Trying a new food.
New textures, new smells, the worry of not liking it. Trying a bite is a big deal. No pressure, just a calm way to look at it.
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Trying New Food
Today there is a new food to look at.
I do not have to eat it. I can just look at it first.
I can smell it or touch it if I want to.
If I want, I can try a tiny taste. If I do not like it, that is okay.
Saying 'no thank you' is okay too.
Trying new things gets easier a little at a time.
More ways to make new food calmer
What to expect
For a lot of autistic kids, food is about texture and predictability, not stubbornness. Letting the steps be 'look, smell, touch' with tasting fully optional takes the fear out and keeps the table calm. Never force a bite.
One tip from a dad who's been there
Make 'no thank you' a real, okay answer. A food often has to be seen many times before it's tried. The win is curiosity, not a clean plate.
