· 5 min read
Why kids need to try a new food up to 15 times
Refusal is normal – and no sign that a child will never like something. Here is how to use repeated tasting without pressure.
Almost every parent knows the moment: a new dish arrives at the table and the child pushes the plate away before even tasting it. That is not defiance but completely natural behaviour. Between the ages of two and six, many children are especially cautious about unfamiliar foods.
What the research says
Studies on children’s nutrition show that kids often need to taste a new food 8 to 15 times before they accept it. What matters is repetition, not quantity: a tiny bite, or even just smelling it, counts as contact.
Repeated tasting without pressure
- Offer a very small portion next to something familiar.
- Eat the dish yourself and enjoy it – kids learn by example.
- Praise the courage to try, not a clean plate.
- Accept a “no” and offer it again a few days later.
Make small wins visible
Kids love seeing their progress. A thumbs up for every new food turns a difficult moment into a small adventure. That is exactly what Plätzli’s after-meal feedback is for: every try counts – even a tiny bite.
