As most parents will readily attest, kids have simple, unsophisticated tastes in food. Their taste buds haven’t fully matured, and in many cases they cling to their old favorites more out of a sense of comfort and security than anything else. It’s in the best interest of kids to try new things, of course, and parents should convince them to do so in subtle ways. Why not start with a traditional childhood favorite: pizza.

Rather than ordering a few pies for delivery, take out your cast iron pizza pan and allow the kids to decorate the dough with their favorite toppings. Mushrooms, onions, green peppers and tomatoes are healthy additions that shouldn’t prove too jarring to a child’s palate. Make a deal with them beforehand that they must try at least one new ingredient before regressing back to cheese and pepperoni.