Play. Let your child play with their food. When they feel a juicy kiwi or dip a cracker into hummus, they use their sensory systems to explore that food. Set up an opportunity for them to paint with yogurt or stack blocks of melon. When children can touch and smell without pressure, they are more likely to taste it too.
Presentation matters. A plate piled high with broccoli solicits an immediate 'no' for many children who are still learning to enjoy broccoli. However, pairing it with a food they like and in a small quantity (think, one or two small florets) is more likely to have a positive outcome. Using tools like a skewer or cutting out shapes can be fun and encourage your child to touch and interact with the food, which is a precursor to eating it.