Trying new Foods… some thoughts for parents/ carers

Where to begin? This is a complex one and I bet there are a lot of frustrated parents and carers out there who just wish their kids would try something new! So I’ve enlisted my mum to help me write this, as she’s worked a lot with me over the years.

So, firstly, we wanted to say that we know that it’s really hard for parents when their children don’t eat many things. And you need to be kind to yourself, because this isn’t easy and people can be very judgmental. There will be many other things you are dealing with too and you might not be able to make this a priority.

But if you have the energy, maybe start by trying something small. I’ll start off with one idea, food-chaining, in my next post.

And this will be the start of a series of posts, as we’re all different so we need different approaches (and at different times). This won’t be a ‘how to’ manual; more ‘pick and mix’. So do get in touch if there is anything you want me to cover!

Some things are a question of time, however annoying that is! I became better at eating new things outside the home when I got some of my sensory issues under control, such as coping with the noise in cafes. And when I was older, I wanted to be able to eat with other people away from my home too.

When starting out on expanding my diet, though, we began at home, on days when we were both feeling quite calm. The three Cs, choice, control and calmness, are key! My next post talks about one of our first successes. Please read on!