I met a twin mom at the park last week and we have a wonderful chat about the highs and lows of raising twins. During our conversation she mentioned that she regrets not introducing her children to more foods when they were younger. She was disappointed that at age 3 and a half neither of them likes eggs, tuna, or spaghetti sauce. She believes that because she didn't offer a more varied menu early on in their dietary development that it has made it difficult to offer them new foods, at an age where they can and often say NO!
While driving home from the park that day I thought to myself, "Do we limit Tanner and Abigail's diet to things we like to eat?" For example, I don't like tomatoes. Neither does my husband or anyone in his family. We don't have tomatoes in our house unless someone else buys them and leftovers are usually fed to the chickens. Since tomatoes are scarce in our house, Tanner and Abigail have had very little exposure to them. The thought of buying tomatoes so they can sample them (and possibly dislike them) seems ridiculous to me. Not to mention that it takes several independent tastes of a new food before a child decides if they like it or not and even then they may change their mind. However, I hate to think that I am preventing them from exploring new foods simply because I don't eat them.
So what is a parent to do? Do we buy foods that we don't like simply to introduce them to our children who may or may not like them or do we continue to feed them only things we like since that is what we have at home? Maybe having children is an opportunity for us as adults to try foods we dislike again...who knows maybe our tastes have changed.
Note: I was given tomatoes last summer which I made into a delicious homemade spaghetti sauce and this year i decided to grow my own so I could do it again. I planted six Roma tomato plants (upside-down) in hanging pots on my porch. This will allow me to offer Tanner and Abigail some fresh tomatoes and make sauce with whatever is left over.
I think it's important to offer new/interesting foods to kids and to try things multiple ways as adults (even ones we think we don't like). Sometimes our dislike of foods are passed on from our parents and sometimes we find we actually like something if we try it cooked a different way when we get older. I can't tell you how many things I LOVE now that I used to not like and how many things I really enjoy eating that my mom really dislikes. Even though she disliked a food, she fed them to us and ate them herself if they were healthy.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I wonder if food likes/dislikes can be cultural. Growing up we didn't have to option to not like something. I was raised in a different country, not eating something that was give to you was extremely rude. As a result, we learned to eat everything that was put in front of us regardless of whether we liked it or not so as not to offend the host.
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ReplyDeleteBelinda Clarke Aldrich wrote: "I think the more you introduce the better, but I don't think you need to go out of your way to buy foods that are going to go to waste, if they get to taste them at restaurants or friends houses that is great. We have given William curry and spicy foods since he was about 8 months, he loves salsa on scrambled eggs. I also think there is the old school of thought, for example my mother-in-law always warns me that there is celery or onions in something she has made, thinking that it may not be good for William. I always say it is fine. If he does not like it he will not eat it. There is so much online on what is ok to give to your child, and so many great recipes. I think it is great to be creative and try new things. The daycare that William attends in Vermont is great with their foods. Last time we were there he had venison quiche - he LOVED it."
ReplyDeleteAh, the dreaded "I don't like it" debate. It took me 29 years to like any kind of mushroom, 30 for some tomatoes (I still don't like the little ones, but the big Beefsteak tomatoes with olive oil, basil and Mozz Cheese are good!) and just this year started branching into things with Mayonnaise (pasta salad, potato salad, etc). All of these things I hated as a kid and deliberately avoided all along- which made me a joy at picnics, especially since I'm a vegetarian.
ReplyDeleteI think the key to trying new things as an adult, and then later with your kids, is to find ways to "hide" things - like with Mayo, I discovered I liked it with mustard and garlic as a sauce for veggie burgers. Then I branched out. It's just like introducing things to kids, I suspect - start small, "hide it" in meals, and then branch out.
Or, you can always bread and deepfry the bejeezus out of it and see if you like it :)
Erin Payson wrote: "I also think the more you introduce the better...and I totally think you should try foods that you think you do not like. Taste buds do change, in the last few years I have found that I actually love foods that I thought I didn't! On that ...note- if I truly do not like it and neither does my husband I would probably not continue to serve it in my home. Lots of kids are picky eaters...I personally think that is ok as long as I have tried to introduce a variety and they are getting what they need. I was a picky eater, and it lasted well into my 20's..now I enjoy trying new things. (well most new things!)"
ReplyDeleteI do think it's important to give kids exposure to lots of things, even when we don't like certain tastes. I am particularly picky about veges but my kids like some veges that I don't (that's what they get in their lunch boxes...LOL). I have definately discovered that my taste buds have changed a bit but mostly that I cook much differently than my mother and like the way I cook certain things much better. I have re-tried things I disliked as a kid and like it merely because I could put my own touch to it. I have a wonderful salsa recipe if you ever want it, your mom has tried it...very good!
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