Trying New Foods Social Story & Activities Packet for Autism and Special Education

Trying new foods can feel overwhelming for many children—especially for students with sensory sensitivities or food aversions. This Trying New Foods Social Story and Companion Activity Pack helps children explore foods step-by-step using their five senses while building confidence and reducing anxiety around mealtime. In this engaging social story, siblings Ava and Eli learn how to explore foods safely and calmly while discovering that trying new foods can be a positive experience.

The story introduces a predictable five-step routine that helps children gradually approach unfamiliar foods:

1️⃣ Look at the food
2️⃣ Smell the food
3️⃣ Touch the food
4️⃣ Listen to the food
5️⃣ Taste the food when ready

This step-by-step approach helps children feel in control, supported, and encouraged during food exploration.

What’s Included Social Story

A complete step-by-step social story that teaches children how to explore new foods in a calm and supportive way.

Students learn:

• Why healthy foods help our bodies
• How to explore foods safely
• How to use the five senses when trying foods
• That it is okay to feel nervous about new foods
• That trying foods one step at a time builds confidence

In the story, Ava tries broccoli and Eli tries tomatoes, modeling the exploration process in a simple and predictable format.

Companion Activity Pack

The activity pack reinforces the lesson with interactive worksheets and reflection activities.

Included activities:

• Parent/teacher guide for supporting food exploration
• My Food Explorer worksheet (5 senses reflection)
• Food reflection page (like it / maybe / not yet)
• Brave Food Steps tracker to build confidence over time
• Weekly exploration tracking chart
• Coloring pages
• Certificate of Bravery for trying new foods

These activities help children practice food exploration in a supportive and non-pressured way.

Skills Addressed

This resource supports development of:

• Food exploration skills
• Sensory processing awareness
• Emotional regulation
• Healthy eating habits
• Trying new experiences
• Self-confidence
• Decision making
• Self-reflection

IEP Goals This Resource May Support Life Skills Goals

Student will participate in food exploration activities using structured prompts.

Sensory Processing Goals

Student will explore foods using multiple sensory experiences.

Communication Goals

Student will describe sensory characteristics of foods (look, smell, texture, taste).

Emotional Regulation Goals

Student will demonstrate coping strategies when encountering unfamiliar foods.

Independence Goals

Student will engage in structured food exploration with decreasing support.

Who This Resource Is For

Perfect for:

• Autism classrooms
• Special education classrooms
• Occupational therapy sessions
• Speech therapy sessions
• Feeding therapy programs
• Sensory support classrooms
• Parents working on food exploration at home

Especially helpful for children who:

• have food aversions
• experience sensory sensitivities
• struggle with trying new foods

Why This Approach Works

This resource focuses on exploration rather than pressure.

Children are encouraged to interact with food using their senses before tasting. This allows students to build comfort gradually while celebrating every step of progress.

Even looking, smelling, or touching food counts as trying.

File Details

You will receive:

• Printable Social Story PDF
• Printable Companion Activity Pack

Teachers often use these pages for:

• food exploration centers
• feeding therapy sessions
• life skills instruction
• home practice with parents

Copyright

Adventures of Ava & Eli series © AvaHasAutism
All rights reserved.

This resource includes symbols from Boardmaker® Picture Communication Symbols (PCS)
Boardmaker PCS © Tobii Dynavox, LLC. Used with permission.