People Share What Dishes They Couldn't Stand Until They Learned They Were Eating Them Prepared Incorrectly

“All kids have different preferences, and pickiness can be very common as children grow from infants to toddlers,” the pediatric dietitian and feeding expert Rachel Rothman, MS, RD, CLEC, who is also the owner of Nutrition in Bloom, told Bored Panda. In fact, it's developmentally a good sign, she argues, because “children are showing they have their own likes, autonomy, and independence.”

Having said that, Rothman confirmed that it can be very frustrating for parents. “Although preferences can vary, a common complaint I hear is children not wanting to eat vegetables or protein foods,” she said.

Rothman explained that it can be related to texture, smell, flavor, or even a child just learning to express "no" to a parent or caregiver's request. “I find this is more common with vegetables because the taste can be somewhat unfamiliar (typically bitter where fruit is sweet) and the texture (especially of cooked vegetables) can feel mushy, or different than a food that's very smooth or crunchy,” the dietitian commented.

When a child doesn't "like" a new food, Rothman invites parents and caregivers to think about this in a few different ways. She happily shared some tips: “Remember that it often takes several exposures to a new food before a child will eat it. Just by offering new foods (without pressure to eat or try the food) the caregiver is exposing the child to a food, which can be extremely helpful.”

Moreover, Rothman reminds parents that it can take several steps before a child will eat a new food. “For example, a child may need to tolerate a new food on the plate, then smell or lick that food before they eat it.”

It’s also very important to note that putting pressure on a child to eat a new food can often backfire, Rothman argues. “Instead, parents and caregivers can enjoy their food (and talk about their experience with the food) to help a child become more familiar. For example: ‘This broccoli tickles my tongue!’"

Last but not least, Rothman’s advice is to think about offering food in a different form. “Have a child that loves crunchy food but doesn't eat fruit? Try freeze-dried fruit.”

Similarly, trying new foods outside of mealtimes, when children (and adults) feel less pressure, can also be a game changer. “In this post, I talk about some ways to do that. That might mean getting kids in the kitchen or creating a food play activity,” Rothman said.

In her practice, Rothman emphasizes the importance of helping children develop a healthy relationship with food, and how this relationship carries into our adulthood.

“I have spoken to so many adults (myself included) where their relationship with food became negative, whether that was from getting told to diet at a young age, being forced to finish their plate before they could leave the table, or feeling shame around foods they were or weren't eating,” the dietitian explained.

This is why Rothman believes that a child's relationship with food is so important, and how we as parents and caregivers can shape this. “We have the power to help a child form a positive relationship with food, and that means not pressuring a child to eat, and keeping food positive and fun,” Rothman concluded.