How to encourage children to try new food:

The good news is that there are plenty of tactics to encourage healthier eating habits in kids.  Here are a few tried and tested that have worked:

• When kids help make the meal, they are more likely to eat it. Ask them to wash produce, chop vegetables with a safe butter knife, and help with other child-friendly tasks such as whisking, mashing, mincing, grating, seasoning and garnishing.
• Modify recipes to be child-friendly but still sophisticated enough for adult eaters. Offer new foods as miniature versions, on a skewer, or in taco shells and Asian wrappers.
• If children don't graze all day or eat a snack right before dinner, they'll be more likely to try something new. Hungry kids are much more experimental than satiated children.
• Eating an entire portion of any food can be daunting. Ask them to try just one bite - no pleading or bribing. Even if they say they don't like it, they have still introduced a new flavour to their taste buds.
• Many children need to be exposed to a new food several times before developing a taste for it. Sometimes they will surprise you by suddenly liking something they previously disliked.
• Stay relaxed. Don't give kids a strong emotional reaction when they are trying a new food. By staying positive and low-key, you'll keep the process relaxed instead of allowing it to become a power struggle.
• Let them see how much you enjoy a wide variety of foods. Make exaggerated comments such as, "This is soooooo good - I LOVE roasted cauliflower. I could eat it all day long."
• Don't be afraid to set rules. Telling kids that they can't eat a snack after dinner or that they must eat part of their dinner will not traumatise them for life. Giving children boundaries and rules allows them to learn healthy eating habits so that they can make smart decisions as they get older and eat on their own.