After 3 years, Curious Cookie® is officially trademarked! I can finally add that little ® to my product for picky eaters, which has been transforming family mealtimes around the world.
I created Curious Cookie® during COVID after witnessing how many families were stuck in exhausting food battles trying to get their kids to try something new. Prior to the Curious Cookie®, parents would come to me for help with their child’s picky eating habits, and they would have a hard time staying consistent with their mealtime strategies. They didn’t know how to get their child exploring and accepting foods (without sneaking in some pressure, unhelpful language, or creating a power struggle).
This happens in feeding therapy too.
For many parents, when their children are in feeding therapy sessions, they might see their kids engage with new foods. However, they have trouble replicating these “food wins” at home. When they try, they get resistance. And many parents feel like they are failing.
I figured out why. I’ve not only overcome mealtime struggles with my own daughter (who is now thriving). I’ve since also helped thousands of families do the same. And you know what’s missing? Parents simply need help supporting their child’s picky eating in a way that: (a) gives their child control over the experience, (b) leverages exploration and curiosity without judgement, and (c) makes the experience fun.
That’s why I was determined to make food exploration easier for parents (and kids) with the Curious Cookie® mealtime games and tools.
When the name Curious Cookie® came to me, it just felt right. Here’s why:
Childhood curiosity is everything
We often judge ourselves — and our kids — for their food preferences. But what if we replaced judgment with curiosity? In other words,
- What if we got curious with what was stopping them accept new foods?
- What if we empowered our kids and picky eaters to get curious as well?
- What if trying new foods felt more like a game than a fight?
When it comes to picky eating, curiosity might just be the secret ingredient your dinner table is missing.
Why Curiosity Matters for Picky Eaters
Curiosity isn’t just a personality trait — it’s a core driver of learning, development, and engagement. Research shows:
-
Curiosity enhances memory and learning. When a child is curious, their brain activates reward and memory centers, making new information more “sticky.” [PMC]
-
Creating curiosity-rich environments boosts engagement. While we can’t change how curious a child is at baseline, we can design experiences that encourage them to explore.[Penn State Extension]
-
Curious kids perform better academically, particularly in reading and math. [Early Advantage Child Care]
But perhaps the most actionable insights come from a fantastic piece by the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Here’s what they found — and what it means for your dinner table:
10 Ways to Spark Curiosity at Mealtimes
1. Curiosity Is a Natural Response to Information – Curiosity isn’t a fixed trait but a natural reaction to new or unexpected information.👉 Try this: Introduce a new fruit or vegetable and talk about its texture, taste, and where it comes from.
2. Highlight Ambiguity to Stimulate Curiosity – Children as young as four can detect inconsistencies between their expectations and actual outcomes, which can trigger curiosity.
👉 Try this: Present a familiar dish with a surprising twist — like green mashed potatoes — and let your child guess what’s different.
3. Encourage Recognition of Knowledge Gaps – When children realize they lack certain information, they’re more motivated to seek answers.
👉 Try this: Ask open-ended questions like “Why do you think carrots are orange?” to inspire wonder and invite exploration.
4. Use Pedagogical Questions – Tailored questions that challenge existing beliefs can direct children’s attention and promote deeper understanding.
👉 Try this: Ask questions that nudge deeper thinking: “What do you think would happen if we planted a tomato seed in the dark?”
5. Model Curiosity Yourself – Children often emulate adult behaviors; displaying curiosity yourself can encourage them to do the same.
👉 Try this: Show your excitement when trying a new food—”I’ve never tasted starfruit before, have you? Let’s explore it together!”
6. Create a Safe Environment for Questions – Children may hesitate to ask questions if they fear judgment or ridicule.
👉 Try this: Normalize curiosity by responding with, “Great question—let’s look it up together!”
7. Integrate Curiosity into Routines – Regularly incorporating opportunities for exploration can reinforce a child’s inquisitive nature.
👉 Try this: Make “question of the day” a mealtime ritual. Let each family member ask something they’re wondering about.
8. Provide Resources for Exploration – Access to information and tools supports the pursuit of answers to curious questions.
👉 Try this: Keep a few child-friendly cookbooks, seed kits, or food-related games nearby to encourage continued discovery.
That’s where the Curious Cookie® mealtime and picky eating food exploration games come in – like the Mealtime Fun Cards. They are loaded with questions and prompts that get your child curious about rejected foods (and even trying them) – without a second thought (and without you having to work so hard convincing them to try that food). The cards do all the work, so you can sit back and enjoy your meal!
9. Celebrate the Process of Inquiry – Acknowledging the act of questioning reinforces its value.
👉 Try this: Praise your child for asking questions or trying new things—even if they don’t love the taste. It’s about effort, not outcome.
10. Connect Curiosity to Real-World Experiences – Demonstrating how curiosity leads to tangible outcomes can motivate children to explore.
👉 Try this: If your child wonders how food grows, plant herbs together. Let them track the process and taste their harvest.
How Curious Cookie® Helps Your Picky Eater
Curious Cookie® products were designed to make food exploration feel fun, empowering, and — yes — curious. They include:
🍪 Mealtime Fun Cards – Playful prompts, questions, and exploration activities that get the whole family involved in a fun way, while inviting kids to explore foods in a positive way. These cards work like magic!
🍪 Food Adventure Mat – A step-by-step placemat that takes kids on a fun sensory journey (through “Texture Ville”, “Town of Sounds” and even “Tasteville”) and turns your child into a food scientist ready for try more new foods without a struggle.
🍪 Food Exploration Kit – A game-changing digital toolkit includes a helpful food adventure guide (with a simple 12-week plan for you), plus food missions, badges, videos, and recipes (to inspire your child to explore even more foods).
Cookies are a great tool for picky eating too
We’ve talked a lot about the power of curiousity with kids. Let’s talk about why I called these mealtime games Curious Cookie® – and not the Curious Cauliflower or Curious Avocado. For one, cookies are fun to eat and to say. Yet for too many families, mealtimes are far from fun. I wanted to bring joy back to the table… and show that even cookies can support healthy habits. In fact, they are a great way to expose your child to new foods – think Carrot Cookies, Apple Cookies, Buckwheat Cookies, Avocado Cookies. And the list goes on. In fact you’ll find some of the best (and healthiest) cookie recipes in this Food Exploration Kit.
Whether your child goes from eating fruit roll-ups to freeze-dried strawberries. Or from Kraft PB to natural almond butter. These are steps in the right direction when you have a picky eater. If you want to take even bigger steps with your child, consider including opportunities for curiousity – and maybe some healthy cookies too.
Final Thought
Trademarking Curious Cookie® is exciting, but what excites me most is helping you create mealtimes that spark joy, play, and connection. In a world where kids are often told what not to do or eat, let’s give them the freedom to wonder, explore, and be curious.
Because when we lean into curiosity with our kids and picky eaters, we open up a world of possibility.
Stay curious,
Danielle
