Kids New Foods Tried Log

Who this is for

Small steps, written down. Each time a new or refused food goes on the plate, note how it was served, how far your child got with it and what they said, so you can look back over weeks and see what has changed.

Parents of school-age children who eat a narrow range of foods, and families trying to widen what everyone will eat at the table.

What this helps you track

• Every new or previously refused food offered, and when
• How each food was served: raw, cooked, cut, mixed or on the side
• How far your child got, from looking at it to eating it all
• Their reaction in their own words and whether they would try again
• Foods now accepted, foods to keep offering and ideas to try next

How to use it

1. Write your child's name and the date you started.
2. Each time a new or refused food is offered, add a line with the date, the food and how it was served.
3. Choose how far your child got with it, write their reaction, and note whether they would try it again.
4. Every few weeks, move foods that are now eaten into the accepted column and list the ones to keep offering.
5. Use the ideas column for new ways to serve a food, and keep the log going on the second page.

Formats

• Printable PDF (A4 and US Letter)
• Fillable PDF with form fields
• Fill in online, saved in your browser

The printable is laid out inside a box that fits both A4 and US Letter, so the two files are identical and neither one is scaled. The fillable PDF has real form fields. The online version keeps what you enter in your own browser and builds the completed PDF on your device.

How to print

Download the A4 or US Letter file to match the paper in your printer, open it in a PDF reader and print at 100% — not "fit to page", which shrinks the writing space. Both files leave a 14 mm margin, which clears the unprintable edge on home printers. To print the online version with your entries in it, use the Print this sheet button, which prints only the sheet and none of the page around it. More on printing.

Questions

How far should my child be expected to get?

The log sets no targets. It simply records what happened each time, so you can see your own child's progress. If you are worried about their eating or growth, talk to your doctor or health visitor.

Why record how the food was served?

A food refused mashed may be eaten raw, cut into sticks or served on the side. Writing down the way it was served shows which forms work for your child.

Should my child fill it in too?

Many children like writing or drawing their own reaction, and it can make trying something new feel like their project. The reaction column is there for their words.

How is this different from a food and mood diary?

A food and mood diary tracks what an adult ate and how they felt. This log is only about new or refused foods offered to a child, and whether they were accepted over time.