By Melanie Potock
Research shows aĀ child takes eight to 15 exposures to a new food just to enhance acceptanceĀ 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 aĀ speech-language pathologistĀ who specializes inĀ pediatric feeding, I have created a guideline for parents to give them research-based, Ā practical strategies for expanding their picky eaterās palette.
The Three Eās: 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 farmersā markets or food pantries, and cooking.
