Why Kids Need to Try Food More Than Once
- All Care Therapies
- Jun 19
- 2 min read
Have you ever offered your child a new food, only for them to take one look and push it away? You’re not alone and your child isn’t being difficult.
For many children, especially those with sensory sensitivities, trying new foods can feel
overwhelming. New textures, smells, or colors can trigger discomfort. But when kids are offered food repeatedly in a low-pressure and positive environment, they start to become more comfortable even if they don’t eat it right away. It can take 15 exposures or even more before a child accepts a new food. That means one rejection doesn’t mean they’ll never like it. It just means they’re still learning.
Why Repeated Food Exposure Matters
● Builds curiosity around unfamiliar foods
● Reduces sensory sensitivities through gentle practice
● Helps children feel more in control during meals
● Encourages long-term healthy eating habits
● Supports fine motor and oral motor development
Repeated exposure is one of the most effective ways to increase a child’s willingness to try new foods.
What Counts as an Exposure?
● Helping prepare the food
● Smelling or touching it
● Putting it on their plate (even if they don’t eat it)
● Licking or tasting a small piece
● Watching a parent model eating it
Each interaction helps build familiarity and reduces fear or discomfort around that food.
Tips to Make Mealtime Easier
● Be patient and calm – Avoid pressure or forcing bites.
● Make it fun – Use dips, cut foods into fun shapes, or try a food art plate.
● Model curiosity – Eat new foods alongside your child.
● Be consistent – Keep offering it, even after a few refusals.
● Celebrate progress – Even touching or smelling a new food is a win!
Offering one new food alongside two preferred options encourages exploration without pressure.
Resources
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10.1007/s13668-017-0202-1. Epub 2017 Apr 29. PMID: 28596931; PMCID:
PMC5438436.
Maier, A., Chabanet, C., Schaal, B., Issanchou, S., & Leathwood, P. (2007). Effects of
repeated exposure on acceptance of initially disliked vegetables in 7-month old infants.
Food Quality and Preference, 18(8), 1023–1032.
Repeated exposure increases kids’ liking of some unfamiliar vegetables. (2018, January
3). FoodNavigator.com. https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2018/01/03/Repeated-exposure-increases-kids-liking-of-some-unfamiliar-vegetables/
Spill, M., Callahan, E., Johns, K., Shapiro, M., Spahn, J. M., Wong, Y. P., Terry, N.,
Benjamin-Neelon, S., Birch, L., Black, M., Briefel, R., Cook, J., Faith, M., Mennella, J.,
Casavale, K. O., & Stoody, E. (2019, April 1). What is the relationship between repeated
exposure (timing, quantity, and frequency) to foods and equal food acceptance? Repeated
Exposure to Foods and Early Food Acceptance: A Systematic Review - NCBI
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