While it may be considered poor table manners (and perhaps
somewhat gross) to spit food back out, it’s actually a good strategy for
helping picky eaters gain the confidence to try new foods.
For toddlers and preschoolers, trying a new food is scary.
One way to make it less scary is to know that if you do choose to put something
in your mouth, and it doesn’t taste good (or has a “yucky” texture), you can
spit it back out.
For some picky eaters, “tasting” the food by touching it to
their outstretched tongue is even less intimidating than putting the food in
their mouths. This too is okay. Because it’s them taking steps towards trying
the new food.
Now just because you allow food to be spit back out, doesn’t
mean that you need to allow the drama that often goes along with it – the loud
exclamation of “yucky!” and over-exaggerated action of spitting the food back
out (perhaps accompanied by the classic wiping of the tongue to get rid of the
“disgusting” taste).
Even young children can be taught how to politely take food
out of their mouths without the fanfare. And, as they get a little bit older,
you can teach them how to subtly spit the food into their napkin.
Bottom Line: spitting food back out is okay. Making a big
fuss about it isn’t.
Kristen Yarker, MSc, RD helps moms and dads support your picky kids to get good nutrition today…and instill a life-long love of healthy eating. After 7 years of moms asking for help with their eating too, Kristen created 40 Days to a Healthier, Happier You women’s weight loss program. Find out more at www.KristenYarker.com
