It is very common for a child to reject vegetables or new dishes, and it is part of development. Most children widen their diet over the years, as long as meals do not turn into a conflict.

What works

  • Offer it many times. A food may need to be offered ten or fifteen times before it is accepted.
  • Serve a small amount alongside food they already like.
  • Share out the responsibilities. The adult decides what is offered and when; the child decides how much to eat.
  • Eat together and eat the same. They watch us more than they listen to us.
  • Involve them. Choosing fruit at the market, washing vegetables, stirring.

What to avoid

Forcing, punishing or rewarding with dessert: it turns vegetables into a chore and sweets into the prize. Screens at the table do not help either, nor does cooking a separate menu every day.

The atmosphere

Regular mealtimes, unhurried meals and conversation about other things. If one day they do not want to taste it, the plate is taken away without comment and offered again another day.

If the variety is very limited or they are losing weight, it is worth mentioning it to the paediatrician.