how bad is chocolate button bribery?

[Tenochtitlan]

My almost 3yr old is a very picky eater and won't try anything new. The last few days I've taken to a bit of bribery ie eat 3 mouthfuls of this and then you'll get a chocolate button, and it works most of the time. The aim being that he will realise that the new food is actually very nice once he's given himself the chance to try it. However, am I setting myself up for problems further down the line?

I used chocolate button bribery for potty training but personally it doesn't sit right with regards to eating. DD is also a fussy three year old but I have no plans to bribe her when it comes to food.

I encourage her to try things and I make it fun and lighthearted. She knows there's no pressure to carry on eating whatever it is once she's tried a tiny bit and that really helps with her willingness to try new foods.

There's no way I want her having food hang-ups and tbh I think bribery could easily lead to that. Maybe that's just me though.

I would say it's a great method. Tis behaviourism which IMO is v effective.

If it were me, I would increase the demand in increments and keep making him 'work' a little bit more for his choc buttons. With a goal of 'fading' the chocolate reward at the end of the behavioural process, when he will in theory enjoying eating/ trying new foods for their own reward.

Good luck!

I don't think its bad in the slightest. You've got to do whatever you've got to do to get through these difficult phases.
Good luck