How to Get My Toddler to TRY New Foods...

Hi S.. My son (2 this past December) has texture issues with food, and he also is very resistant to trying things. We read great information in "what to expect the toddler years" about feeding a toddler, so I would recommend you read that, but here's what we learned:
*continue to offer foods that he doesn't like or won't try - at every lunch and dinner
*let him call the shots - encourage him once to try each thing, but don't make an issue of it or pressure him ("try this, it's so nummy" "no? ok, you don't have to try it, that's ok").
*take a bite off his plate and show him how wonderful it is by trying it yourself
*put something you KNOW he will eat on his plate for each meal, and put something he hasn't previously eaten on his plate too
*if he wants more of something he loves, we tell our son "you can have more olives once you take a bite of something else on your plate" - this almost never fails but some parents would call this bribery which you're not really supposed to do with food
*don't be generous with praise/excitement about eating - if you're excited that he tried something, try to contain yourself to "it's so nummy, isn't it?" or "did you have a good dinner?"
*dips do wonders. Our son loves ranch. He will dip ridiculous things in it, like toast or strawberries or olives...we don't comment on it because he's eating. Now that he's on a dairy free diet, though, we've moved to ketchup. He doesn't like the dairy free ranch we bought. You can also use hummus, other salad dressings, yogurt, salsa, etc.
*don't buy into prepackaged/highly processed foods, but do buy into fun stuff - our son will eat pasta ONLY if it's in the shape of wheels

We've been offering our son brocolli in various forms for a year now, and last week he actually TASTED it! He chewed and swallowed a whole bite!

The best advice we got is to let go of your issues about eating. Pretend it doesn't matter to you either way, don't make mealtime a battle. Some days my son wants chicken, and some days he won't even take one bite. If your son doesn't have any growth problems, you could go the route of "if you don't eat what I've offered, then you don't eat at all." We don't do this because it creates more of an issue with food in our house, and our son has had growth problems (he has gained 3 pounds since his 9 month check up). Lastly, have some meals with other kids. My son refused pizza until we had a bunch of friends over whose kids were all eating pizza. My son picked up a piece and ate the whole thing. My husband and I had to leave the room so we could cheer.

My son in law has a great method of trying to get the kids to try new foods; he calls them something different. When the kids wouldn't try their home made chicken nuggets he called then dinosaur eggs. Who wouldn't want to be a t-rex chomping on dino eggs? Celery was green water sticks, mashed potatos were smashed potatos, etc. The kids laughed, they ate, and they tried a lot of stuff. At thanksgiving grandson #2 declared that he hated turkey and wouldn't eat a bit of it. 'Oh that's good because it's not turkey it's laughing chicken. If you eat this chicken it'll make you laugh.' Nate ate the chicken and sure enough it gave him the giggles.

Also I second the dipping idea. Kids love to dip. Apples in peanut butter, carrots in dressing.

Hi S.,
My 2.5 year is very finicky too. I have found my best course of action is not to stress. She will eat when she is hungry. I present healthy options for snacks if she is refusing to eat "meals", ie. raisins, apples etc. I read an article once in Parents Magazine and that is what the article suggested...it has really worked well. There are times where she will not eat, but at the next meal she will eat more. If your child is having trouble swallowing, etc that is something you should talk to your doc about--which I am sure you already have. Good luck and I'm sure he'll grow out of it!
J.

Have you tried offering him ketchup to dip some kids love to dip. I have a little boy at my daycare that when we have sandwiches I usually give carrot sticks he won't eat them without ranch dressing. I give him the dressing and before you know it he ate them all and then is dipping his pretzels in it and even his turkey yuk!! Try to make it interesting. They make pasta that looks like pinwheels, kids usually love them. Try them plain with a little butter and no sauce. We even do our pancakes at school with applesauce instead of syrup and the kids love it. Let him try dipping it may help. We also do pretzels dipped in melted cheese they love that. If sandwiches is what he likes then make them as healthy as you can. Just keep trying new things eventually he may give in and try them. Try not to make an issue of it just put it there and don't say anything because then it will become a power struggle. Good luck!!

i have a very picky 4 yr and 2yr so i feel your pain. just keep trying. i had read somewhere that you have to try an average of 17 times of the same food before a toddler will try it!!! i believe it.

Does he sit at the table wih you and your family. if you sit and eat lunch and dinner with him he might eat they like to feel apart of the family. Let him eat on his own with a spoon or small fork. I hav a 2 yer old also she is picky but I give her what she likes and I don't go crazy over it. There two and picky.

Hello, I am a mother of 3 and have had the same issues as you're having. I suggest that you eat the foods in front of the baby so that he knows it is safe and ok to eat. if that doesnt work try inviting relatives or friends children over and invite them to those same food that he wont eat and allow them to eat them in front of him. He may then try the foods. K.