by R. Renee Bembry

Created on: October 11, 2007   Last Updated: May 24, 2009

Introducing new foods to children could take some strategic planning especially when the new foods are green leafy things, round green things, or red meaty things. Kids tend to view these types of foods as "adult" food. This is why, for many kids, if food landing on their plates doesn't consist of appetizers like pizza, burritos, nuggets, bacon, or pancakes, they don't want much to do with it.

Informed by my mother that neither my siblings nor I cared for baby food when we were tots, I decided to introduce new foods to my young ones by feeding them whatever I ate. I accomplished this in three ways that I modified as they became older and their degree of toothlessness changed.

Number (1) When my children became old enough to move food around in their mouths, I fed them baby fruits from a jar. I always made Mmm sounds to teach them that eating - not just suckling - was good. Eventually, I began to chew the food and then fed it to them. "Eeeih! Gross". You might say. But that's the way Mother Nature planned it. It's the way birds feed their young. Besides, next to breastfeeding, it's the best way to feed your children nutritional food and you don't have to feed them separately from the rest of the family.

Number (2) I made my own baby food. If you're not comfortable with the idea of staying in touch with nature in the baby food chewing kind of way, use a blender to puree food for your little ones. When you puree your own food babies still get opportunities to try new items and they can sit at the table with everyone else while family members take turns feeding them.

Easy number (3) smash the food on children's plates and let them pick it up to eat it. Babies learn about food by touching it and playing with it. Food is more delectable when they eat it with their hands. Plus, as everyone knows, things in a baby's hands are inevitably destined for their mouths. Okay...maybe children make messes when fed this way. But they're bound to enjoy themselves and to become more open to trying other new foods.

Using these techniques enables parents to introduce children to new foods on a regular basis. This in turn allows children to try new foods on a regular basis. Parents shouldn't be discouraged if children don't take to eating their food more than squishing at first. Parents should also try to encourage - not push - children to try new items. Everyone does not like everything. I, myself, have tried avocado served in different ways numerous times over a period of years,

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