By Melanie Potock
Research shows a child takes eight to 15 exposures to a new food just to enhance acceptance of that food. Yet, most parents offer a new food to a child just three to five times before giving up on presenting it. As a speech-language pathologist who specializes in pediatric feeding, I have created a guideline for parents to give them research-based, practical strategies for expanding their picky eater’s palette.
The Three E’s: Expose, Explore, Expand, is a systematic method of helping families create consistent exposures to a variety of foods, even when the child is a hesitant eater. Exposure and exploration might include sensory play, gardening, visiting farmers’ markets or food pantries, and cooking.
