exposing someone to a new food increases the chances of liking that food item. however, it is not enough to merely look at a new food. novel food must be repeatedly tasted in order to increase preference for eating it. it can take as many as 15 tries of a novel food item before a child accepts it. there also appears to be a critical period for lowering later food neophobia in children during the weaning process. the variety of solid foods first exposed to children can lower later food refusal. some researchers believe that even the food variety of a nursing mother and the consequent variety of flavors in her breastmilk can lead to greater acceptance of novel food items later on in life. food neophobia does tend to naturally decrease as people age.