Food Fads

[McMouse]

Had a pleasant pub lunch yesterday and overheard a mother say to her child "don't eat those beans (butter beans) you won't like them". No wonder kids grow up eating junk food.

[paddywak]

In my day it was "if you don't eat it now you can eat it for your tea"

[friedgreentomato]

Perhaps the child had previously tried beans and the mother knew that the child did not like them!

[Mamyalynne]

Totally agree McM, put it on their plate - their taste buds will tell them.

[Mamyalynne]

Most of my grandchildren do not care for sprouts, always one or maybe two on their plate and now and then they do eat them.

[Old_Geezer]

Even so, the kid ought to recall that for themselves. If they didn't complain this time they must have been just making a fuss previously. Foolish thing for the mother to plant in the kid's mind.

[McMouse]

My grandmother used to say, "eat that all up, think of the starving in Africa". The grandchildren would all chorus..."send it to African them"

[pixie373]

I completely ignore which different foods my children like or dislike. Their taste buds seem to change anyway, so it seems pointless labelling that way. They get a little of everything and usually at some point they end up liking, or at least, eating it.

[Mamyalynne]

I also think you have to strike a balance, many of us may have strong feelings about certain foods too.

You would never stand over an adult dinner guest and insist they ate their mushrooms after they had announced they hated them.

[pastafreak]

Maybe she was trying a bit of reverse psychology ...don't do that-and the child does just to be difficult.

[B00]

Mine's 8 and still at the fussy stage, however we have a pact. She's to try just once any food she doesn't like the look of first, and if she still doesn't like it, it won't be served to her again.

She's often been surprised at foods she thought looked/sounded gross were in fact quite nice!

[pixie373]

I think, just put it on the plate and leave them to it. I wouldn't make an issue out of something that is very likely to be temporary anyway.

[ClaryS]

Its even worse when you're an adult and that happens. Last year I ordered grouse in a very up-market gastro-pub. The cheeky waitress (owner of pub) said 'are you sure madame? its an acquired taste you know' . Well yes a taste I acquired at the age of around 8 years old, my dad being a gamekeeper.....cheeky cow.

[pastafreak]

@ Clary....how to lose customers....she'd never be any good in sales.

[society]

I have noticed if parents, particularly the mother don't like something they always try to shy away or not expose the child/children from 'whatever'.

[Baby_Sham]

Soc, yes! Well, for me it's their father, who hates fish with a passion.
If the kids go to order something 'fishy', he'll tell them they won't like it.

[sherrardk]

Society, I am an extremely fussy eater and didn't want my children to pick up on it. Consequently, I don't eat with everyone else (apart from special meals and if we are out). I eat rubbish compared to what I give them to eat. They eat pretty much anything but are not forced to eat anything.

[society]

Good for you Sher. That's the way it should be.

Recently I had my eight-years old nephew and his Mum visited me for a month. I took them to China town and ever fruit my nephew saw he asked for it. My sister said that he would not eat 'it' because he is a picky eater. But my bright little nephew turn to his Mum and said " I may not like it but I want to experience it, then I could always say I tasted 'that'. I couldn't be more proud of him.

[Nini74]

I'm a very fussy eater - can't eat meat off the bone, or it if has fat on, and cannot stand mushrooms - but if it would encourage my son to try new things if he saw me having them, then i'd eat it with a smile on my face! i'm really proud of him when we go shopping and he points out all the fruit and veg and names it - he's only 2 and i'm so happy he knows their names, and which he likes or doesn't like. having said that, he also knows which crisps and sweets are his favourites - but I don't believe in depriving them of things like that because they'll go overboard on eating them when they have the choice for themselves at school etc (IMO) - its what I did....

[Hopkirk]

She was right though, butter beans are disgusting (and I'm 54)

[Baby_Sham]

Whaaaaaaaaattttttt?!!! You're 54?!!

i feel conned :P