love new food.

Trying new foods is a great way to add more variety, enjoyment and curiosity to the way we eat. It can be as simple as trying a new fruit, adding a different vegetable to a meal or exploring a dish from another culture. You don’t have to love everything you try but sometimes giving something new a go can help you discover foods and flavours you might not have chosen before.

Trying new foods can help us:

Tips for children

Trying new foods can be a fun way for children to explore different tastes, textures, colours and smells. There’s no need to rush, children may need time and repeated opportunities to become familiar with a new food. Encourage curiosity and make exploring food a positive, relaxed experience.

• Start small by offering new items alongside regular meals that children enjoy.
• Keep offering new foods, it can take up to 10-15 tries for a child to accept a new food.
• Explore food with your senses by looking, smelling, touching and tasting.
• Try the same food in different ways, such as raw, roasted, blended or mixed into a meal.
• Help choose a new fruit, vegetable or snack at the shops.
• Get involved in the kitchen by washing, mixing, stirring or helping prepare food.

Fun ways to eat the rainbow

Download our ‘Taste testing event’ activity below!

Tips for teens

Trying new foods can be a great way for teens to discover new flavours, cuisines and ways to enjoy familiar foods. Whether you’re experimenting in the kitchen, trying something new with friends or adding a different ingredient to a favourite meal, there are lots of ways to make exploring food fun and your own.

• Add one new ingredient to a meal you already like.
• Try a new cuisine when eating out or ordering takeaway.
• Experiment with different toppings, sauces, herbs and spices.
• Pick a new fruit, vegetable or snack when shopping.
• Try recreating a meal or recipe you have seen online.
• Make simple meals your own, such as wraps, bowls, smoothies or overnight oats.
• Try foods with friends, it can make trying something unfamiliar feel more fun and relaxed.
• Get involved with the cooking; chop, stir, prepping the meal yourself!

Fun ways to try a familiar meal in a new way

Tips for adults

Exploring new foods can be a simple way to bring variety and inspiration into everyday meals. Trying a new ingredient, recipe, cuisine or way of preparing a familiar food can open up new flavours and ideas. Start with small changes and have fun experimenting with what works for you.

• Choose one new ingredient to try each week.
• Swap your usual vegetable, grain or protein for something different.
• Explore recipes from cuisines you do not normally cook.
• Try a familiar ingredient prepared in a new way.
• Visit a market or different section of the supermarket and choose something unfamiliar.
• Use herbs, spices and sauces to experiment with new flavours.

Travel through food

Food can be a wonderful way to explore different cultures, traditions and places. You can discover new flavours and ingredients by trying dishes from around the world, whether you cook them at home or enjoy them with family and friends. Explore these dishes for a taste of somewhere new:

Trying new foods can be an enjoyable experience at any age. Whether you’re discovering a new flavour for the first time, revisiting a food you haven’t had in years or sharing something new with others, there are always opportunities to explore.

Looking for more ideas? Head to our recipe page for more recipes to try.