Monkey see, monkey eat: The wild way to help picky kids try new foods

Kids can be picky. One week it’s mac and cheese on repeat, the next it’s only chicken nuggets. But if you’ve ever watched your child light up while watching animals at the zoo – pointing out what they’re doing, mimicking their movements – you’ve already seen a secret parenting tool at work: curiosity.

So, here’s one creative way to tap into that curiosity at the dinner table: let animals show the way.

At zoos, every animal’s diet is carefully designed to reflect what they’d eat in the wild. Think crunchy veggies for tortoises, rainbow-colored fruit for parrots, and lean protein for playful otters. And when kids see that variety up close, it can actually shift how they think about food.

Find out how a trip to the zoo and a few playful animal-inspired meals at home can help even the pickiest eaters try something new.

Why the zoo works: it’s visual, fun, and pressure-free

Kids learn by watching. That’s why the zoo is such a goldmine for modeling curiosity and behavior, especially when it comes to food.

Watching a gorilla munch on leafy greens or a monkey dig through a pile of fruit is a totally different experience than being told to finish their peas. At the zoo, there’s no pressure to eat –just a chance to observe, ask questions, and start associating those same foods with strong, playful, fascinating animals.

And that curiosity can carry over to the dinner table.

Inside the zoo kitchen: what animals actually eat

At the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance (DZCA), feeding time is more than just filling a bowl. Jason Williams, Ph.D., the zoo’s Director of Nutrition, helps plan diets for more than 450 species using a mix of published research, feeding behavior, anatomy, and real-world availability of food.

“The goal is not to necessarily mimic the animals’ actual diet in the wild, but rather provide a nutrient profile (protein, lipid, vitamin, mineral, etc.) that is appropriate to their species-specific physiology,” Jason said. That means accounting for each animal’s age, health, and activity level.

Some animals have unique dietary needs, he continued. Guinea pigs, for example, need added vitamin C because their bodies can’t make it on their own. On the other hand, animals like black rhinos, bottlenose dolphins, and lorikeets are sensitive to too much iron, and vitamin C can actually make that worse by increasing iron absorption. Reptiles like iguanas can’t properly process oral vitamin D, so they need special UV lighting to help them absorb it and stay healthy.

The zoo also uses food-based enrichment to keep animals curious and engaged. Puzzle feeders, hidden snacks, frozen treats, and climbing challenges help mimic natural behaviors like hunting or foraging. This keeps animals mentally stimulated and helps mealtimes feel fun, not forced. That same philosophy can work at home with kids, too.

Try this at home: 5 animals with snack-worthy lessons

Here are five Denver Zoo-inspired animals whose diets offer a fun, healthy angle for kids – plus easy, kid-friendly foods to match.

Gorilla: Greens are power food

• What they eat: Leaves, fruits, vegetables, browse (leaves, stems, and bark), and primate-specific biscuits
• Lesson: Plants pack power. Gorillas thrive on greens and fruit, and they’re strong.
• Try this: Gorilla smoothie bowl with spinach, banana, berries, oat milk, and chia seeds.

Bear: Eat with the seasons

• What they eat: Fruit, vegetables, fish, nuts, insects, and occasionally whole prey
• Lesson: Bears eat what’s available. Seasonal foods are naturally varied and packed with flavor.
• Try this: Berry oat bites made with rolled oats, nut butter, dried cranberries, and sunflower seeds.

Parrot: Eat the rainbow

• What they eat: Fruits, seeds, edible flowers, leafy greens, and pelleted feed
• Lesson: Bright colors often mean big nutrition – vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants.
• Try this: Rainbow fruit skewers with grapes, kiwi, melon, pineapple, and strawberries.

Tortoise: Fill up on fiber

• What they eat: Grass hay, leafy greens, fruits, vegetables, edible flowers, and tortoise pellets
• Lesson: Fiber helps with digestion and fullness, and it doesn’t have to be boring.
• Try this: Veggie roll-ups with shredded carrots, cucumbers, and spinach in a whole-wheat tortilla with hummus.

Otter: Protein for play

• What they eat: Fish, shellfish, small prey, and vitamins and supplements
• Lesson: Protein helps muscles grow, and fuels all-day energy.
• Try this: Mini fish tacos with grilled tilapia, avocado, and a squeeze of lime.

Make mealtime more like zoo time

Zoo animals forage, chew, problem-solve, and explore. You can bring that same spirit of enrichment to your kitchen:

• Try “build-your-own” meals: Let kids assemble tacos, wraps, or snack trays
• Use animal themes: “Let’s eat like a parrot today. Wat’s the most colorful thing we can put on our plate?”
• Make food art: Arrange veggies into a snake, or fruit into a lion’s mane
• Talk like a zookeeper: Share a fun animal fact at dinner or let your kid “present” the day’s snack like a keeper at feeding time

Four zooper-useful tips for parents

Start small, keep it playful, and stay curious just like the animals do.

1. Let your child choose an “animal of the week” and research what it eats
2. Reframe food talk around strength, energy, and fun (“Giraffes love leafy greens. What would you name your salad?”)
3. Repeat exposures without pressure – many kids need to see or touch a food several times before trying it
4. Use zoo visits as follow-up: “Remember how the tortoise was munching those leaves? Let’s try something similar!”

Wild inspiration, real results

Getting kids to eat more than chips, crackers and granola bars can feel like an uphill climb. But sometimes, all it takes is a fresh perspective – like watching animals at the zoo – can make all the difference.

At the DZCA, nutritionists work with vets and caregivers to build healthy diets that also account for each animal’s unique preferences. That same thoughtful, flexible approach can help with picky eating at home, too.

At Intermountain Health, pediatricians and nutrition experts team up with families to find practical, low-pressure ways to build healthy habits. Because every child is different, and with the right support, mealtimes can feel less stressful and a lot more fun.