Raising Children Network: the Australian parenting website
  • Suitable for 1-4Years

Trying new foods

By Raising Children Network
 
 
Once you’ve found something your toddler will actually eat, it can be tempting to keep serving up the same thing at each meal just to save hassles. However, eating a wide variety of foods is vital to ensure your toddler is receiving all the nutrients he needs.

You might believe your toddler is fussy and will only eat one or two particular foods, but sometimes toddlers will try new foods if you keep on trying to interest him in them. If you assume he will like new foods, you may find a whole new world of discovery opens up for him (and for you!).

If he refuses something, offer it again in a week or so. He may gobble it up and even ask for more – a toddler's interest in food can fluctuate wildly. You may need to offer a new food repeatedly on separate occasions before your toddler will try it.

To entice your child to try new foods, experiment with the following:

  • Offer new foods when your child is relaxed and not too tired.
  • Offer new foods in a comfortable environment without too many distractions.
  • Offer new foods with those that he already knows and likes.
  • Serve your toddler the same foods as the rest of the family so that he gets the nutritional benefits of a wide range of foods and accepts different tastes and textures as ‘normal’.
 
 
 
  • Last reviewed19-07-2007
  • References

    Cooke, L. (2007). The importance of exposure for healthy eating in childhood: A review. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, 20(4), 294-301.

    Department of Health and Aged Care. (1998). The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.

    National Health and Medical Research Council (2003). Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents in Australia. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.

    Sigman-Grant, M. (1992). Feeding preschoolers: Balancing nutritional and developmental needs. Nutrition Today, 27(4), 13-18.