Babies and toddlers are notoriously picky eaters, and sometimes getting them to try new foods can feel like an endless exercise in futility.

Don’t give up! Enticing a picky eater to try new foods can be tricky and challenging, but the feeling of success when your child asks for a new favorite is extremely rewarding.

If you want your little guy or gal to grow a more continental palate, or simply enjoy more nutritional food choices, there are some things you can do to create an atmosphere that is more conducive to success.

Keep it fun. Children tend to like foods they have fun eating a lot better than food that they feel pressure to eat. Keep a smile on your face when serving something new.

Eat it yourself. If baby sees you, friends or siblings enjoying a new food, they are more likely to want to give it a whirl themselves.

Relax. Kids, even babies, can easily pick up on your feelings and tend to react against pressure they feel is being directed at them. When introducing a new food, make sure you find a way to clearly convey that they don’t have to eat it.

Experiment with presentation. Applesauce by itself might not be as appealing to your child as applesauce mixed with oatmeal. Presenting a new food in different ways, or mixed with an old favorite, might be a good way to work it in to circulation.

Let them take it in. Kids have very limited attention spans, and distractions -- like TV or toys -- can get in the way of a positive experience. Focus on the fun of eating and keep distractions to a minimum.

Don’t force it!  There’s no easier way to turn a child off to a food then to force them to eat it. Steer clear of potential power struggles and shrug off any rejection.

Provide positive reinforcement. Show your little one how much fun it can be to try new foods and discover new tastes.

Follow their cues. Kids know how much they need to eat. If your child decides to only eat so much of a certain food, trust them to tell you when enough is enough.

Don’t Give Up. Sometimes it can take as many as 10 tries before a baby or toddler feels comfortable enough to accept a new food.  If your child rejects a food, give it a day or two and try again.

Kids are just like you and me -- sometimes it just takes time to get used to new experiences. Keep introducing your picky eater to new foods intermittently and before you know it, they’ll be the most continental little eaters on the block!