Five tips to introduce new foods to your baby and toddler

I recently spoke with Atlanta Parent magazine about the importance of starting healthy eating habits early in your child’s life. As a mom of two boys and a registered dietitian at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Strong4Life, I’m passionate about sharing great health and wellness tips with the parents in my community.

A great deal of our parenting revolves around food. As soon as we leave the hospital with our newborn, we’re worried if baby is getting enough breastmilk or formula. By the time he’s a toddler, we’re worried he’s becoming a picky eater and will try anything just to get him to eat something—whatever it is!

To make it easier on you and your toddler, use these five food parenting tips when introducing new foods. You can always visit Strong4Life.com for more tips and tricks for raising a healthy eater.

1. Introduce new foods with old favorites. Seeing a favorite on his plate makes the new food less scary. Plus, if he chooses not to try the new food he will still have something to eat.

2. Offer without pressuring. Toddlers are headstrong, so allow him to decide whether or not to try a new food. Encourage him to try it without forcing him.

3. Offer a small portion. Put a little bit of each food on his plate, telling him what it is. A small spoonful of a new food is less overwhelming than a big helping. If he likes it, you can always give him more.

4. Let him see you enjoy the food. He wants to be just like you, so if he sees you loving the new food, he’s more likely to follow your lead.

5. Try, try again. He may try it; he may not. He may spit it out or make funny faces. And that’s OK. Some kids need to see a new food up to 20 times before trying it, so don’t give up. Offering a food multiple times is really important.

Warning: things will get quite messy, but a messy baby is a healthy baby! And you can always turn to Strong4Life.com for age-specific tips, advice and information.