By Lindsey, Director of Child Nutrition, Wellness, and Family Resources · Published October 2026
“I don’t like it!”
If you’ve heard those words at your dinner table, you’re not alone! After working all day and trying to pull a meal together with the last of your willpower, hearing “I don’t like it!” can make you want to pull your hair out and grab the closest takeout menu.
A Low-Pressure Approach to Picky Eating at CKA
Learning to enjoy new foods takes time, and CKA takes a low-pressure approach to helping children explore them. New foods are offered alongside familiar favorites. Children are never forced to eat or required to clean their plates. Instead, we give them opportunities to see, smell, touch, and eventually taste foods at their own pace.
Getting Kids Curious About Food
Our teachers also encourage children to be curious about food. What color is it? Is it crunchy or soft? Where does it grow? What does it smell like? Do other animals eat it? These conversations can make trying something new feel like an experience rather than a challenge.
Gardens and Cooking Help Kids Try New Foods
We also know that children are often more interested in foods they help grow or prepare. That’s one reason gardens and cooking experiences are such an important part of nutrition at CKA.
Bringing the Same Approach Home: Ideas for Picky Eaters
Families can use the same approach at home: offer a small amount of a new food alongside something your child already enjoys, take the pressure off, and keep the experience positive.
Want another trick? Put fresh fruits or vegetables out while dinner is cooking. We all know kids can be hungry 15 minutes before dinner is ready, but somehow, not so hungry when dinner is actually on the table!
Keep those fruits and veggies visible and available, and let your child explore them without pressure. In my own home, my kids often eat their servings of vegetables before dinner when I have them out and ready to grab. Sometimes, making healthy choices easy and accessible is half the battle!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does CKA make children eat new foods?
No. At CKA, children are never forced to eat or required to clean their plates. New foods are offered alongside familiar favorites, and children get opportunities to see, smell, touch, and eventually taste foods at their own pace.
How does CKA help picky eaters try new foods?
CKA takes a low-pressure approach. New foods are offered alongside familiar favorites, and teachers encourage children to be curious by talking about color, texture, smell, and where the food grows. Trying something new becomes an experience rather than a challenge.
Why are gardens and cooking part of nutrition at CKA?
Children are often more interested in foods they help grow or prepare, which is why gardens and cooking experiences are such an important part of nutrition at CKA.
Want to see how we feed and nurture children every day? Read What Makes Nutrition at CKA Different, explore our Nutrition and Wellness page, or find a Creative Kids Academy center near you in the Twin Cities.
See it for yourself
Tours take about 20 minutes, and your child is welcome to come along.