What is food chaining?

A gradual approach that begins with safe foods and introduces tiny changes to help your child comfortably expand the foods they eat.

How do you start food chaining?

• Identify a food your child reliably eats.

• Introduce a gradual change (e.g., brand, shape, texture, or flavour).

• Repeated, pressure-free exposure helps build acceptance.

When your child accepts a changed food, it is added to their growing list of safe foods. From here, you can gently move on to the next step.

Tips for Success

1. 1 new food at a time

   Offer only 1 new food from the chain at a time so you don't overwhelm your child.

   
   

2. Let them use their senses

   Let your child use their sense of sight, sound, smell, taste and touch to explore the food.

   
   

3. Let them set the pace

   Respect your child and let them set the pace as you move through each step. This process could be quick or it could take several months. Sometimes your child may skip steps and other times you may need to add more steps.

   
   

4. Don't give up offering a food after few tries

   It can take an average 6-15 times, or more, for a child to like the food presented in a new way. Some children may take longer. Don't give up offering a food after a few tries if your child refuses it. Offer the food again at another time.

   
   

5. Try making a smaller change

   If a new food in the chain is not successful, try making a smaller change.

   
   

6. Using flavors help

   Using flavors can help to change or enhance the taste of the food. You can use different flavors to help move through the food chaining steps such as cheese, gravy, plum sauce, ketchup, honey mustard, salad dressings, cinnamon, or seasoning mixes.

   
   

7. Keep offering the same new food with each step of the chain

   If your child already accepts a food with a sauce, keep offering that sauce with each step of the chain.

Food chaining example:

Strawberry yogurt tube to strawberries

Source: Alberta Health Services, developed by Registered Dietitians Nutrition Services

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If you want to learn more about food chaining or help your child try and enjoy more foods, reach out to Stepping Stones with Helen Dean at hdean1974@gmail.com