My son used to be such an adventuresome eater - and then he turned two. Now that he has an opinion, he requests grilled cheese, mac-n-cheese and chicken nuggets on a daily basis. Despite my best efforts to avoid these requests, I find myself giving in to him. Most times of weakness are because my husband and I are eating later than his usual 6 p.m. dinner time or because we are eating something, I think, is more unusual for his taste.
He continues to amaze me each and every day. At two and a half he wants to please me. He is a helper and, ironically, he now wants to eat whatever I'm eating (whether he thought he wanted it or not!). And, believe it or not, I don't just eat grilled cheese, mac-n-cheese and chicken nuggets.
My husband and I are experimental cooks, we like to try new recipes and have a broad pallet. In turn, our son has eaten spicy Mexican dishes, bacon wrapped scallops, asparagus risotto, and shrimp tempura sushi with chopsticks. Don't read me wrong, we also enjoy hamburgers and hot dogs, spaghetti and meatballs, and BBQ chicken.
We also treat ourselves out to dinner with our little guy. He's tried Bang Bang Shrimp, chicken parmesan, beef fajitas, pizza and wide assortment of Chinese food. Restaurants and foods most kids his age aren't regularly exposed to.
I just love seeing him point and say, "Mama, what's that?" and try it and say, "Yummm...that's good!"
From my own experience, there are many new foods I can remember trying, from sitting at a sushi bar with my father at age 4 to traveling to Rio de Janiero at age 12 and trying papaya for the first time.
While I expect him to ask for grilled cheese, mac-n-cheese and chicken nuggets because that is what kids like, it is my hope that by exposing my son to new and unique foods, he will continue to surprise me and have a well-defined worldly outlook about food and have the willingness to try new things. I look forward to hearing what foods he remembers trying from his childhood.
