making a big deal out of it, is important. There are very little things they have control over and deciding what they will and won't eat is one of them. Also, It was very hard for me to make time to eat WITH my daughter instead of just feeding her, but I had to make that a priority. She always ate more and was generally more agreeable to different kinds of food if I was eating them alongside her. The dips thing was very good advice as well. As grossas I think it is, my daughter will eat almost anything if she gets to sprinkle it with parmesean cheese. Even bologna! yuk! If you are truly worried about his nutrition as I was with my daughter, just get a multi-vitamin. My daughter takes two gummi vitamins every morning faithfully and loves them. That way I know that even if she doesn't eat well that day, she has the nutrients she is lacking. Hope this helps!!

Hi B.,

The only way I've been able to get my son to eat veggies is in alphabet soup. You sound like someone who is very interactive so I suggest singing the abc's alot and using it as a way to make the food fun...my son is always like..."look mommy I found the letter D". Since you said your son likes grilled cheese, you could put them together and that way it's not so different for him. My daughter is already eating it as well. I've also tried mixing veggies in with canned Raviolli and the like. If there is an overpowering sauce it tends to distract them from the vegetables. My daughter is actually going to be one on Friday and I've been buying the party pack meat trays (the smaller ones, they are cheaper then buying lunchables, but the meat and cheese are cut the same way.) Since I already had them in the house I started dicing them for my daughter. Sometimes it's just the way food looks that makes them like it. Though I agree with some of the other responses that certain foods do not belong in a babies diet. If your child is in daycare that's what they are feeding him. It's unfortunate, but all they have to meet are the food pyramid guidelines. Not necessarily the breakdown of which foods in that category are healthiest. Take care.