How to Describe New Tastes
Modeling how to describe new food tastes for your kids may take a few spins around the dinner table before you can flex your creative culinary descriptor muscles, but once you get the hang of describing food to your kids, the benefits are endless. The two most important factors for kids to feel comfortable trying new foods is to make food fun and exciting (without pressure!) and to feel part of the mealtime process. When parents take the lead with a fun, whimsical approach to trying new foods, your children will eventually want to follow in your forkfuls.
Stop what you're doing and smell the unique anise flavor of freshly picked basil.
If you’re just starting out, don’t get discouraged if your child decides to NOT take a bite off their plate. If this happens, I suggest taking a step back and asking them to describe what the meal looks like (i.e., shape, color, size).
Download the Four Food Senses Reference Guide
Download my printable reference guide to exploring the "Four Food Senses" and how to describe food politely to have on hand at the dinner table!
Science tells us we eat with our eyes first, then our noses, and then our mouths,so asking your child to describe what they see on their plate is a natural first step. If all goes well, ask your child to touch the food and describe the tactile feel. If you need help finding the right words, take a peek at this page for help!
Baby steps lead to smelling a waft of all the yummy smells, and eventually, your child will get comfortable taking a real bite and describing how it tastes. Whatever you do, don’t get discouraged if your child leaves food untouched or chooses not to participate, and remember to celebrate even the smallest victories! Pediatricians overwhelmingly will tell you, it's OK if your child misses a meal here or there.
"Lots of parents worry about their child feeling hunger pangs. They offer a quick snack, or give in to a demand, to relieve any such discomfort. But it’s OK for your child to feel hungry; he’s not starving. Being hungry means he’s looking forward to the next meal."
Here are some inspirational food descriptors to get your families creative descriptors flowing, and be sure to download my reference guide to keep on hand at the dinner table here.
The Four Food Senses
How to Describe New Tastes Politely
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE SIZE?
Little, tiny, big, gigantic, medium, flat, swirly, wavy, curly, straight, flaky, bumpy
WHAT COLOR IS IT?
All the colors of the rainbow!
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
Little, tiny, big, gigantic, medium, flat, swirly, wavy, curly, straight, flaky, bumpy
WHAT SHAPE IS IT?
Circle, square, rectangle
WHAT TEMPERATURE IS IT?
Cold, freezing, icy, room temperature,
warm, hot, steamy, bubbling
WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE?
Spiky, sharp, soft, sticky, ooey-gooey, greasy, smooth, rough, brittle, spongy,
bouncy, prickly, thick, thin, hard, squishy,
dry, wet, bumpy
WHAT TEMPERATURE IS IT?
Cold, freezing, icy, room temperature,
warm, hot, steamy, bubbling
HOW DOES IT FEEL ON YOUR TONGUE?
Sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami (savory)
WHAT DOES IT TASTE LIKE?
Little, tiny, big, gigantic, medium, flat,swirly, wavy, curly, straight, flaky, bumpy, creamy, juicy, mild, spicy, ripe, seasoned, salty, sharp, sour, tart, cheesy, meaty, buttery, sugary, burnt, bland, cool, doughy, eggy, fiery, fishy, fresh, garlicky, fruity,
fresh, nutty, oniony, peppery, plain, refreshing, rich, smokey, tangy, tasteless, bland, unseasoned, zesty
HOW DOES IT FEEL IN YOUR MOUTH?
Chewy, crumbly, crunchy, mushy, crispy,
springy, brittle, squishy, soft, hard, slurpy,
pukerie, slimy, moist, soggy, juicy, liquidly,
watery, fried, grilled, toasted, rubbery,
baked, crisp, glazed, mashed, raw, runny,
silky, stringy, tough, whipped, frothy
The Four Food Senses Reference Guide
Download my printable reference guide to exploring the "Four Food Senses" and how to describe food politely to have on hand at the dinner table!
I’d love to hear how your family is describing your mealtime fun! Tag me on Instagram using @lilpinkiesup #cookbeyondnuggets #smallfrybites. Over the years, I have heard some very creative descriptions of food! My kids have described an olive as “a puckery, salty grape!”, Moroccan stew as “hamburgers w tomatoes that were in a campfire,” and my parmesan chicken tenders as “a cheesy chicken French fry!”.
You and your family CAN do this!
Now, start cooking!