I really love food. But not only great food, also amazing and interesting dining experiences. So I am determined to create the toddler version of myself, who gets pumped to stroll into an Ethiopian joint, can't wait for the next sushi roll, and hopes Osso Bucco is on the menu at home. I realize that this is a lofty ambition so I scoured the Internet and my baby books for some guidance. Here is what I found, am now trying, and thought I would share*:
1. Eat what you love and a variety while pregnant (obviously within the constraints of what's acceptable during pregnancy). The thought being that the flavors will permeate the amniotic fluid and your baby will arrive preprogrammed for the good stuff.
I tried my best to do this and I don't know if I buy it. I ate Italian almost every night and when Jack was recently given Earth's Best Organic Pasta meal for beginners, this is what happened:
While pregnant I never even thought about Mac n' Cheese, especially made out of rice pasta, but Jack definitely shows signs of preconditioning-
2. Present a variety of fresh whole foods in different ways daily. A child who hates raw tomatoes may like them cooked.
Since the eating thing is completely new, textures as well as flavors are something to get used to. Even different colors may seem weird to them. And according to research, it can also take up to 30 times before a child will actually develop a taste for something.
3. Avoid the kid's menu. They are generally nutritionally void and promote the chicken nugget, grilled cheese, butter and noddles ONLY mentality.
Jack is still too little for most items on that menu anyway, but whenever I've ended up at a restaurant with no Jack treats, the kitchen has been really good about making me a plain baked potato, or plain steamed veggies, etc.
4. Be sensitive to how your baby is feeling. If you introduce a new food to a baby and they become sick soon after, even if it has nothing to do with the food, they will develop an aversion to that food.
I've definitely noticed that if Jack is having a particularly hard day teething he will generally dislike everything I feed him.
5. Allow a few dislikes. If you've tried carrots raw, baked, steamed, blended, hidden in frosting etc a hundred times and still no luck, your baby simply does not like carrots. Even the biggest foodie has a couple of items on their yucky list!
Good luck-May you never be a shortorder cook and always receive applause in your kitchen!!
References:
http://www.home-ec101.com/
thehealthyapron.com
www.parentingscience.com
www.whattoexpect.com
http://www.parenting.com/
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