Getting Kids to Try New Things

My eight year old son has always been a picky eater. From the time he was introduced to drinking infant formula from the bottle, to the time he was introduced to the Gerber Baby foods, my Justin has always had an opinion on what he wants to put in his mouth. Getting him to try something new is always a challenge.

So how do I get Justin to do diversify his eating? The trick I have found that works for me is to get him what he enjoys. Justin is a lover of sweets, and by that I mean cookies, cakes, and the likes. When I want him to try something new, or to eat certain food such as take in more vegetables and fruits, I let him know in advance that there will be sweets for dessert. He rejoices, and looks forward to that.

At this time, I can get him to try whatever the new thing is, and as long as he wants the sweets, I can pretty much get him to try new food or whatever the case may be.

I usually succeed in getting Justin to begin to enjoy more of the new food, and I frequently remind him of the importance of trying new things, for he just might like it.

Over time, my kids, particularly Justin, are becoming less picky and trust the idea that it is okay to try something different from time to time. This works well for me because I am a diverse eater; I'll try just about anything edible at least once.

Taking chances once in a while is something I encourage my children to do. Eating something new or different is no different. You might think my technique is bribery, but these days kids want to know why they are doing what they are doing. Sometimes just saying to eat your vegetables because they are "good for you" is not enough.