How to introduce new foods to children?

Introducing new food to children is not an easy task and not something to be taken for granted. As anybody can be allergic to anything, we must be very careful while introducing a new food product, especially to children because that is the first time they are being exposed to something new.

a. Try only one new food at a time. You can give the same new food every alternate days for a week and make sure your child is not allergic to that specific food. The next thing you can watch out by doing this is, whether your child is digesting the food well which means there is no vomiting and no diarrhea.

b. Do not force them to eat more while introducing a new food. Just place them in a plate or bowl and let them feel the consistency themselves and taste slowly. Once they take a few mouthful they will automatically eat if they like or stop eating if they don't like. If they do not like the food on the very first day, don't urge them to complete. They will get an aversion and will never try that food again.

c. You eat with them, the same food you are trying for your child.

d. Always taste the food yourself before serving your children because you can make adjustments if something is more or less.

e. Make the food look attractive and add certain ingredients which they like. For example, if you want to introduce pancake to your child and if you know your child likes cashew/raisin add them to it, you can also make pancakes of different shapes like star, or alphabets or numbers which they may find it interesting.

f. You can explain the nutritional value of that particular new food. If you are trying a new milk product, you can explain them saying milk is rich in calcium which will make you grow taller and stronger where you can play basket ball easily.

g. Do not mix the new type of food with any other food while introducing.

h. Never mix any medication with the food you are introducing.

i. Explain the taste of the food before you give them.

j. Consider their likes and dislikes.

k. Do not try to introduce a new food product when your child is sick or in a very bad mood.

l. Serve them at right temperature.

m. Do not mimic or fake the new food product with the ones they like. If they dislike this new product, they will not eat the older one as well. Don't give them false ideas.

n. Make the menu colorful and nutritious. Eg, If you have already introduced rice and spinach, add carrot as a new food. This will make the menu not only colorful but also nutritious. Now you are giving carbohydrate, iron and vitamin A to your child.

These are a few tips to introduce a new food to your child.