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Trying New Foods

Long long ago, it made a lot of sense to be reluctant to try new foods. When our ancestors were cautious about the roots and berries they came across, they saved themselves from discomfort, sickness, and worse. Nowadays, this caution is not so critical. The foods that we encounter for the first time tend to be either new manufactured products, or else dishes from other cultures. We are lucky to live in a world where there is a good likelihood that the treats, staples, and exotica we meet will be safe.

So trying new foods becomes a pleasure, a way to have new experiences, get out of our ruts, keep up with nutritional trends, take part in what is called culinary tourism –getting to know a little bit about another nationality or culture by sampling its food. It makes for a richer life, no matter our budget.

Except, of course, for those family members who resist. (And for the little voices in all of our heads that say, what; you want me to eat that?)

Here is the short version of what food researchers have learned: people are more likely to try new things if they are tempered by familiarity. As anyone who has ever fed a baby knows, a new food stands a better chance of being accepted if, at first, it is mixed with a familiar one. Likewise, a new food will do better if presented in a familiar environment. Also, we are more likely to try something new if we are relaxed.

So, unless you live in a household of adventurous eaters, it makes sense to go slowly, introducing one new flavor, texture, or ingredient at a time. Do it in a positive way, without pressuring. But be enthusiastic. A study of kids in day care showed that, if the adults ate new foods, the kids hardly noticed. But if the adults ate new foods and said how good they were, the children were much more likely to enjoy them.

Still, there is a piece of this that is probably personality-driven; some people just plain don’t like to expand their eating horizons. But that doesn’t mean that your eating habits have to be defined by the least flexible members of your household. Keep your spirits up, and look for the pleasure in the new experience. You may not be able to bring along all the family all the time, but the some people/some time rule will prevail.

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