> Right. As weird as it sounds I think you have to "practice" liking certain foods.
We do. The taste buds of young children are attuned to liking sweet. Milk is sweet (lactose), and poisonous foods are usually not, so its of evolutionary use. As is switching teeth.
From what I read, it takes about 10 times till a child likes something they disliked before. Force feeding leads to trauma though; so we provide our child with options and encourage her to sample. One particular quote I use (translated from Dutch): "you don't know yet how it tastes. If you try it you'll find it out. Maybe you're missing out?" I want to stimulate her curiosity because its a trait I like (in both her parents). She won't get an alternative food though, and she will be allowed her desert regardless.
As for sour, we combine yogurt (sour) with custard (vanilla, sweet) at times. The balance is more in favor of the latter for the child; parents eat a more sour version. From my memory I disliked bitter as child (some vegetables are abundant with that taste). Now I drink coffee black daily, and love bitter vegetables, as long as the taste is combined with herbs, spices, pepper, and other flavors such as sweet/sour/salty/umami (while respecting the bitterness as being the dominant taste).
We do. The taste buds of young children are attuned to liking sweet. Milk is sweet (lactose), and poisonous foods are usually not, so its of evolutionary use. As is switching teeth.
From what I read, it takes about 10 times till a child likes something they disliked before. Force feeding leads to trauma though; so we provide our child with options and encourage her to sample. One particular quote I use (translated from Dutch): "you don't know yet how it tastes. If you try it you'll find it out. Maybe you're missing out?" I want to stimulate her curiosity because its a trait I like (in both her parents). She won't get an alternative food though, and she will be allowed her desert regardless.
As for sour, we combine yogurt (sour) with custard (vanilla, sweet) at times. The balance is more in favor of the latter for the child; parents eat a more sour version. From my memory I disliked bitter as child (some vegetables are abundant with that taste). Now I drink coffee black daily, and love bitter vegetables, as long as the taste is combined with herbs, spices, pepper, and other flavors such as sweet/sour/salty/umami (while respecting the bitterness as being the dominant taste).