How to Raise an Adventurous Eater

ABOUT THE BOOK

Do you have visions of raising a mini-Anthony Bourdain? Or perhaps, youd like your family dinners to be centered around currys, escargot, or sushi? Many parents wish that their children would eagerly try new foods, but these efforts are often fraught with stress and arguments, and end up with kids eating their favorite foods (spaghetti or grilled cheese, anyone?), instead of trying something new.

Even if your child has a serious case of food neophobia (fear of trying new foods), there are some things you can do to help them develop a more varied palate. There seems to exist a disparate between the national focus on healthy eating and the obesity epidemic in the United States; getting kids to just try a few vegetables at dinner time can be an adventure in itself.

Sure, your kid may not be as extreme as the 17 year old U.K. girl who was hospitalized after only eating Chicken Nuggets and fries for the past 15 years, but a kid who refuses to try new things can be quite frustrating for everyone else in the family.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Kate has over 10 years of experience writing, researching and editing articles, eNewsletters, web content, press releases, and resource books. Shes a huge nerd, and am interested in everything from science and the latest technology to crafts, food and celebrity gossip. Because of her eclectic tastes, She written about topics ranging from childhood brain development to fuel efficiency to micro-breweries. Kate loves writing and researching, as it gives her a chance to inform and entertain readers, and an opportunity to learn something new.

She has a sharp, concise writing style and a keen eye for detail, making her books a joy to read. Be sure to check out all her titles.

Shes a native Mainer, and when shes not shovelling snow or writing, shes spending time with her family.

EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK

Recent studies have shown that the best way to get your kids to be adventurous in their food choices is to expose them to unique foods at a young age. In fact, the more varied food a mother eats while pregnant can affect what her child will eat in the future.

Foods with strong flavors (mint, garlic, vanilla, etc.) actually cross the placenta, and can be tasted by a developing baby in the womb. NPR explains how the experiment was performed:

To determine if flavors are passed from the mother to the the baby via the amniotic fluid, researchers gave women garlic capsules or sugar capsules before taking a routine sample of their amniotic fluid and then asked a panel of people to smell the samples.

“And it was easy,” says Mennella. “They could pick out the samples easily from the women who ate garlic.” The sense of taste is actually 90-percent smell, she added, so they knew just from the odor that the babies could taste it.

Babies exposed to various strong flavors in the womb generally went on to enjoy those flavors more later in life. Another similar study had pregnant and nursing mothers drink carrot juice every day. Their children, by and large, went on to become carrot lovers.

CHAPTER OUTLINE

How to Raise an Adventurous Eater

+ Do you have visions of raising a mini-Anthony Bourdain?

+ Starting off on the right brussel sprout

+ What to Avoid

+ Tips and Tricks

+ …and much more