(I originally wrote and published this post on April 8th, 2013 on West Valley Mom's Blog - www.westvalleymomsblog.com )
When
it comes to mealtime for our little ones, there is one rule that many
of us (myself included) have to remind ourselves of on a regular basis:
Just because we do not like a food doesn’t mean that our little ones
will feel the same way! In fact, experts suggest that it takes a young
child an average of seven tries of a particular food (in seven separate
feedings), to make a “final” judgement as to whether or not they like a
particular taste. And even beyond that, we all know that the preferences
of our little ones often change with the wind. Those crackers they
couldn’t get enough of yesterday, just may be the bain of their
existence today. Ahh….they sure do keep us on our toes don’t they?
In my almost 4 years of mama-hood, I have made it a point to offer my
littles tastes of just about everything that we adults eat at mealtime.
That part is easy. What can be a bit more difficult is remembering to
offer them tastes of foods that we may not typically include on our
“favorites” list. Foods that maybe we have an aversion to or simply have
always THOUGHT we wouldn’t like. This is where I have had a few
surprises along the way…foods I thought there was no way my kiddos would
eat, let alone ask for again down the road. Turns out, when we present
foods to our kids without bias, they make their own judgments and
sometimes, the verdict just may surprise you. Many of them are typically
on the “yuck” list for kiddos, but all are packed with nutritional
goodness, and when prepared correctly and presented in a positive light,
they may just be asking for more!
Here are a few to try that have surprised me along the way:
1. Lima Beans – Yup….probably my personal least favorite legume, but
my kiddos LOVE them….frozen. Weird? Maybe, but they eat them like candy
and I call that a win!
2. Beets – You will for sure have to pop the little ones in the bath
after a meal of these puppies, but the fun color and easy to eat
consistency, makes for a winning combo.
3. Brussels Sprouts – Hop on Pinterest any time and you are sure to
find numerous recipes for these beauties…don;t let your own childhood
hatred for them stand in your way. Try them…and share them. I bet your
opinion just may be changed!
4. Cauliflower – From tots, to poppers, to pizza crusts, this is one versatile veggie and it is a favorite in our house!!
5 . Shellfish – Obviously, make sure your little one is
age-appropriate before trying this one, but peeling, cracking, and
shucking is FUN for the wee ones. Yes, be prepared to help and for
mealtime to take a while, but you just may have some great photo ops!
The moral of the story: When it comes to feeding your little ones and
setting them off on the right foot for proper nutrition, be sure to
check your own food biases at the door. It can be tough for sure. But
feeding my little ones had broadened my own palate along the way and
opened my eyes to new flavors I never thought I would love. Just another
surprise on this little journey we call parenthood!
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