Radishes and Onions?

How many 2 year olds like radishes and onions? Mine does….

She was sitting on the counter while I sliced red onions for a salad and politely said “I try some,” like she does to everything as I prepare dinner. I let her after warning her that onions can be hot when they are raw. Her response, “I like onions.” She likes radishes too and asks for more at dinnertime. How funny!

I wonder what it is about her taste buds that give her this liking to “adult” foods.

One thing that may contribute to her unusual taste is that we have never assumed she needed “kid” food and she is always given the same thing we have for dinner. I put mild spices in our food and always have since she started eating solids and I never give her plain cheese pizza, she always gets all the fixings.

Children enjoy flavors and many other countries spice up their children’s food with mild spices, why give them bland foods when there is so much to taste! Here is an idea of some spices you can use: vanilla, pepper, garlic powder, basil, rosemary, dill, oregano, lemon zest, ginger, cinnamon, mint, nutmeg, anise.

Try putting some cinnamon on some chunked apples
Add rosemary and oregano into plain bread crumbs and make your own “chicken nuggets” out of chicken breast
Nutmeg is a great addition to eggs
Add vanilla or almond extract to oatmeal
Blend basil together with olive oil, pine nuts and parmesan cheese to make a pesto dip (my daughter loves this with pita chips)
Try some lemon zest on brocolli
Mint is good minced with some cucumber

We hope you will try some of these ideas and broaden the palette of your child’s taste buds!