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4 Tips for Introducing New Foods From a BCBA

Mealtime can be a struggle to some families. We want to share with you 4 tips, from a BCBA, for introducing new foods to your kiddos.

Pick foods you enjoy
If your kiddo doesn't see you enjoying a plate of broccoli often, they may not think it's as desirable. Pick foods to introduce that they have had exposure to and can observe you enjoying. Observation will give them something to model. Mix What Matches As you pick a food to introduce, think about what your kiddo already likes. What foods have similar textures and consistencies to what they already enjoy eating? Starting with similar foods helps with preventing adverse reactions to shocking new textures. Going from a grape to a carrot might not go as smoothly as if you tried a blueberry or pomegranate instead. Start Small Step one is not to put the new food on their fork. Instead, it's to bring the new food into the presence of their preferred foods. Are they able to tolerate the food being on the same table? What about on the same plate? Reward each of these accomplishments with positive reinforcement. Be sure to only introduce one food at a time giving your kiddo a chance to gain comfort with the introduction process.
Make Mealtime Fun Presenting your kiddo with positive reinforcement when they are successfully interacting with new foods keeps mealtime fun. It's important they don't associate the dinner table with negative experiences or being introduced to a new food too soon. Celebrating each positive step will help keep mealtime

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