We often forget that eating is a sensory activity \u2013 especially for babies and toddlers because everything still seems so new and exciting. If you want them to take an interest in trying new foods, and to have fun while doing it, encourage them to use all 5 senses when eating. Watch out moms: things are about to get messy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Smell<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You know how the smell of bread baking will instantly make your tummy rumble, or remind you of afternoons spent baking with your grandmother? Well, the same thing will happen with your children, they just haven\u2019t gotten aren\u2019t familiar with all the smells yet. So, have your children nearby (but safely out of danger) when you\u2019re cooking, and ask them if they like the smells wafting through the air. And when you sit down to a meal, encourage them to have a good sniff of everything on their plate – if the food smells good, they\u2019re far more likely to want to try it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sight<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We all \u2018eat with our eyes\u2019 so put a little effort into the way you present your child\u2019s food. Piling loads of food onto a plate may be overwhelming, or even off-putting, for them. Try dishing up little bits at a time and present it in an appealing way. You don\u2019t have to go all ou,t but blueberries, baby tomatoes and slices of cucumber are easily shaped into a smiley face that might convince a picky eater to try something new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Smart tip: print out (or draw) a rainbow on a piece of paper. Fill each colour of the rainbow with food in the matching hue \u2013 so strawberries, cherries and tomatoes for red.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taste<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to food, taste is probably the most important sense, but it can also be what gets the biggest reaction out of kids \u2013 believe it or not, spitting and gagging are just a part of getting used to new flavours. Ask them if the lemon is sour or sweet, or if they like the combination of something sweet like fruit paired with something salty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not many children start out loving broccoli and Brussels sprouts so don\u2019t be disheartened if they reject it them at first \u2013 studies have shown that it can take between 10 and 15 exposures before a child feels comfortable enough to try a new food so repeated exposure (and a parent\u2019s patience!) is key. Try Squish Sweet Potato, Apple + Cinnamon 100% Fruit + Vegetable Puree<\/em> or Squish Butternut + Carrot 100% Fruit + Vegetable Puree<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sound<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Even kids who aren\u2019t crazy about raw carrots might like the cruuuuunch sound they make when they bite into them. Let your little one squash puffed cereal between their fingers, or tell them to pay attention to the fizzing sound it makes while dissolving on their tongue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Touch<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It might go against everything you were taught as a child, but allow your little one to play with their food! They\u2019ll reap the sensory benefits of running their hands through spaghetti, purees, jelly and raw veggies. They\u2019ll love discovering that kiwi fruit is furry, orange segments are squishy and that banana skins are rubbery. They also need to get used to the different textures on their tongues so try to incorporate a variety of soft, crunchy, crispy, lumpy, hard and sticky textures. Try dipping cut veggies or fruit into your little one\u2019s favourite Squish fruit, veg or yoghurt 100% purees for a delicious snack or meal. Often children develop a dislike for certain textures as they get older and exposing them to different textures early on in the weaning process can help avoid this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n