Children and Food, nurturing the palate

Weird Al Yankovic, Eat It  

Children and food. Children eat what they learn to eat. When I discovered I was pregnant, the one vow I made was that my child was not going to be a picky eater. Of course, some children are born fussy but most are not. Of those that are not, I really believe that they are conditioned to like or dislike foods. And just as it is important to nurture a child’s creativity and talents, it is equally important to nurture the palate. Children look to their parents for a reaction and for  guidance. Yes, it is that simple. Children are great observers and, thus, great indicators for a specific culture and time. They learn so much from the people they spend the most time with and that is why I believe child’s dietary habits are a direct reflection of the parents.

At my daughter’s first Christmas, she had pureed carrots with thyme followed by plain whole milk yogurt. When she first tasted the yogurt, her mouth puckered and she looked to me for the necessary cultural cue. Yes, plain yogurt is a bit on the sour side, and when she looked to me, I  smiled and she continued to eat it. Two years later, she still eats plain yogurt. In fact, she has an amazing and discriminating palate. When we dine out, often she will say, “Mama, this is not good.” And when I taste it, she’s right! She eats many things a lot of my adult friends don’t, such as chicken liver, mussels, very ripe blue cheese, candied ginger, unsweetened hot chocolate, guacamole…

I must confess that I only have one child. And as the sole child of parents who are foodies, one could argue that it is in the genes but I really believe it has more to do with the variety of food and flavors she was introduced to at an early age. All my beliefs regarding children and food come from careful observance of my 16 nephews and nieces and countless children of friends. My ex and I are strongly aligned in the belief that the communal family shared meal is an absolute necessity and take great pleasure in providing  flavorful, well prepared, and balanced meals. The meal is an extension of our love and creativity and we take great pleasure in watching our daughter accept what we offer.

Don’t be afraid to introduce your toddler to the wonderful world of flavors and spice. One of my daughters first favorite dish was daal. The onion, garlic, cinnamon, tumeric, and cloves were never too much for her. Observe the healthy red checks in the picture above. In the short term, you will make your life easier by not having to cook separate meals and in the long term, you will have a child you can take anywhere without the worry or bother of finding the “right” food. And, yes, my child eats sugar but she will always leave the cookie for the guacamole.