Getting young children to try new foods—even something as unfamiliar as fresh parsley—has become much easier with Lainy’s Polite Bite, a new children’s book written by registered dietitian Emma Fogt.
I work with a program called Kids Cooking Green in Lexington, MA, and this week I visited one of their preschool classrooms to read Lainy’s Polite Bite to the children. The story follows Lainy, a sleepy ladybug who drinks Bug Juice morning, noon, and night. Her friend Benny Bumblebee encourages her to take a small, “polite bite” of new, nutritious foods—apples, oranges, and edamame among them.
After trying those polite bites, Lainy blossoms: she gains energy, bright colorful spots, and the ability to fly. More importantly, she discovers the confidence to step outside her Bug Juice comfort zone and try new things.
The children loved the book and sat attentively as the story unfolded. Their excitement made it a perfect lead-in to a hands-on cooking activity.
After the story, the kids helped prepare a colorful summer salad inspired by my Wild Rice Summer Salad. We made a version with farro, bell peppers, chickpeas, feta cheese, dried cranberries, green onions, kale, parsley, and a bright lemon dressing. Letting children touch, smell, and help assemble ingredients makes unfamiliar foods less intimidating and more inviting.
[Tweet “Taking a “Polite Bite” encourages young children to try new foods, especially vegetables #RDchat”]
With winter finally giving way to warmer days, we used the activity to get everyone thinking about summer flavors and fresh produce.
Sometimes it only takes gentle encouragement—and a cheerful picnic setting—to persuade young children to take that first exploratory bite. The Polite Bite concept resonated with the kids right away and helped frame trying new foods as a fun, low-pressure experience.
After the class I talked with several parents who were enthusiastic about using the Polite Bite strategy at home. In the activity pictured above, the children enjoyed smoothies made with frozen peaches and wild blueberries, a clementine, and plain yogurt—an easy way to introduce fruit and new flavors.
Encouraging kids to try new foods works best when it’s patient, playful, and pressure-free. Simple tactics—offering a single polite bite, involving children in food preparation, pairing new items with familiar favorites, and modeling a positive attitude—help normalize tasting without turning mealtime into a battleground. Lainy’s Polite Bite is a gentle, story-based approach that supports these ideas and gives parents and educators an easy way to introduce new flavors.
What strategies have you found effective for getting children to try new foods?