Do you want to know how to get picky eaters to try something new?
You make it okay for them not to try things
And I’m talking about children but it also applies to other adults
You step in when other people pressure them and stop it
You genuinely take the time to think about whether they may like something or not before offering so that they know your “I think you might like it” is genuine
And if they actually don’t like it you say “that’s okay! Thank you for trying it!” With kids give even MORE praise. Tell them they are brave and that you’re proud of them for trying it
At least not for a long time with kids. Kids need to try things like 20 times before liking it. But there is a difference in encouraging them to try something they were ambivalent about and something they flat out hated
“I don’t want to try it” should always be met with “you don’t have to”
And what happens when you make it okay for picky eaters to say no?
Is they start asking you if they can try something. I often have pasta and pesto because it’s easy and I don’t like plain pasta and my kid who is a very picky eater asked if they could try it. They had a bite and said “I could eat it but I’m not a big fan”
Just now I had an orange and they asked if they could try a bit. They didn’t like it but I told them I was proud of them for trying it and my husband added a “well done!” to that
Trying to pressure a child who is a picky eater to eat more foods will only give them anxiety about food
Putting pressure on an adult or making fun of their eating habits is just a jerk move. And potentially very damaging.
Let them feel safe at home and with you and have the ability to say no without danger
A non picky eater who is married to a picky eater and the parent of another picky eater