Food Chaining is a strategy for introducing food variety. Kiddos with selective eating are often “stuck” on a particular food and won’t entertain any variation. Your kiddo might like Ritz crackers and reject graham crackers (same crunch, but different shape, different color, different smell, different taste).

So how do we gently shift a picky eater from eating only 1 type of food to another? Slooooowly…….. Using my example above: Ritz crackers-> tiny Ritz -> graham cracker bites (such as Annie’s) -> graham cracker sticks (such as Scooby snacks) -> graham cracker strips (whole crackers broken into sticks) -> graham crackers. Slightly shifting a shape, color, size or taste is only one way to introduce new foods.

Dips and sauces are a great way to “bridge” from one food to another and I often use this strategy to food chain. It’s common that parents would like their kiddo who eats plain pasta to add some red sauce or cheese to it. When food chaining pasta, don’t “spoil” the whole bowl of pasta with sauce; serve pasta in one bowl and offer a small bowl of sauce on the side.  Kiddo can decide to dip or not; it’s their choice. Giving your kiddo control of the sauce is your best move here.

As always, keep your poker face on and, if you see any success, do your partying on the inside!

Need some support food chaining with your kiddo? Reach out, I’m happy to help.

Snack Idea: Graham crackers, cream cheese & fruit

Please feel free to share this with someone who may like to learn more about feeding kiddos!