March 31, 2025 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

How do I help my kids try new foods?


By: Dr. Jeanelle Murphy, DO

Thanks to Christie Clinic for sponsoring this content.



Encouraging young kids to try new foods can be a challenge. It’s important to make sure meal time is as relaxed as possible and that your child is hungry at meal time so try to avoid snacks or only offer one small healthy snack between meals if needed and not too close to meal time. Consider serving only water to drink with meals so they don’t fill up on sugary or high calorie drinks.

Offer a variety of healthy foods at meal time, expect your child to eat the meal provided and take the focus off of the food and put it on family time and conversation.

If your child refuses to try a new food, research and talk about the health benefits of that food as a family. If they still refuse encourage them to say a simple “no thank you, this is not my favorite” and encourage them to offer it to someone else at the table and move on. Continue offering that same food at future meals with other foods, and perhaps with a different topping option.  Making too much of an issue of your kids trying new foods or eating everything on their plate can turn meal time into a power struggle.

If there is a healthy food that your child consistently refuses to try, mixing it in with something else such as a smoothie or baked bread is also an option. Don’t give up too easily, sometimes a child has to try a food many times before developing a taste for it.


How do I help my kids try new foods?

By: Dr. Jeanelle Murphy, DO



Encouraging young kids to try new foods can be a challenge. It’s important to make sure meal time is as relaxed as possible and that your child is hungry at meal time so try to avoid snacks or only offer one small healthy snack between meals if needed and not too close to meal time. Consider serving only water to drink with meals so they don’t fill up on sugary or high calorie drinks.

Offer a variety of healthy foods at meal time, expect your child to eat the meal provided and take the focus off of the food and put it on family time and conversation.

If your child refuses to try a new food, research and talk about the health benefits of that food as a family. If they still refuse encourage them to say a simple “no thank you, this is not my favorite” and encourage them to offer it to someone else at the table and move on. Continue offering that same food at future meals with other foods, and perhaps with a different topping option.  Making too much of an issue of your kids trying new foods or eating everything on their plate can turn meal time into a power struggle.

If there is a healthy food that your child consistently refuses to try, mixing it in with something else such as a smoothie or baked bread is also an option. Don’t give up too easily, sometimes a child has to try a food many times before developing a taste for it.

Lastly, making a meal plan each week involving your child so they feel included in the decision of what will be served can help them be excited to try new foods. Consider shopping with your child and having them pick a new fruit or vegetable to try each week. Involving your child in dinner preparation can also help them take pride in the meal being served and therefore be more likely to try what’s on their plate.

in Life
Banner
Related Posts

10 things you don’t know about me…KERMIT EUGENE ESAREY

September 23, 2022

September 23, 2022

KERMIT EUGENE ESAREY will be inducted into the St. Joseph-Ogden Hall of Fame tonight. Kermit was born and raised in...

SJO community mourns death of Glenn Fisher: ‘He had a heart of gold’

January 12, 2021

January 12, 2021

Glenn Fisher liked to tease people. Whether he was telling the newly hired football coach at St. Joseph-Ogden High School...

Ask the doctor: Do adults need vaccines?

November 4, 2020

November 4, 2020

“Do adults need vaccines?” By: Jeanelle Murphy, DO Yes, adults definitely should have vaccines and keep up their childhood vaccines...

Remembering Dawn Van Buskirk: St. Joseph resident ‘admired and loved for who she truly was’

July 27, 2021

July 27, 2021

To those that knew her, Dawn Van Buskirk always had a smile on her face. “She was a happy person...

How I get it done: St. Joseph-Ogden Principal GARY PAGE

June 1, 2023

June 1, 2023

We ask local leaders to discuss their views on leadership, how they set goals and what a typical day is...

Athletic complex to be dedicated tonight

April 16, 2021

April 16, 2021

 The St. Joseph-Ogden School District will honor Glenn Fisher tonight.The district voted in June 2020 to name the athletic complex...

Lending a hand: how to help out the Short family

March 25, 2019

March 25, 2019

Amy Short and her family don’t like to ask for help. So their friends are doing it for them. Amy...

A familiar face joins Longview Bank

November 22, 2021

November 22, 2021

Sara Bryan has always had a passion for helping people. That passion was instilled in her by her father who...

Cummings hopes to continue work as trustee

December 7, 2020

December 7, 2020

Village Trustee Terri Cummings has big goals for the village. Short term, Cummings hopes to contribute to the betterment of...

Wife Tribe looks to help those in need

August 5, 2019

August 5, 2019

The St. Joseph-Stanton Fire Wife Tribe wants to bring the community together. The group, founded this summer, was created by...

‘I’m so excited for this journey’ Schlueter to open restaurant in former Scratch location

October 10, 2022

October 10, 2022

40 Eighty-Eight is coming to St. Joseph. Owner Christian Schlueter said he chose the name for his new restaurant because...

Heritage marching band modifies season

July 15, 2020

July 15, 2020

The Heritage Performing Arts department announced that their marching band season has been canceled. Band Director Justin Lee said that...

Krall joins Longview Bank

April 22, 2021

April 22, 2021

Brad Krall is coming home. Krall is now the Loan Officer and Mortgage Lender at Longview Bank in St. Joseph....

‘We can’t wait to be back’

April 8, 2020

April 8, 2020

Amy Gibbons, the owner of Salon 192, is urging people not to do anything rash. That means resisting the urge...

Comments
Leave a Reply