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Are children's food preferences getting very sophisticated?

(9 Posts)
MamaCaz Mon 28-Mar-16 21:06:48

Oh, and the DGC have always grazed in my garden from spring to autumn, helping themselves to whatever fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs they can find. Interestingly, there are quite a few vegetables that they will happily eat in large quantities raw, straight out of the ground, yet turn their nose up at when cooked and / or served on a plate!

MamaCaz Mon 28-Mar-16 21:00:33

I wonder why Gransnet has labelled this thread (on Facebook): "Are children becoming more picky eaters?"
I always thought that "picky eaters" were those who will only eat a small variety of foods and are unwilling to try anything new, whereas most of the children being described on here are the exact opposite of that, aren't they?

My GC are much more adventurous than I was as a child, and will try most new foods to see if they like them. Their parents encourage this and give them a very varied diet, though I suspect that they would still eat pasta or something with chips at every meal if they were given the choice!
They came for a sleepover on Thursday, and when I asked them later what they had enjoyed the most, I expected them to mention the torchlight wildlife walk we did in the woods as it was coming dark, but DGS (age 4) instantly replied "dinner", which had simply been fish, chips and peas!

NanaandGrampy Mon 28-Mar-16 14:41:59

Ours have certainly been exposed to far more choice in food than I ever was. They all love a roast and pretty much anything homemade. The two oldest like fish especially smoked mackerel or salmon.

The two youngest will try anything but are currently at the stage where as long as you're eating it too they'll give it a go.

We took our 9 year old granddaughter swimming at our gym recently and we decided to stop for lunch after. Grampy handed her the children's menu which she read, and then asked to see his menu.

When done she handed it back and said 'I'd like the salmon on wilted spinach with sweet potato mash please'. No chicken nuggets for that girl !!!

Elrel Mon 28-Mar-16 13:41:33

Oldest GS has munched on dried chilli peppers as a snack since he was 3. Youngest brother, at 9, became a dab hand at producing sushi, his friends enjoy having a go with him when they come to tea!
A couple of Christmases ago 'Cake in a Mug' and 'Meal in a Mug' books they found in their stockings got plenty of use.

Liz46 Mon 28-Mar-16 13:03:32

My small grandchildren devour freshly picked, lightly cooked asparagus when it is in season. In fact anything that they pick themselves from our allotment is appreciated.

Luckygirl Mon 28-Mar-16 12:51:01

Smoked salmon and olives are my 7 year old DGS's favourite - there's posh!

Synonymous Mon 28-Mar-16 12:36:38

It depends entirely on the family attitude to food and what they make available to their children.

tanith Mon 28-Mar-16 12:01:00

Depends on how the kids are introduced to different foods sounds like your lot have had experience of lots of different types which can only be a good thing. My youngest granddaughter is similar she will try anything and just loves to choose her own meal wherever she is taken , she loves sea food and will happily order squid, mussels and all kinds of sushi. Some of its not to my taste.
Kids get to travel abroad much more which helps them to sample new tastes..

Craftycat Mon 28-Mar-16 11:28:15

Easter Sunday lunch so I made Cadbury Crème Egg Brownies as a dessert- thinking the grand children would love them. All the adults had them & loved them ( oh they were gorgeous) but all but one child opted for cheese & biscuits instead.
Maybe they were totally chocolated out by then but it made me think.
Very fussy 6 year old will always ask for chicken korma given a choice.
They will all devour a Chinese chicken dish I make as well as Greek & Mexican food but they are not so keen on Shepherd's Pie or similar. They do always demolish a roast dinner to be fair. Last week we had a family celebration meal at an Indian restaurant & they all had a form of curry- even the 18 month old. The older 4 all chose they own dish too.
I was unusual as a child as my Mum was a really keen cook & I had my first Chinese at the age of 12 months I am told. She cooked a lot of 'foreign food' & this was 1950s . I remember well being carted round Soho looking for bird's nests so she could try making soup- I'm not even sure now that is what goes into it but she was convinced.
I expect that is why I have always been keen on trying something unusual. I'm sure I would have gone for the Brownies though!!