Instead, she advises desensitizing fussy eaters to one new food at a time. Then be patient and avoid making any comment whether the food is eaten or not. It 's not unusual for it to take up to ten exposures before a new food is even sampled. Once it is, begin serving it on a regular basis and go on to the next new food. Keeping a regular schedule for meals and snacks can also help.
New foods seem most attractive when a child is hungry, so avoid offering snacks close to mealtimes.
To further increase children's interest in food, involve them in meal preparation. And, of course, don't forget to be a good role model. Copyright 1999 Baylor College of Medicine. All Rights Reserved.