Expanding Young Palates Now Might Prevent Picky Eating Later
By: Jen Mueller,
SparkPeople Blogger
5/17/2011 6:18 PM
: 53 comments
: 8,694 Views
One of my biggest pet peeves about eating out with my family are kids menus. Many times I end up ordering food for them off of the adult menu, because the variety of their menu leaves a lot to be desired. I have to bite my tongue to keep from telling the restaurant manager that buttered noodles and corn dogs aren't a staple of every young child's diet, and that it's okay to offer something other than French fries as a side item. I understand that not every parent wants to order food the way I do, but at least having more options would be nice.
My kids don't love every food I make them try, whether it's something at a restaurant or something I cook at home. I attempt to introduce them to a wide variety of foods because I want them to know that there's more to life than pizza and grilled cheese. Sometimes it works well. For example, my daughter loves black beans and my son willingly eats zucchini. (These aren't particularly strange foods, just things that some kids won't eat.) Sometimes my strategy doesn't work well. We've had nights where I make dinner, they take one look at it and say "I don't want to eat that." But I keep trying. Research shows that introducing young children to a wide variety of foods, and even eating a variety of foods during pregnancy, can make them willing to try more foods as they get older.
"Nutritionists say toddlers are naturally open to a wider range of flavors. “We don’t challenge toddlers enough by experimenting with food,’’ says Jamie S. Stang of the University of Minnesota, a specialist on child and maternal nutrition. 'As long as the textures are appropriate for kids and there are no known food allergies, there is nothing wrong with introducing different foods.'" Some research has shown that expectant mothers who eat a lot of spicy foods, for example, have children who are more likely to have the same taste preferences. Flavorings like garlic and vanilla can also be transmitted through breastmilk, making infants more likely to accept these tastes easily.
Nutritionists recommend introducing a food 20 times before deciding that a toddler doesn't like it. For me, that's been frustrating. I don't like wasting food or having to prepare more than one meal when I decide to give one child a food they've rejected in the past. But I have found times where I make a dinner that wasn't well-received the first time I served it, and this time they gobble it up. Unless I'm sure it's a food one of my kids totally hates, I don't make multiple meals and I do make them at least try a few bites. I've found this makes meal time more agreeable for all of us, and makes them more likely to choose something more adventurous than grilled cheese when we go out to dinner- at least some of the time.
What do you think? Do you (or have you) use any strategies to help your kids avoid becoming picky eaters? Do you introduce them to a wide variety of foods?
My kids don't love every food I make them try, whether it's something at a restaurant or something I cook at home. I attempt to introduce them to a wide variety of foods because I want them to know that there's more to life than pizza and grilled cheese. Sometimes it works well. For example, my daughter loves black beans and my son willingly eats zucchini. (These aren't particularly strange foods, just things that some kids won't eat.) Sometimes my strategy doesn't work well. We've had nights where I make dinner, they take one look at it and say "I don't want to eat that." But I keep trying. Research shows that introducing young children to a wide variety of foods, and even eating a variety of foods during pregnancy, can make them willing to try more foods as they get older.
"Nutritionists say toddlers are naturally open to a wider range of flavors. “We don’t challenge toddlers enough by experimenting with food,’’ says Jamie S. Stang of the University of Minnesota, a specialist on child and maternal nutrition. 'As long as the textures are appropriate for kids and there are no known food allergies, there is nothing wrong with introducing different foods.'" Some research has shown that expectant mothers who eat a lot of spicy foods, for example, have children who are more likely to have the same taste preferences. Flavorings like garlic and vanilla can also be transmitted through breastmilk, making infants more likely to accept these tastes easily.
Nutritionists recommend introducing a food 20 times before deciding that a toddler doesn't like it. For me, that's been frustrating. I don't like wasting food or having to prepare more than one meal when I decide to give one child a food they've rejected in the past. But I have found times where I make a dinner that wasn't well-received the first time I served it, and this time they gobble it up. Unless I'm sure it's a food one of my kids totally hates, I don't make multiple meals and I do make them at least try a few bites. I've found this makes meal time more agreeable for all of us, and makes them more likely to choose something more adventurous than grilled cheese when we go out to dinner- at least some of the time.
What do you think? Do you (or have you) use any strategies to help your kids avoid becoming picky eaters? Do you introduce them to a wide variety of foods?
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Comments
I have to admit that what is a good technique for one family doesn't work well in another, but when your doctor recommend the child go to bed with nothing to eat, he is basing his recommendation on the health of your child.
My parents had a simple rule that was always followed and taught my brother and I more than one good lesson.
The rule was,"If you don't like what the chief cook (Mom or Dad) fixed, you had two choices. #1, go to bed hungry, or #2, fix your own meal". That worked very well for my parents and for my DW and I.
One of my sons best friends while in elementary school stayed over at our house one summer evening. We had meatloaf, corn and a chopped greens salad for dinner and we had cherry cobbler for dessert.
Robbie cleaned up his plate and asked for seconds of the meatloaf.
When his mom came down to walk him home, she told us, "I hope Robbie didn't make too much of a fuss at dinner tonight". My DW said, "Robbie was no trouble at all. He ate what Eric and Blake ate and even asked for seconds on meatloaf".
We thought Kathie was going to faint. "Robbie Never eats meatloaf. When I fix it for Tom and I, I always have to fix him chicken fingers or a hamburger. What else did you have?"
We told her and she said, I already mentioned the meatloaf, but he hates corn will not eat salad at all and the only way he'll eat cherries is if they are in ice cream!"
There is one food I don't make my kids eat, or even try, and it was a favorite of my Mom's - Pickled Pigs Feet.
I'm pretty sure one of the reasons my DW has put up with me for 40 years is that I will cook, especially if what she has scheduled doesn't strike my fancy.
At 90+% on the weight tables, I don't think you will hurt your child if he goes to bed not having eaten for a few hours. It didn't hurt me, nor my brother, and it hasn't hurt my two sons or my nephew. - 5/18/2011 9:25:38 PM
Kids' tastes are different too. Children have a heightened sense of bitterness, which is rather helpful because many poisonous things are bitter. What may taste pleasantly complex to you (e.g. coffee) could taste wretched to them. I don't know about the twenty-try rule, but if you provide a variety of options, you're bound to find something that they like. - 5/18/2011 8:36:05 PM
i've pretty much learned that if it's not a hotdog, chicken nuggets, ravioli or some other form of pasta, or pizza, my kid's not going to eat. I even made "clean eating chicken nuggets" the other night that are cooked in olive oil and breaded with almond flour and he wouldn't eat them. what the heck do I do??? - 5/18/2011 5:11:05 PM
I agree kids should be introduced to new foods, and have it offered them lots of time before it tossed out as a food choice. But they should never be forced or have to sit there until they do try it. - 5/18/2011 3:18:34 PM
Small children are naturally Curious and will follow YOUR example. Key is to Serve several fruits/veggies for variety and encourage a small taste of what's not favorite and larger serving of favorites. Set example to have plate filled with 2/3 Colorful fruits/Veggies.
They don't eat a lot of candy and pass on cookies/cakes if not homemade. They save dessert for special occasions.
We grew red Lettuce, spinach, kale, other dark/purple leaf veggies in patio pots. Kids help plant, Water, and harvest their own salad. They didn't even know what iceberg lettuce was.
Start when their ypung and set the example!!!
- 5/18/2011 9:26:03 AM
All 2 never were fussy eaters they were the I couldn't fill them up type. Son is still a skinny man daughter watches her weight.
Their children eat what ever is on their plates. One grandson does'nt like anything too sweet - 5/18/2011 3:08:46 AM
My husband grew up in a home where they were allowed to be picky and they weren't exposed to many varieties of food. He never tasted garlic until he was 18. Now, my mother-in-law marvels at what I've 'gotten' him eating. (I did nothing but encourage him to try things I enjoyed.) We have agreed that if we have children, we will insist on them trying everything - but will not insist that they clean their plates.
- 5/18/2011 2:09:02 AM
My husband grew up in a home where they were allowed to be picky and they weren't exposed to many varieties of food. He never tasted garlic until he was 18. Now, my mother-in-law marvels at what I've 'gotten' him eating. (I did nothing but encourage him to try things I enjoyed.) We have agreed that if we have children, we will insist on them trying everything - but will not insist that they clean their plates.
- 5/18/2011 2:09:02 AM
- 5/18/2011 1:37:47 AM
and who says it's picky? maybe i have better taste buds, maybe i'm subconsiously just selective...i bet way back when kings didnt just anything that was put in front of them because it could have been poisoned...maybe picky eaters have evolved and it's not really a bad habit or disease...maybe it's evolution... whatever the reason, forcing your kids to eat somethign they say they don't like more than once will get you nothing but resentment. - 5/18/2011 1:17:18 AM
In any case, thanks to all the moms out their that created my friends that are willing to try anything; it's much more fun going out with them than their counterparts. - 5/17/2011 9:24:19 PM
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