Chef Combo's Fantastic Adventures

Why Introduce New Foods to 4- and 5- Year Olds?

Encouraging children to taste new foods is the key to building a healthy diet.
Nutrition research shows around ages 4 and 5 children start to develop their adult food preferences. Introducing new foods during these years helps expand the number and variety of foods they will eat during their school-age, teen and adult years.

Developing a preference for a variety of foods at an early age can positively influence children's long-term health and nutritional status.

Why Children Need a Variety of Foods
Provide a variety of nutritious foods from the Five Food Groups for children to choose from every day. When children choose from a variety of nutritious foods, they are more likely to be well nourished. Here's why...

Each food group provides a different set of nutrients. For example, key nutrients in the Milk Group are calcium, protein and riboflavin, whereas key nutrients in the Fruit Group are vitamins A and C. When children miss out on one food group, they miss out on an entire set of nutrients.

Some foods within each food group are better sources of a nutrient than others. In the Vegetable Group, for example, tomatoes are a good source of vitamin C, but low in vitamin A. Carrots on the other hand, are a good source of Vitamin A, but not of vitamin C. Make sure children eat a variety of foods within each group every day.

Getting Young Children to Try New Foods
Since many preschoolers and kindergartners eat meals or snacks at school, teachers play a key role in introducing new foods to children. Try these strategies to help children explore new tastes.

Remember a Taste is Just a Taste
A taste can be as small as 1/2 teaspoon. Let the child determine the amount he or she wants when you introduce a new food.

Take One Step at a Time
Only offer one new food at a time. Let the child know whether it is sweet, salty or sour. More than one food can be overwhelming.

What Goes in May Come Out... and That's Okay
Children are more likely to try a new food if they have the option of not swallowing it. Show children how to carefully spit the food into a napkin if they don't want to eat it.

If at First You Don't Succeed, Try and Try Again!
Continue to offer nutritious foods despite children's resistance. Research show that children may need to be offered a new food at least eight to ten times before they will try it.

Capitalize on "Food Tasting" Peers
Have reluctant food tasters sit with an enthusiastic friend. Studies show that children are more likely to eat a new food if they see their friends eating it.

Serve an Unfamiliar Food with Familiar Ones
Pairing a new food with foods that a child likes and will eat increases the likelihood the new food will be tasted.