They sniffed it and stopped
Smelling a food is a real step. They learned something about it without having to eat it.
A sniff is contact
Say the name of the food once, then talk about something else. The sniff can be the whole interaction for today.
Peas have a smell. Letting them find that out with their nose is part of the meal, even when the spoon never comes up.
What you do with your face
A disappointed face teaches them the sniff was a failure. A normal face teaches them it was allowed.
Eat some of yours. If they go back to the rice, let the peas stay where they are.
Do not turn it into a taste test
“Now put it in your mouth” right after a sniff is a bigger jump than it looks. Stop at the sniff if that is where they stopped.
The familiar food is still dinner. Hunger does not have to be the teacher.
A sentence you can say
“Those are peas.”