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Every child is different when it comes to food. Some kids love the food they eat, while others are deemed to be fussy due to their lack of interest in anything beyond the color beige.

While you may have been a wonderful eater, it’s important to remember that children’s tastebuds are constantly changing and while adult tastebuds might not change as often, adults too can go through changes in taste preferences.

Whether they’re into their food or not, there are always helpful ways out there in which to improve their relationship with food. More importantly, if you’re looking to help get your kids interested in new foods, then it’s worth experimenting and approaching it in a number of ways.

Let’s take a closer look at how you can get your kids interested in new foods that they’ve not tried before or are currently not looking to try even with a bit of coaxing from you.

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1. Start off with small portions

First and foremost, don’t try to overface them with large portions of food or portions of a particular food that make it a visual overload.

Starting with small portions is going to make for a more relaxed and less-than-stressful introduction to the food itself.

It’s good to look at how much you’re portioning up onto their plate because your plate sizes might be significantly more than their small sizes. Try to accommodate to a smaller plate where possible so that you’re not overfacing them before they’ve even had the chance to try the food.

Small portions are a great way to help introduce your children without making it feel like you’re forcing them into trying it.

2. Make the food sound incredible

When it comes to introducing new foods, be selective with your words when they ask you what it is. You want to describe the food in a positive way and therefore make it sound like something they not only want to try but need to try.

If you make the food itself sound incredible, then they’ll be more likely to at least give it a go - or a bite at most.

It’s important that you describe the food in a positive way, even if it’s a food that you don’t particularly like. Even if you don’t like it, you shouldn’t try to influence it negatively towards your children. Try to push forward with positive descriptions of the food where possible.

3. Let them explore the food

Exploring the food is an important part of the process when your child is trying something new. They might not be used to the food whether it’s the smell, the texture, or just the visual appearance of the food itself.

Letting them explore food comes back to when your child was first weaned onto solid foods. When you let them explore and play with the food, they’re more likely to put it in their mouth for a proper try.

Children learn through play and while there’s the old saying that children shouldn’t play with their food, it’s actually a worthwhile practice when introducing new foods.

4. Eat the food together

When you’re introducing new food to the table, make sure you’re sat at it too. Not every family household has the time to eat together but when possible, it can make for a great opportunity for family members to come together and bond.

If you’re introducing new foods to your little ones, then it’s always worth trying to eat with them. That way, they’re learning from you and getting to grips with the new food that’s been presented to them.

Try to find the time to sit down and allow them to watch you eat. You may find that they simply watch you and play with the food. Don’t get disheartened because it’s a step in the right direction. Eventually, you’ll find that they want to explore the food with their mouth and copy you eating - so continue to persevere with it and eat with them.

5. Have food-themed nights to explore different cuisines 

Food-themed nights are great for helping pique the child’s interest in new foods for the first time. As your children grow up, it’s always useful to introduce them to different cuisines that you might not have had at home before. That way, they become more acquainted with new dishes and hopefully want to try them when they’re available at restaurants you visit with them.

From under-the-sea exploration with Maine seafood to ordering Chinese food or Indian. It’s a great way to open their tastebuds to new flavors and profiles that they might have never tried before.

6. Mix up the food with different dishes

Mixing up your food with different dishes is definitely something that can help tackle problem areas such as textures, smells, and visuals with new food.

Consider what it is that your child doesn’t like about the food if they’ve tried it before, and combine it with something they do like. You can also attempt new foods that may be similar in texture or appearance and disguise them through other foods. For example, blitzing them down into a sauce or mixing them into a soup or rice dish.

7. Get the kids involved in the cooking or baking process

When you’re trying to get your child interested in new food, it’s worth encouraging them to try cooking or baking with you. Getting them involved in the process will hopefully pique their interest in the food itself and the preparation that goes into making it.

As a result, they might have more of an appreciation for the food you’ve put on their table and they may be more prone to trying it as a result.

Getting your kids interested in new food isn’t easy, especially when they’re not always keen to try new foods. However, if you’re willing to try and try again, use some of these methods to help encourage interest for your kids when it comes to new foods on the dinner table this year and beyond.