Skip to main content
Creative cooking for budding taste buds in children

Natural Flavours For Budding Taste Buds - Healthy & Proper Eating Habits

Your child, like any other little person, will naturally begin to develop taste preferences as he grows. Forcing him to eat what he doesn’t want to will most likely end up in tears, yet avoiding his least favourite foods at this age will guarantee you a little picky eater. So what’s the best solution to develop proper eating habits?

Why is introducing new flavours to your child important?

  • Develops a well-rounded palate: Introducing new flavours early helps your child appreciate a variety of tastes, making it less likely they’ll become a picky eater. This supports the formation of proper eating habits.1
  • Boosts nutrient intake: A diverse range of flavours often means a diverse range of foods, which can increase the nutrients your child consumes, setting the foundation for good eating habits.1
  • Promotes healthy eating habits: Exposing your child to different tastes early on encourages them to enjoy a balanced diet, which can lead to healthy eating habits as they grow.1
  • Enhances sensory development: New flavours stimulate curiosity and exploration, aiding in sensory development and fostering a positive relationship with food.1

Top 8 foods kids love to hate

Getting a child to eat what he dislikes isn’t always as frustrating as it seems, and sometimes, all it takes is a little creativity, or some really good ideas. Here are 8 printable recipe cards that show you how to turn common food enemies into friends.

cards example
Download and print these fun recipe cards to keep them handy in the kitchen.

Looking to raise healthy eaters? Start here with teaching good eating habits!

Try everything at least once

1. Try everything (safely) at least once 

Introduce a variety of tastes, but always stick to foods that are safe for their age. For younger kids, avoid risky options like whole nuts or grapes.

Chew adequately

2. Chew it to do it 

Slow and steady wins the digestion game. Teach them to chew well and enjoy each bite.

Drink water often

3. H2-Oh so important! 

Water is the hero's drink. Keep them sipping throughout the day for hydration and energy!

Mindful eating

4. Munch mindfully 

Help them explore each bite, paying attention to textures, smells, and flavours. Mealtime can be a tasty adventure!

Eat small portions

5. Small bites, big wins 

Serving smaller portions keeps them energised and satisfied without overeating.

Dont rush through meals

6. Slow down, little foodies! 

Teach them to enjoy their meals instead of racing through them. Slow and steady makes for happy tummies!

Eat breakfas

7. Rise and dine! 

Breakfast is the fuel they need to power their day. Never skip it — it’s the most important meal!

Eat at regular times

8. Routine rules 

Sticking to regular meal times helps balance their energy and establishes healthy eating habits.

No TV dinners

9. Mealtime is family time, not screen time 

Keep mealtimes screen-free! It’s a great chance to connect and chat with your child while sharing a meal together.

It's perfectly normal for children to be picky eaters at certain stages of their development. However, parents are encouraged to continue trying to gently introduce new foods into their child's diet in order to help boost their child's natural body defences and improve their digestive health. Parents should also consider incorporating a trustworthy milk formula like Friso® Gold into their child's diet to ensure they still get all the nutrients their growing bodies and minds need to develop well. Do note that children will have different nutrition requirements depending on their age, so it's best to check out our guide on formula milk consumption by age to ensure your child receives the right amount of nutrients for their age group.

Introducing Friso® Gold Formula Milk/Susu

Try Friso® Gold Step 3 and Friso® Gold Step 4. Made with milk and processed only once with LocNutri™ Technology to preserve more than 90% of nutrients, Friso® Gold combines the magical goodness of nature with science to bring you easy to digest milk with more than 50 essential nutrients to help your child grow stronger from the inside.​

Friso® Gold contains NOVAS™ Signature Milk, that has naturally small molecules and a soft structure, and is free from added flavours for easy digestion. Additionally, it now contains 2’-FL to support your child’s natural body defences. Curious to know the basics of formula milk ingredients?

DHA, AA, Omega 3 & 6 - To fuel learning growth. DHA is important for optimal visual and cognitive development.2 AA is recognised for its key role for optimal health, cognition and development during foetal and early postnatal life.3 Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids are important for normal development of the brain, nervous system, sensory organs and intelligence.4

Calcium, Protein, Vitamin & Minerals - Muscle and bone growth. Calcium helps in the normal growth and development of bones and teeth. Protein is essential for your child’s growth, maintenance and repair for the body.5 Vitamins and minerals are vital for growth and metabolism.6

2'-FL, GOS, Nucleotides & Bifido Lactis - Helps absorb key nutrients & build body's natural defences. GOS are prebiotics that can help with constipation and more.7 Nucleotides can promote good gastrointestinal and immunological growth in young children.8 Bifido Lactis is important for diarrhoea prevention and gut maturation.9 2'-FL, also known as 2′-fucosyllactose, acts as a prebiotic, selectively nourishing the beneficial bacteria in a child's developing gut microbiome.10,11 This targeted nourishment is essential for supporting the proper maturation of a child's natural body defences and digestive system during their early years.12,13,14,15

For more information, check out our guide on what to look for in formulated milk powder for children, the various ingredients, what to avoid and key considerations to keep in mind when choosing formula milk for your child right here!

Ensuring your child has good digestion is crucial not just for their immediate comfort but to also prepare them for a healthier, happier future. Keen on trying it out? You may request a sample: Try a free 1-day trial pack or 50% off for 6 days-trial pack.

References

  1. https://www.nutura.com.au/the-benefits-of-exposing-kids-to-new-flavours-and-textures/#:~:text=Exposing%20your%20child%20to%20a,flavours%2C%20textures%2C%20and%20forms.
  2. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu5072777
  3. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11030602
  4. https://organicsbestshop.com/blogs/organicsbestclub/why-omega-3-omega-6-is-important-for-children#:~:text=Omega%203%20and%206%20fatty,the%20first%20months%20after%20birth.
  5. https://www.srnutrition.co.uk/2020/07/the-importance-of-protein-for-childrens-growth/#:~:text=Protein%20is%20essential%20for%20your,vitamin%20D%2C%20calcium%20and%20selenium.
  6. Singh, Harinder & Marjina, & Singh, Amandeep & Sharma, Deepak & Singh, Gurmeet. (2020). Role of Mineral and Vitamin for Children and Pregnant Women. 19. 107-115.
  7. Fanaro S, Boehm G, Garssen J, Knol J, Mosca F, Stahl B, Vigi V. Galacto-oligosaccharides and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides as prebiotics in milk formulas: a review. Acta Paediatr Suppl. 2005 Oct;94(449):22-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2005.tb02150.x. PMID: 16214761.
  8. https://www.einmilk.com/benefits-of-nucleotides-for-children/
  9. https://doi.org/10.4137/CMPed.S33096
  10. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6116142/
  11. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30241407/
  12. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6629589/
  13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6164445/
  14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10084749/
  15. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26154029/

Was this page helpful?

😊Thank you!
We appreciate your feedback.
😊Thank you!
We appreciate your feedback.

Dutch Parenting Tips on How to Raise a Happier Child

Dutch children have been ranked highly in studies of wellbeing, earning them the title of the world’s happiest kids. Discover 3 key tenets of parenting in the Netherlands that help kids flourish.