Trying new fruits and veggies can be a fun, healthy experience for you and your family. However, it can strain your patience when your picky kids or spouse turn up their noses at a new, vitamin-rich treat. Here's how to introduce exotic foods without a dinnertime battle.

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[edit] Steps

Research your new fruit ahead of time. That way, you'll know how to pick a good, ripe specimen and prepare it to taste its best. You'll also learn any quirks of the fruit, such as a bitter skin that must be peeled off.
Get recommendations from friends about what to try. It's easier to convince people that something is good if you have testimony from a trusted source!
Involve your family in this culinary experiment by sharing the information you've gathered, and including them on the shopping expedition if you can. If you can, suggest choices as well, and let family members vote on a new fruit, or take turns picking out fruits each week. For example, say: "I was thinking it would be fun if we tried some new kinds of fruit, so I looked some up. Would you guys rather try Persimmons, Starfruit, or Tayberries this week?"
Prepare a small amount of the fruit and present it as a special treat after a meal.
Slip the fruit into a dish that you already know is a surefire hit. For example, add some slices of Asian Pear to your kid's favorite fruit salad, or substitute Boysenberries for Blackberries in your family's traditional pie.

[edit] Tips

Try the fruit first yourself to head off a potential bad experience for the whole family.
Don't let one bad fruit experience stop you from trying more varieties.
Make sure you have picked a good specimen (ripe, no bruises, etc).