Trying new foods?

luckymom3

So DS just turned 4 and we cannot get him to try new foods, (specifically veggies). He has a limited menu that he sticks to and if we do get him to taste something (after much begging, pleading, bribing, etc.) he will usually make himself violently gag after even just a lick.

 He will not eat any meat (besides turkey bacon), eggs, or veggies (except corn). Everything else he is okay with. He does like the Gerber Pasta Pickups which have some "meat and veggies" in them but they are for kids way younger than him.

I just wish he would eat some green veggies! But he says he "hates all green food". LOL. Any ideas?

jlw2505

The more you fuss and make a big deal about, the less he is likely to try anything new.  At my house, we put 1 of the item (so if its green beans, they get 1 on their plate that they must try by at least taking a bite) what they do from there is up to them.  We made that a rule long ago and in my house, trying something new means trying it the same way as a min for at least about 20 times.  The girls may eat nothing more than 1 bite for a long time but they typically will take more over time.  My niece has some eating issues and the 20 time rule was one her therapists used (she was getting therapy at a top eating disorder clinic and a lot of what we do with the kids in regard to eating are things that my sister learned from the clinic as the what to do/what not to do type of things).

luckymom3

He will try things occasionally - ie, this week he did try a green bean but he only got as far as licking it before he started gagging like crazy. Or as soon as he sees a new item on his plate he immediately starts crying.

LoCarb

DD hates green foods too. I haven't found any tricks yet to overcome the green obstacle. Even if there is a sliver of green parsley in red sauce she won't try it. Adam & Eve makes a vegi juice box we have used before.

It doesn't always work, but we have to tell DD any meat on her plate is chicken in order for her to try it.  

Another idea-buy a cookie cutter and use it to shape the food.