Fussiness about food is a normal part of a child’s development. Young children are naturally neophobic — they have a distrust of the new. Even the most determined parents can be cowed by a child’s resolve to eat nothing rather than try something new. As a result, parents often give in, deciding that a bowl of Cocoa Puffs or a Pop-Tart, while not ideal, must be better than no food at all.

“I think parents feel like it’s their job to just make their children eat something,” Ms. Worobey said. “But it’s really their job to serve a variety of healthy foods and get their children exposed to foods.”

The immediate problem which arises is how to encourage the children to taste new food. Given below are simple steps which will encourage children to go in for new food.

1. Ask the children to help you in preparing food: Sending children out of the kitchen does not help the parents in any way. With hot stoves, boiling water and sharp knives at hand, parents don’t want children in the kitchen when they’re making dinner. But studies reveal the opposite. Children who help in preparing meals are often open in trying new foods than those who don’t.

2. Don’t put pressure on children to take a bite: Demanding that a child eat at least one bite of everything seems reasonable, but it’s likely to backfire. Studies show that children react negatively when parents pressure them to eat foods, even if the pressure offers a reward. We very often see parents saying things like ‘eat your vegetables and you can watch TV,’ but it does not work. You may encourage the child to eat in the short run, but in the long run, they will be less likely to eat those foods.

Instead it will be better if you put the food on the table and encourage a child to try it. If the child refuses do not complain and do not praise if the child tastes it. Try to stay neutral.

3. Keeping ‘good stuff’ out of reach: Parents worry that children will binge on treats, so they often put them out of sight or on a high shelf. This act of the parents increases the want of having such food among the children. Studies reveal that children whose food is highly restricted at home are far more likely to binge when they have access to those forbidden foods. So instead of bringing restricted food and keeping them out of reach of children, its better to bring healthful snacks and give children free access to the food cabinets.

4. Food habit of the parent: Kids are generally tuned into their parents’ eating preferences and are far more likely to try foods if they see their mother or father eating them. If the parents are open to taste new food the children will also taste it.

5. Dress up the vegetables: Calorie-counting parents often serve plain steamed vegetables, so it’s no wonder children are reluctant to eat them. Nutritionists say parents shouldn’t be afraid to dress up the vegetables. Adding a little butter, ranch dressing, cheese sauce or brown sugar to a vegetable dish can significantly improve its kid appeal. And adding a little fat to vegetables helps unlock their fat-soluble nutrients. The few extra calories you’re adding are a worthwhile tradeoff for the nutritional boost and the chance to introduce a child to a vegetable.

6. Giving up too soon:  Eating preferences keeps on changing among children. So parents should keep preparing a variety of healthful foods and putting them on the table, even if a child refuses to take a bite. In young children, it may take 10 or more attempts over several months to introduce a food. Sibling dynamics and friendships can also change a child’s eating habits. Once a food is accepted, parents should use “food bridges,” finding similarly colored or flavored foods to expand the variety of foods a child will eat. If a child likes pumpkin pie, for instance, try mashed sweet potatoes and then mashed carrots. If a child loves corn, try mixing in a few peas or carrots. Even if a child picks them out, the exposure to the new food is what counts.