Encouraging Toddlers to Try New Foods: Practical Strategies for Parents
A structured overview of what credible sources and parent perspectives commonly say about this topic.
Quick answer
Repeated exposure to new foods—sometimes 10 to 15 times—is key to toddler acceptance, combined with a low-pressure approach. The division of responsibility method, where parents decide what, when, and where food is served and toddlers decide how much to eat, is widely recommended. Alternatives to pressure include modeling healthy eating and involving toddlers in food preparation.
At a glance
Things to try now
What to do now
- 1Serve one new food with one familiar food at each meal without pressuring your toddler to eat it.
- 2Involve your toddler in a simple food prep task like washing vegetables or stirring batter.
- 3Sit down and eat the new food yourself, showing enjoyment to model trying new foods.
What to say
- “Would you like to try a little bite? It's okay if you don't want to eat it now.”
- “I’m going to eat some broccoli because it helps me grow strong. You can try some when you’re ready.”
- “It looks like your tummy is full. We can save this for later if you want.”
What to practice consistently
- Offer new foods repeatedly over many meals without pressure.
- Maintain a calm, pleasant mealtime atmosphere without battles or distractions.
- Consistently use the division of responsibility approach, letting your child decide how much to eat.
What to avoid
- Pressuring or forcing your toddler to eat new foods.
- Using food as a reward or withholding dessert as punishment.
- Getting into power struggles or battles over eating.
These are common approaches mentioned in sources and by parents. They are informational, not prescriptive.
What this usually involves
- Offering a variety of healthy foods regularly without pressure
- Using the division of responsibility approach: parents choose what, when, and where; child chooses how much and whether to eat
- Serving at least one familiar food alongside new foods to reduce stress
- Modeling healthy eating behaviors by eating together and trying new foods as a family
- Involving toddlers in simple food preparation tasks to increase interest
- Avoiding food rewards or punishments to prevent unhealthy food associations
Related questions
Research suggests offering a new food 10 to 15 times without pressure before a toddler may accept it.
No, using food as a reward or punishment can create unhealthy associations with eating.
Parents decide what, when, and where food is served; the child decides whether and how much to eat.
Related articles on Parent.wiki
Effective Strategies to Encourage Children to Try New Foods
Encouraging children to try new foods often requires patience and repeated exposure without pressure. Common guidance includes offering a variety of healthy options regularly, involving children in food preparation, and modeling positive eating behaviors during pleasant family meals.
Effective Strategies to Encourage Picky Eaters to Try New Foods
Picky eating is common among toddlers and preschoolers and typically does not signal nutritional problems. Encouraging children to try new foods involves repeated, low-pressure exposure, serving familiar foods alongside new ones, and modeling healthy eating habits as a family.
Using Rewards to Encourage Toddlers to Try New Foods
Using rewards to get toddlers to try new foods is generally discouraged by pediatric experts because it can create unhealthy associations with eating. Instead, repeated low-pressure exposure to new foods, modeling healthy eating, and offering a variety of choices without pressure are recommended strategies.
Understanding Toddlers' Preference for Limited Foods
It is very common for toddlers to prefer only a few foods, a behavior often referred to as picky eating. This usually does not indicate a nutritional deficiency and can be managed by offering a variety of healthy foods repeatedly without pressure.
From around the web
Picky Eating and Your Toddler
Covers common picky eating behaviors and strategies to encourage healthy eating in toddlers.
American Academy of Pediatrics
Tips to Help Your Child Eat Healthy Foods
Provides practical advice on encouraging healthy eating habits in young children.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Helping Your Child Learn to Eat New Foods
Discusses how to make mealtimes pleasant and encourage children to try new foods.
Nemours KidsHealth