Get your kids excited about new foods by serving them "samples"
Kirsten documents the Costco Effect -- that alternate reality where kids eat anything skewered on a toothpick:
When my daughter was younger she wouldn't try new foods. But I realized that she would try pretty much anything with a toothpick in it at Costco. So, I started cutting up new foods into 'samples' and sticking toothpicks in them - she ate everything up. Esp. great for things to dip into, like dressing, ketchup, etc. This obviously has some safety issues. Don't do it unless you know your kid can handle it - and you're right there to supervise. Most preschoolers are okay with this, but you still have to watch them.
It is for suggestions like this that keep me coming back to Parent Hacks.
Great idea!
Posted by: Chase Roper | Mar 6, 2007 8:52:01 AM
i do the same thing, but my son calls it a "picnic". i can cut up lunchmeat, cheese, apples, baby carrots, olives, etc., and place them on a plate with a toothpick (i snip the point down a little with a pair of kitchen shears) and he'll eat every bite...quite a feat for a picky three year old.
Posted by: krysten | Mar 6, 2007 9:18:23 AM
If you really want to go fancy, get the toothpicks with frills or the plastic skewers for cocktails that you can reuse. Provide several different dips- three types of salad dressing for example- and you've got a gourmet snack. "Salad Night" at my house evolved this way when we'd come home from a pizza party without having eaten anything healthy.
Posted by: Jill | Mar 6, 2007 1:03:04 PM
Good, solid pretzel sticks will sometimes do just fine. You can imagine the benefits. We do this with hot dogs all the time.
Posted by: Dean in Des Moines | Mar 6, 2007 1:41:17 PM
How about those little plastic forks and spoons that toddlers use to eat (the sturdy ones like by Take 'n' Toss, not picnic-type ones), might work for younger ones who can't do toothpicks yet.
Posted by: Mama Duck | Mar 6, 2007 4:57:18 PM
We're big fans of the "snack boat" at our house (thank you Dr. Sears!). It seems that if we cut up a bunch of different foods and dips and put them in the different compartments of an ice tray, Addie will eat them. Excellent.
Posted by: Jen S | Mar 7, 2007 4:15:43 PM
I love shopping at Costco for exactly that reason, it keeps my bunny happy :)
What a great idea to sample new foods! Thanks for sharing that tip.
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Posted by: Multi-tasking Mommy | Mar 8, 2007 5:20:55 PM