If you’re standing over a half-eaten plate of pasta (again), wondering how your kid survived the day on two crackers and a banana, you’re in the right place.
You’ve probably already Googled “how to get picky eaters to try new foods” at least ten times this week. You’ve tried bribing. Negotiating. Pretending the broccoli is a tree and the spoon is a dinosaur. Maybe you’ve even threatened to take away dessert.
And yet, here you are.
I’ve been there. Which is exactly why I need to tell you about the one ridiculously simple dinner game that actually worked—and not just once. This wasn’t a fluke. It became the unexpected secret weapon in our mealtime battles. And the best part? My child actually likes it.
Let Me Set the Scene
It started like any normal Tuesday. I made dinner. I plated dinner. I served dinner. And then came the refusal.
“This is gross.”
Mind you, it was rice with butter and a sprinkle of cheese—aka, their previous favorite. I was one passive-aggressive sigh away from just letting her eat applesauce and calling it a night.
But something in me snapped. Not in an angry way. More in a, “Screw it, let’s try something weird” kind of way.
So I leaned in and whispered, “Wanna play a game instead?”
Her eyes lit up.
Game? Yes. Food? No. But if I could package the food inside the game… maybe we had a shot.
The Game That Changed Everything
We called it “The Taste Test Game.”
The rules were simple:
- I gave each food a silly nickname. (Carrots became “dragon sticks,” chicken became “cloud bites,” peas were “baby power orbs.”)
- She got a point for every new food she tried—but only if she could describe it like a food critic.
- Extra points if she used words like “sour,” “crunchy,” “spicy,” or “juicy.”
No pressure to swallow. Just try. Describe. Score.
She. Was. Obsessed.
She licked the chicken. Sniffed the carrots. Nibbled the edge of a pea like she was inspecting a rare diamond. And for the first time in months, there was zero drama at the table.
Why It Works (According to Science)
As fun as it felt, this wasn’t just a fluke. According to child development experts, one of the biggest reasons kids resist new foods is control.
They’re tiny humans living in a world where everything is decided for them. What to wear. When to sleep. What to eat. Saying “no” to a new food? That’s power.
But this game flipped the script. Suddenly, they’re the one making the decision. They’re the taster, the judge, the food explorer. It activates curiosity instead of resistance.
And the added step of describing the food? That’s called sensory engagement. Studies show that when kids use their senses—sight, smell, touch, taste, sound—they’re more open to trying and accepting new foods [Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health].
Real Talk: It Didn’t Magically Cure Picky Eating
Don’t get me wrong—this game didn’t turn my child into a kale-craving foodie overnight. She didn’t suddenly ask for lentils and roasted beets.
But she started trying. Without tears. Without tantrums.
She discovered that she actually likes cucumbers (if they’re sliced thin and called “crunch coins”). She admitted that mushrooms look like slugs but taste “kind of like pizza.”
Progress, not perfection.
Want to Try It? Here’s How to Start
You don’t need to prep a whole MasterChef meal to make this work. Keep it simple:
-
- Pick 3 foods—one your child already likes, one they’re unsure about, and one they’ve flat-out refused before. Cut them into bite-sized pieces and arrange them neatly on a plate or in a muffin tray to make it feel special.
- Rename everything. Turn carrots into “dragon sticks,” broccoli into “tiny trees,” or tofu into “cloud cubes.” Let your child help invent the names too—it makes them feel like part of the game setup.
- Create a scorecard. Use stickers, stars, or simple categories like “Yum,” “Not bad,” and “No thanks.” If you want to get fancy, let them rate each food by texture, taste, smell, and appearance.
- Describe it like a food critic. Ask your child: “What does it taste like?” “What’s the texture like?” “Would you eat it again in space?” Silly questions help reduce pressure and activate their curiosity.
- Award points. One point for trying. Two for describing it. Bonus points if they go back for another bite.
- Celebrate every effort. Even if they gag and laugh through a taste—praise them for the bravery. The goal isn’t clean plates, it’s exposure and progress.
Bonus Tip: At the end, let them pick one food you have to try. Kids love the role reversal—and you might find yourself eating a “slug grape” with a smile.
Bonus Tip: Let them name the foods too. Ownership = buy-in.
Final Thoughts
Picky eating isn’t about being difficult. It’s about fear of the unfamiliar, desire for control, and a whole lot of sensory sensitivity.
But when dinner becomes a game?
Suddenly, there’s no pressure. No standoffs. No desperate bribery.
Just connection, curiosity, and sometimes—miraculously—an empty plate.
Would you like a printable Taste Test Scorecard or food name generator to go with this? I’ll make one. Just say the word.
