learning

Understanding Why Children Prefer the Same Foods

Young children often choose familiar foods because their brains are still learning how to make accurate predictions. Since they have less experience, they find it harder to anticipate what a new food will taste, feel, or look like. To make learning easier, they tend to gravitate toward situations where they can reliably predict the outcome.

For example, if a child has eaten a carrot stick many times, their brain learns to recognise its taste and texture. This predictability makes them feel secure. However, when faced with a new food, their brain is unsure of what to expect, making them hesitant to try it.

This preference for familiar foods is not just about taste, it’s about confidence in knowing what will happen. When children repeatedly eat the same food, they reinforce their understanding of it, which helps them learn more effectively. As their ability to predict improves, they become more open to trying new foods.

Many young children also prefer eating foods separately rather than mixed together. This is because it is easier for their brain to anticipate how each bite will taste. For instance, a child may eat all their chicken first, then all their rice, and finally their vegetables—rather than eating them in combination. Similarly, they might be willing to eat the individual ingredients of a salad but resist eating them once they are mixed together.

How to Encourage Children to Try New Foods

If your child is hesitant to try new foods, understanding their need for predictability can help you introduce variety in a way that feels safe for them. Here are some effective strategies:

• Offer the Same Food Multiple Times: Even if a child refuses a new food at first, offering it repeatedly can increase their willingness to try it. Exposure helps them become familiar with its appearance and smell, making it easier to predict what it will taste like. Over time, this familiarity can reduce their hesitation.
• Involve Children in Food Preparation: Letting children help prepare meals can make them more comfortable with unfamiliar foods. Encourage them to touch, smell, and explore ingredients before eating. This hands-on approach helps their brain gather information about the food, making it feel less uncertain when they finally taste it.
• Respect Their Need for Predictability: Rather than insisting they eat foods mixed together, allow children to experience new flavours in a way that feels manageable. Serving foods separately and letting them eat in their preferred order can make mealtime less stressful.

The Long-Term Benefits of Familiarity with Food

Most children naturally expand their food preferences as they grow and their confidence in predicting tastes improves. However, some children, such as those with sensory sensitivities, may need extra support.

By recognising a child’s need for predictability, caregivers can approach mealtimes with patience and understanding. Instead of viewing picky eating as a problem to be solved, consider it a natural part of a child’s development.

Over time, children will typically become more adventurous with food when they feel ready.

By consistently offering familiar foods, involving them in meal preparation, and respecting their eating patterns, you can help children build a positive and confident relationship with food.