Over the weekend, my hubby and I had some friends over for a little BBQ cookout, fellowship and an unintentional playdate.  When it came time for dinner, my 4-year-old proceeded to eat his turkey burger, in hopes of garnering that special treat for his after-meal dessert.  His best buddy looked over at how my son was happily consuming his burger, and curiosity got the better of him.  The next thing we knew, he was shouting, “Mama, I want a sandwich burger too.” 

My friend proceeded to make her son’s burger and to her shock he actually ate it.  I learned that this was the first time he had eaten a turkey burger, or at least enjoyed one.  A light bulb went off, in both of our heads, as we thought of the idea of having a playdate specifically designed to get our picky little eaters to try new foods, and expand their palettes. 

So moms, before you throw your hands up in defeat at the notion of your kid ever trying a new food, have a picnic playdate and see what happens!

First, there are 5 things to consider when planning this adventurous outing:

1.     Coordinate the Menu - Organize with the other parent(s) on what foods you will bring for each child.  You can plan a selection that you’ve always wanted your son to eat.  Or, maybe it’s a food that your daughter has refused to eat in the past, that you want her to try again.  Whatever the delicacy, use this as an opportunity for your child to explore. 

2.     Bring Enough for Everyone - Bring ample food for all friends to sample.  If your child sees their friends eating different foods then they’ll be more prone to try that particular item.  So, make sure to bring plenty to go around.

3.     Choose Healthy - Since you and your mommy friends will coordinate the menu then opt for healthy selections.  Hopefully, the kids will develop a palette for wholesome foods.  Maybe it’s a healthy hummus dip with vegetable crackers, or, something as basic as carrot sticks.  Whatever the choice, make it healthy, and be sure to also include favorites that you know your child will enjoy.

4.     Highlight Each Food Consumed - Once the eating begins, draw attention to the foods on each plate, so the other child will have the opportunity to become curious in what their friend is nibbling on.  Saying something like, “TJ, those apple slices look so good,” or “Blake, I think I want some of those yummy beans too,” should spark interest in the other child.  Eventually, each kid will take notice of his or her friend’s assortment of foods and, hopefully, they’ll want to try it for themselves.

5.     Don’t Give Up - If your child refuses to try a new food or doesn’t like the cuisine their friend brings, then don’t fret, they’ll be plenty of time to try, try again.  Chances are, they’ll want to see their friend really soon, which will allow you to plan another fun picnic playdate.

The more picnic playdates that you have, the more foods your child will have exposure too, and eventually add to his mealtime favorites.  You never know, your child might just develop a palette that’s even more varied than yours, or at the very least, they’ll try a food they’ve never had before.  And, maybe, just maybe they’ll like it.

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