Don't Make Assumptions

Monday Morning Breakfast

Did you know that various sources say that it can take anywhere from 10-20 tries, before a baby (toddler or child) will take to a new food (sources here, here, and here)? Here's one of my real life examples of this phenomenon:

• At about 14 months, we gave the girls citrus fruits for the first time. We offered mandarin oranges, naval oranges, tangerines, clementines, etc. They hated it all!
• At 18 or 19 months, we tried a few more times. They still hated all things citrus, except for the occasional piece of lime. 
• Earlier this winter, I gave the kids oranges. They love them! 

While it turns out they now adore oranges, clementines, and the like, I decided not to push my luck. Last week, Steve bought some grapefruits. One evening, Steve peeled a graefruit for us and oranges for the girls. The minute Veronica and Clarissa were in their booster seats, they were asking for the grapefruit they saw on the table. Not only did they ask for it, they loved it. Yesterday morning, I sectioned two big ones, and I only got a couple pieces. The gals gobbled up the rest. 

Even though I knew it can take many tries, I still made a faulty assumption. I jumped to the conclusion that, since it took so long to get the girls to enjoy sweet, juicy oranges, that bitter, sour grapefruit would be a no-go. Maybe I was right. Perhaps they would have hated grapefruit, had they tried it last winter; but maybe they would have loved it. 

The moral of the story? Don't assume your child won't like a new food. And if they don't on the first try, don't give up. You don't have to force your kids to eat anything, but you can keep offering it to them. Their tastes will change, develop, and mature. Oh, and don't think your kids will hate the same foods you do. C and V adore beets and I think they are positively foul!

Now that my lesson on feeding toddlers is done, please cast your vote. Just three more days, then I promise not to bug you about it again (until next year).