Why Dinnertime Might Just Be The Worst Time To Introduce New Foods To Your Picky Eater

The Beige Plate Club Issue #41

Photo by Tyson on Unsplash

You might have read the title of this newsletter and went ahead and threw your hands up and said, “Well then I give up!”. Don’t worry I will get into what to do if every dinner is ending in tears and everyone feels frustrated.

When I evaluate children for feeding therapy, one of the first things I ask parents is, “When do you usually introduce new foods?” Almost every time the answer is the same: dinner.

I understand why. Dinner feels like the most natural choice. It’s often the only time of day the whole family is gathered around the table. Parents feel a sense of responsibility to make it “count” and to make sure kids are eating well, getting their vegetables and expanding their diets. It feels practical, logical and maybe even efficient.

The reality is though, if you’ve ever placed a new food in front of your child at dinner and been met with tears, refusal or complete shutdown, you’re not alone. Dinner is actually one of the hardest times of the day for kids to explore something unfamiliar.

Here’s why introducing new foods at dinner feels like such a struggle and what to do instead to make progress without the tears and pushback.