A toddler reaching for paneer with her hands, trying foods from different cuisines and happily eating what her parents eat may sound like an ordinary family mealtime. But for Priyanka Chopra Jonas, it has become a glimpse into how her daughter Malti Marie is developing her relationship with food.Chopra had described Malti, in an interview as a “foodie” and said her daughter eats the same food as she and Nick Jonas. That included Indian food as well as Korean barbecue, a surprisingly wide flavour map for a young child. The detail is more than a cute celebrity-parenting anecdote: it offers a window into something nutrition researchers have been studying for years, how early experiences with different foods can influence what children are willing to eat later.
28 Jul 2026 | 16:38
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For parents dealing with a child who pushes away anything unfamiliar, the lesson may be reassuring: liking a new food does not always happen on the first try.
Priyanka Chopra’s little ‘foodie’
Chopra has spoken about raising Malti in a household where Indian and American influences naturally come together. In several interviews, she has said how strongly she wants her daughter to remain connected to her Indian roots, including through food and culture. Chopra has said that she is “very, very Indian” in her food choices while also recognising that her family is partly American.That cultural mix is reflected in Malti’s meals. Earlier interviews about the toddler described her as a foodie who eats what her parents eat, with Indian food and Korean barbecue among the foods mentioned. The image is easy to picture: instead of preparing an entirely separate children’s menu, the family is allowing Malti to experience the flavours that are already part of her parents’ world.It is a small parenting choice, but one that can have a bigger significance.
Why children may need to meet a food more than once
A child refusing broccoli, spinach or a new curry does not necessarily mean the food is permanently off the menu.Research suggests that repeated exposure can make unfamiliar foods more acceptable to young children. A systematic review published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that repeatedly offering foods, particularly fruits and vegetables, could increase acceptance among infants and toddlers. In several studies, acceptance increased after repeated exposure rather than after a single tasting.That matters because children are naturally cautious about unfamiliar tastes, textures, smells and appearances. A food that looks strange or tastes bitter on Monday may become familiar, and eventually acceptable, after several more encounters.
Family meals may make unfamiliar foods less intimidating
There is another interesting element in Chopra’s approach: Malti is eating what her parents eat.Children often learn through observation. Seeing parents and other family members comfortably eating a particular food can make it seem less unfamiliar. A meal also becomes less about a child being presented with a food they are expected to finish and more about participating in a shared family routine.This does not mean children should be forced to eat whatever adults are eating. Young children have different nutritional needs, and foods still need to be offered in age-appropriate forms, portions and textures.But sharing suitable versions of family foods can give children a much wider sensory experience.
The bigger lesson is familiarity
Malti’s food story is interesting precisely because there is no complicated menu to copy and no superfood prescription hiding behind it. Instead, there is something much more ordinary: a child being exposed to the foods already present in her family’s life.Indian food can introduce children to spices, lentils, vegetables, grains and dairy in countless combinations. Other cuisines can bring different herbs, textures, cooking methods and flavour profiles. Together, these experiences can gradually broaden a child’s food repertoire.And that may be one of the more useful takeaways from Chopra’s description of her daughter as a little foodie: children don’t necessarily become comfortable with new foods because parents find the perfect recipe. Sometimes they simply need the opportunity to encounter different flavours repeatedly, without pressure.For parents, therefore, the next time a child rejects a new food, the plate does not necessarily have to disappear forever. It may simply be the first introduction, not the final verdict.
