how do you get your kids to eat new things?

[misdee]

made the korma from jamies olivers ministry of food today for myself and the girls (dh wont eat it, kids usually love korma so figured it was a safe bet.

but nope. tears and tantrums over it because it had chickepeas in it. i ate it, it was very nice and lovely. there is loads left.

this happens every time i try out something new. they act like i'm feedin them arsenic. its very wearing, and i find it upsetting when they turn their noses up at my cooking but will eat crap food.

how old and did they try it misdee?
I insist that they try a mouthful and tell them they can leave it if they hate it. 9 times out of 10 they like it.

they tried it. but throw strops over it./ dd2 (age 6) actually ate it all. dd1 (8yrs ol) made it seem like it was such an effort to eat it, dd3 (3yrs) threw an tantrum.

I'd ignore all that I think... well definitely from the older dds.
dd3 I give a tiny little bit, alongside something I know she'd eat for the next few times.
My ds2 can be like this, I ignore him completely, and eventually he eats it. The odd time he has totally refused I've not given him anything else. Weirdly the next time I give him the dinner he proclaims he loves it!!!!!

Fussy eaters are a pain, yip. We have had success with getting them involved with the cooking. Breadrumbed, shallow fried turkey strips is always a good one for us. Oh and spaghetti bolognese, sweating the onions to bring out the natural sugars. getting them to taste as you go along and asking what they think it needs does help aswell. Although we have ended up with some very strange concoctions!! We have a sweet tooth merchant and we 'add' sugar to the meal as they are helping - subterfuge is great