Smoothies
When your infant or toddler is trying a new food and seems to dislike it , do not despair. The research indicates that it can take 15 swallows of htat food before they feel it is safe and ok to eat. For the picky eaters it can take 30 swallows before a child feels safe with that food.
It is important that your baby has a chance to feel the food in their hand so they can begin to understand what it might feel like in their mouth. A big part of taste is the smell of the food so getting the food smeared on their face is messy but helpful to learn about the characteristics of the new food.
Your baby is learning about new textures and new tastes. They are also learning how to manage each new food in their mouth. That is a lot of learning and exploring that has to happen before the food can easily be accepted. Pairing a new food with a familiar food can help with the acceptance of something new. For example a tiny shred of chicken can be dipped in a favourite sweet potatoe puree.
Keep the food which initially appears to be disliked in the weekly rotation of food. The more exposure to it the more it will be accepted. Many of us pair foods such as chicken and gravy, pork and applesauce, turnip and pear and mashed potatoes with butter. We also spice up our foods which a baby can also enjoy. Family foods and flavours are the best tastes to introduce to your baby and toddler.
Keep up with exposure of new tastes and new foods. The earlier there are lots of new tastes the more flexible an eater you will have. Have fun with food and mealtimes.
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