This might be an obvious meal, but I’d completely forgotten about pesto and not served in about 5 years! Maybe it’s because I served it so much to my twins when they were little and we all got sick of it! I’ll be serving it with roasted salmon and serving it deconstructed so the kids can add the pesto to their pasta if they wish. It is never a waste of time offering food you don’t think your child will have, as it’s about getting them familiar with seeing new food, especially if you are eating with them, then they can at least see you enjoy it! See below for more serving tips.

For the salmon, I’ll be putting it in foil with a slice of lemon, drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, a little salt and pepper and putting it in a hot oven at 180C fan (200C conventional) for approx 15-17 minutes. I usually leave the salmon to rest in the foil for 5-10 minutes so it is nice and succulent.

Serving suggestion:
- Without expectation
- Without bribery (as child more likely to back away even further)
- Think long-term, not just on one meal
- 'You provide, they decide’ (google Division Of Responsibility)

How to serve this meal to your child

Beginner: ‘My child refuses any new meals’

Cook for yourself and serve some of the pesto alongside your child’s usual meal the next day to use for dunking some bread into. Or you could offer it as a small starter whilst they are waiting for their meal with any leftover pasta. The great thing about this approach is that you are not cooking specifically for your child, you are giving them leftovers from a meal that you would have cooked anyway, so straightaway there is LESS expectation and pressure. It’s about creating easy opportunities to widen your child’s food list.

Intermediate eater: ‘My child may try this new dish but I’m not sure’

Choose a day when you can eat together. Offer other components your child usually eats so there is no pressure. Serve the pesto separately to the pasta so they can add as much as they wish or none at all if they are unsure! Kids like the independence of building their own meal and being left to it. It doesn’t matter if your child doesn’t touch the new meal, it is all about your child getting used to seeing new food and taking it in and also seeing you eat it to give them confidence for future meals.

Advanced eater: ‘My child eats most things I give them and is not phased by new food’.

Serve the new meal and if they unexpectedly do refuse it, the best advice is not to panic and don’t feel bad. It’s just one meal. Say non-confrontational words such as ‘you don’t have to eat anything you don’t want to’ and see if they can try a bit in their own time. If they don’t, it is best to move onto the next mealtime and write it off and try another time!