Child Nutrition: New Foods Take Time

It is normal for children ages 2-6 years to develop aversions to new or novel foods, peaking at around 3 years of age and declining (sometimes slowly) over time (1). Exposing babies and toddlers to a variety of new foods in anticipation of this 'food neophobia' can boost the number of familiar foods they have to choose from during this phase.

If you currently have a child who is refusing new foods, don't give up. Studies have shown that parents, on average, offer a new food only 3-5 times before giving up while research shows children need an average of 8-15 exposures to a new food (2)(3). Serve the new foods alongside familiar and accepted ones. Be patient with them and don't force them to taste the new foods. Coercing tasting or "Just one bite." is more likely to result in the development a negative attitude toward the food than if they are given neutral exposures and time.(4)

Enjoy these posts for more information on child feeding & nutrition. 

If you are a child care provider in California you can receive cash reimbursements for providing healthy food to the children in your care. If you are a child care provider in El Dorado, Alpine, Placer, Nevada or Mono county our agency can help you enroll in the California Child Care Food Program (CCFP).