Try It, You Might Like It
Picky Eaters Song · Ages 2–8
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If dinner has become a daily standoff, this song was made for your house.
What "Try It, You Might Like It" is
If dinner has turned into a nightly standoff, this song was written for your house. "Try It, You Might Like It" is a picky-eaters song that encourages kids to take one brave bite of something new — without the pressure, bribery, or battles that usually surround the table. It frames trying new foods as an adventure, not a punishment.
The hook is gentle and repeatable: you don't have to love it, you just have to try it. That low bar is exactly what makes new foods feel less scary to a cautious eater. By taking "you must finish it" off the table, the song turns a tense demand into a small, manageable adventure.
How kids use it
Play it before or during a meal that includes something unfamiliar. Keep the ask small — one taste — and let the song carry the encouragement so it doesn't all come from you. When the music is doing the cheerleading, mealtime feels less like a negotiation and more like a shared routine.
- Offer a "try-it bite" alongside foods your child already likes
- Celebrate the trying, even if the verdict is "no thanks" this time
- Sing it without forcing — pressure tends to backfire at the table
- Let kids help prepare or plate the new food so it feels more familiar
Why it works
Feeding research tends to associate repeated, pressure-free exposure with kids gradually accepting new foods — it can take many calm tries before a flavor feels familiar. Many parents find that turning the moment into a playful song lowers the tension, and lower tension is associated with more willingness to taste. Pickiness is also a very common, often developmentally normal phase, not a character problem. Always honor real allergies, sensory needs, and your child's cues, and talk with your pediatrician or a registered dietitian about specific feeding concerns. *(General educational guidance, not medical advice.)*
In the classroom and at home
- Parents — a calmer soundtrack for introducing new foods at home
- Classroom teachers — pair it with a nutrition or "taste test" lesson
- Cafeteria and wellness staff — use it during try-new-foods or harvest weeks
- Caregivers — keep the message consistent across the adults a child eats with
Suggested ages
Best for ages 2–8, the prime years for food caution. Younger kids respond to the playful repetition; older kids can talk about how tastes change over time. Find more healthy-habit and character songs on the character development songs hub.
Try these next
Keep the encouragement going with Patience Song, Don't Cry, Try Again! for sticking with hard things, and Please and Thank You for the table.