The problem is many parents don't give children the opportunity to try new things. To savour food as it should be and to make up their own minds about food.
A lot of people create the monsters they have to put a plate in front of. Kids who refuse to eat anything green, raw, not drenched in ketchup and/or butter. Or kids who refuse to eat anything but French fries. Or ones who won't let this food touch that food. The ones that won't touch a single bite if there is one indication of something new mixed in with their plain mashed potatoes or white pasta. The thing is kids will voluntarily decide what they like if you give them the opportunity.
When I found out I was going to be a dad this was something I was adamant about: my kids are going to eat well. It is one of the most-if not the single most- important things we can teach our children. How to respect and love food. How to make good culinary choices and to be open to trying new things.
My kid doesn't like everything. There is a lot of things he won't eat. But there are even more things that I have put on his plate expecting him to toss onto mine that he has actually not only eaten but loved. And asked for more. We don't force him to eat something he doesn't want to. He won't freak out of there is something he doesn't like on his plate, he will eat around it. I feel like, even though he is only three, we have given him a very positive, well balanced perception of food that will stay with him forever.
Tonight i made a homemade pizza. The crust is made out of cauliflower and a carrots with ground flax, chia and garlic. And it was topped with turkey bacon, spinach, zucchini and onions. It was absolutely delish and Leighton asked for THIRDS! This is something many kids would automatically turn their noses up at. And a lot of parents would let them. But if you give then a chance they will give food a chance. And you would be surprised at what your kid will eat!
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