Kids' Palate

I never understand when someone says that their kids don’t eat this vegetable or that vegetable. I have two kids and my kids eat all vegetables and that too without me forcing them. I understand when an American says that, as they don’t have curries like us, they just boil the vegetables and eat or eat them raw, both of which don’t taste good, I agree. But for an Indian, saying that your kid doesn’t eat vegetables is not excusable.


We have so many different ways to cook, so many different varieties to make, to eat with rice or rotis, or just make yummy patties to make a burger. I think we have the largest variety of vegetables in India. Each vegetable can be cooked in 101 ways and the kids do like variety and sure appreciate spices rather than bland food.

Giving up is something we parents should never do. When a kid doesn’t like a vegetable it may not mean that he or she doesn’t like that particular vegetable, it could be that they don’t like it the way it is made. Next time when you use that vegetable make it in a different way, and you never know, your kid might like that vegetable very much. Trail and patience is all it takes to make a kid eat.

It is said that whatever a kid eats before it is one year old is not remembered, but from the age of one to five is the crucial age, when the kid develops tastes, likes and dislikes. This is the age when you should make them try all vegetables; make them try all varieties of food. It is a wrong notion that you should feed a toddler certain types of food only; they don’t digest all kinds of food. You bet they do! It is very easy for babies and kids to digest everything. There is a saying, “Kids can digest stones too.” Very true, though not literally. So never fear about the little tummy, it never troubles your toddler!

I never give my kids a choice of vegetables, whatever I cook, they have got to eat, though I do understand when they eat more of a certain vegetable and a little of another. If it is on their plate, they have got to eat it, that’s a rule. Well, incidentally, my kids love my cooking, and so the most unusual vegetable is also liked by them if I make it to suit their palate. No repetition of vegetables frequently, or stale food, I cook twice a day, and so the freshness of taste is the key ingredient. And of course, a generous dash of my love too!