For many parents of picky eaters, fruit is a saving grace. It’s sweet, juicy and tastes good while still providing the nutrition growing children so desperately need.  By introducing a wide variety of fruits to your child’s diet, you can ensure she is getting as many essential vitamins and nutrients as possible. Here are some unique fruits you may not have heard of that will excite and entice your child while slipping in some much needed nourishment.

• Tomatillo – Many people refer to tomatillos as “Mexican tomatoes.”  They are a fruit that is encased in a green husk with a lemon-like flavor.  They can be eaten in salads, used to make salsa, added to omelets, made into jam or even eaten raw.  If your finicky diner is still resistant, dipping them in chocolate is another option. They contain vitamin C, K niacin and fiber.
• Star Fruit – This celestial shaped fruit is often a big hit with kids. Not only is it pleasing to the eye, but it has a sweet and sour taste that many children love.  It is said to taste like a combination of a mango and lemon.  It contains antioxidants, B complex and C vitamins. It is also a very low calorie fruit, providing just 31 calories per 100 grams.
• Kiwi – This deep emerald green fruit has a unique taste that is both sweet and refreshing.  Kiwi has been studied extensively for its health benefits.  It has a protective quality, and has been shown to reduce respiratory problems in children, among many other benefits the fruit offers. It also contains antioxidants, vitamin C and has been shown to lower cholesterol.
• Persimmon – These have a delicate, sweet flavor and can be eaten raw or mixed into jams, puddings, yogurts and salads.  There are two types of persimmons: astringent and non-astringent. For kids, the non-astringent is crunchier and can be eaten raw, while the astringent variety must be ripened to a jelly-like consistency before consumed. It’s high in vitamins A and C, fiber and manganese.
• Pomegranate – Kids are often attracted to the bright color and sweet-tart taste of this popular “super fruit.”  The inside of a pomegranate is full of many juice filled sacs surrounding a seed, called arils. Kids can eat the seeds alone or add them to salads and yogurts.  Pomegranate is rich in vitamins C and E, antioxidants, iron and folate.
• Dragon Fruit – Also known as the pitaya, dragon fruit is a delight for a child’s imagination. It wears a deep magenta skin that is accented by dark green, curling petals. Inside you will find white pulp sprinkled with tiny black seeds. The taste is both sweet and sour. Dragon fruit contains vitamin C, antioxidants and healthy fats.
• Horned Melons – This is another fruit that kids love to look at. On the outside is a bright orange-yellow shell that is covered with spikes, while the inside looks much like a jellied cucumber. It’s also a fruit that is fun to eat. Cut the melon in half and then squeeze it to release the gel. The flavor is mild, so it will not offend even the pickiest eaters. The taste is similar to that of a cucumber combined with a kiwi’s sweetness.  It is rich in vitamin C and iron.
• Mammee Apple- Despite the name, the mammee apple is actually a giant berry that can grow to almost 8 inches in diameter. It has a thick skin, not unlike a melon, with a soft orange pulp on the inside that’s sweet and succulent. It yields vitamins A, C, B and iron.
• Cherimoya – Mark Twain called this fruit “the most delicious fruit known to man.”  Incredibly, it is said to taste like coconuts, pineapples, strawberries, bananas and mangoes all rolled into one. Slice it in half and eat the flesh with a spoon or add it to smoothies. It contains vitamin C, B complex, potassium and antioxidants.
• Papaya – Papaya has a subtle, sweet taste that’s great for kids with sensitive palates. It can be eaten plain or used as an ice cream topping. Another favorite way to consume papaya is by turning it into a refreshing sorbet. Papaya contains vitamins A, C, E, G, iron, calcium, folic acid and potassium. Its juice is said to aid in digestion.

If your picky eater is resistant to trying any of these new fruits, try incorporating them along with their old favorites in a flavorful fruit salad. Also, putting the fruit out in a common area and allowing children to “graze” is often more successful than serving it individually at mealtime. In addition, you can try serving it with their favorite dipping sauces to make the cuisine more inviting. Finally, sometimes inviting over another child who is more open to trying new things will do the trick. Once the child who is more particular witnesses a peer’s delight at the snack, he may be more apt to dig in himself!

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