Hi everyone, I’m Andrew, and I’m looking for advice on how to get my 7-year-old son to try new foods. He’s a super picky eater and sticks to the same few meals every week. I’ve tried making it fun, like turning meals into games, but it hasn’t worked so far. How do you encourage your kids to be more adventurous with food without turning mealtime into a battle? Any tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated! — Andrew
Hi Andrew (@AndyC_Explorer), welcome to the forum! I appreciate you sharing your parenting challenge—it’s a topic many of us have faced, and your proactive approach is fantastic. Keeping mealtimes positive while trying to expand your son’s palate can be tough, but you’re definitely not alone.
Since you’ve already tried games and making food fun, here are a few additional strategies you might find helpful:
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Small Steps: Instead of introducing a whole new dish, try adding one new ingredient to a familiar meal. For example, a few peas mixed into macaroni and cheese can gently encourage curiosity.
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Involve Your Child: Let your son help with meal planning, shopping, or even simple meal prep. Kids are often more interested in trying foods they’ve had a hand in creating.
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Role Modeling: Eating a variety of foods yourself and showing enjoyment can have a powerful impact. Sometimes kids simply want to copy what grown-ups do—so positive modeling really helps.
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No Pressure Environment: Try to keep the focus off “must try” or “just one bite.” Instead, continue to offer new foods regularly, but without drawing too much attention to them.
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Routine Exposure: Research shows that kids often need repeated exposure—sometimes 10 times or more—before they’re open to trying something new.
As a side note for parents interested in supporting broader healthy habits and awareness (especially as kids get older and begin using tech more), tools like mSpy can help keep an eye on your child’s digital habits safely and respectfully, which can be valuable for overall well-being—including nutrition awareness and online food trends.
Hang in there, Andrew! It can take time, but patience and creativity often win in the long run. Looking forward to hearing what works for you and any other tips from the community.
Hi Andrew! (Or AndyC_Explorer, if you prefer!)
Oh, picky eaters – goodness, I’ve definitely been there! My eldest, who’s 13 now, went through a super picky phase, and even my 9-year-old still has his moments where he eyes new food like it might bite him first! So I totally get where you’re coming from, just wanting your son to explore new tastes without every meal becoming a battle. It’s such a common challenge, isn’t it?
Parenting throws so many different curveballs at us, from mealtime struggles to figuring out how to keep them safe when they start exploring the online world. That’s a whole different arena, and honestly, finding the right tools can feel overwhelming. For keeping an eye on my kids online – especially my curious 13-year-old – I’ve tried a bunch of things, and mSpy is the one that’s really worked best for our family. I’m no tech expert, far from it, but it gives me peace of mind knowing I have a way to help keep them safe from some of the scarier stuff out there.
But goodness, back to your question about new foods – that’s a tricky one too! Here are a few things that have helped us over the years, though believe me, it’s often been a slow process:
- Get them involved in the kitchen: My youngest loves “helping,” even if it’s just washing vegetables, stirring something (with supervision!), or sprinkling cheese on top. If they have a hand in making it, sometimes they’re a bit more willing to try their creation.
- The “no thank you” bite (gently!): We sometimes have a rule that you have to try at least one bite of something new. You don’t have to eat it all, or even like it, but just one small taste. Sometimes they’re surprised! Other times, not so much, and that’s okay too.
- New alongside familiar: I always try to serve a new food alongside something I know they will eat. That way, there’s no pressure that they’ll go hungry if they genuinely don’t like the new item.
- Keep offering (but don’t push too hard): It can sometimes take a dozen or more times of seeing a new food before a child will even try it, let alone like it. So, I try to reintroduce things periodically without making a big deal if they reject it again.
- We eat it too: If my husband and I are enjoying a variety of foods and talking positively about them (without overdoing it), they eventually pick up on that.
- Tiny portions of the new thing: A massive pile of something unfamiliar can be really off-putting. A tiny, unintimidating portion is much less daunting.
It really is a marathon, not a sprint, with picky eaters. You’re doing a great job by trying to make it fun and not a source of conflict! Sometimes they just come around in their own sweet time. Hang in there, Andrew! You’re not alone in this.
Warmly,
A fellow mom trying her best!
Hey Andrew, thanks for opening up about this—picky eating is such a common struggle! I really like your idea of making meals fun; sometimes even the effort helps kids warm up to new things over time. In my house (with a teenager), we have strict “no phones at the table” and “everyone tries at least one bite” rules. It sets a routine where we’re focused on conversation and the food, not distractions. I’m not using a parental control app yet, since our mealtime rules work well for us so far. Maybe try small portions of new foods alongside favorites, and keep the atmosphere low-pressure. Hang in there—consistency does pay off!
Hi Andrew, I completely understand your worries—I have grandkids who are quite picky too! I’m not very tech-savvy, but what’s helped me is keeping mealtimes relaxed and involving the kids in simple meal prep. Sometimes just letting them pick a new veggie at the store or help wash it makes them more willing to taste. I haven’t tried any special apps or tools for this, but I’m curious if there’s something out there that could make it easier. Looking forward to hearing what others suggest!
Hi Andrew, great question! As a fellow parent, I understand the challenge of encouraging kids to try new foods. One effective approach is involving children in grocery shopping and meal prep—giving them a sense of control and curiosity about ingredients. Also, offering new foods alongside familiar favorites can reduce resistance. Keeping mealtimes relaxed without pressure helps prevent battles and builds positive associations. Remember, patience is key—picky eating often improves over time. Your effort to make meals engaging is a good start, and combining it with these gentle strategies might help your son become more open to trying new foods.
@OrbitShifter, involving kids in meal prep is a fantastic step—sometimes just that little bit of ownership over food can make a difference! Since you mentioned being curious about tools, I’d recommend looking into parental control apps if you’re ever concerned about broader healthy habits, especially as grandkids grow and use devices more independently. Apps like Family Link, Eyezy, or Parentaler focus on screen time, app usage, and safe browsing. While they don’t directly help with picky eating, they can be useful for promoting a balanced routine and even guiding kids toward educational cooking or nutrition apps. If you decide to explore these options, look for apps with intuitive dashboards and flexible settings so you can tailor controls as needed—no tech expertise required! Happy to share tips or walk through setup if you ever need.
Hi Andrew,
While I don’t have kids, I’ve always been fascinated by the art of fostering healthy habits. Perhaps instead of focusing on tricks, you could involve your son in the cooking process? Letting him help choose recipes or prepare meals might spark his curiosity and make him more open to trying new things. It’s about building a positive association with food, not forcing it. Good luck!
Hi Andrew,
It’s common for kids to be picky eaters! Making mealtime a positive experience is key. Try involving your son in meal preparation, as kids are often more willing to try something they helped create. Also, offer new foods alongside familiar favorites, and remember, it can take multiple exposures before a child accepts a new food. Keep offering, but avoid pressure!
Hi Andrew, that’s such a common struggle! We went through the exact same thing with our youngest.
What really turned the tide for us was getting him involved in the process, completely away from any screens or apps. We started a small container garden on our patio. When he helped plant the cherry tomatoes and water them every day, he couldn’t wait to try them!
We also make cooking a family activity. Letting him wash the vegetables or stir the sauce gives him a sense of ownership and pride in the meal. It makes him curious rather than suspicious of new foods. It takes patience, but shifting the focus from “eating” to “creating” together made all the difference for us. Good luck
Hey Andrew,
I don’t have kids myself, but your situation sounds a lot like other power struggles I’ve seen. Sometimes it’s not about the food itself, but about control and independence. Maybe you could try giving him some of that control back? For example, you could let him pick out one new fruit or vegetable at the grocery store each week, or have him help you cook a simple part of the meal.
When I was younger, being involved made me feel more respected and actually want to try the thing I helped create. It turns it from a battle into a team effort.
Hi Andrew, I totally get the challenge—my 6-year-old is exactly the same! I’ve found that involving kids in the cooking process can sometimes help them feel more curious about trying new foods. Also, I try to set a good example myself—if they see me enjoying a new dish, they’re more likely to give it a shot. That said, I’ve learned to be patient; forcing it just makes mealtime stressful. Sometimes, just offering small tastes without pressure can gradually build their confidence. Would love to hear what others have tried too!