"grown up food"

[lorilei]

The more I listen in on conversations about what our kids eat, the more I hear people saying things like "grown up food" or "kid food".

I didn't know there was a difference. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif I think I grew up eating "grown up" food.

We've had conversations here about food aversions, favorite foods and the like. Now I'm wondering... how many of these things were developed at an early age, when we were "allowed" to make these differentiations between adult/kid food?

Any thoughts?

[This message has been edited by lorilei (edited 12-20-2000).]

[Jessica]

I do not have kids, but I spend a lot of time with nieces, nephews, neighbors etc. While some kids will eat anything, others seem to prefer very familiar foods. Also, our taste buds get weaker as we age, and young children often cannot handle strong spices and flavors.
I know I was a fussy eater as a child and outgrew it.

[Jodi]

I, too, was much pickier as a child. My mom's mom was a lousy cook, so my mom grew up on overcooked roast beef and runny mashed potatoes. My mom's repertoire (sp?) was limited as well. Meatloaf and tacos were considered fancy at our house! I had dinner at a friend's house once in third grade (I remember it like it was yesterday!) and they served lamb. I completely freaked out!

I used to be so picky, but have really broadened my horizons and eat much more "grown up" food these days. My mother is amazed when she comes to visit.
Jodi

[kwormann]

I know growing up I ate things like fish sticks, chicken patties and hot dogs, the same things my neice and nephew eat now. Wouldnt it be interesting if children in this country grew up eating mexican, chinese and indian food, so there wasnt a taste adjustment as they got older???

DH once said "kids dont like middle eastern food"...to which I replyed "then what do the kids in the middle east eat?" Dont you think if they were exposed to more, they would have more exciting taste buds???

Just my 0.2.....

Kim

[SueK]

I also grew up on meat and potatoes and many processed foods. I actually hated Chinese food for most of my life, because I always thought it tasted like Chop Suey out of a can. Then when I was in college I went to an authentic Chinese restaurant and couldn't believe my tastebuds! I think the more you expose your child to different tastes, the more they'll like. I ask my daughter to at least TRY everything. I don't care if she ends up not liking it---she might try something and end up loving it!

[sunbrie]

This grown up / kid food issue is a pet peeve of mine. I have a friend that caters to her children's tastes entirely--mac/chees, hot dogs, pizza etc. It's not that her kids don't like anything else, it's that that is the food they prefer. So they get what they prefer. My kids would prefer that food too, but there is always something in any meal that they can eat--bread, fruit, or vegetables. My youngest son ate alot of bread for dinner until his picky tastes finally expanded. I do not cater to their tastes (most of the time) and it is paying off.

[Gail]

Originally posted by kwormann:
...Wouldnt it be interesting if children in this country grew up eating mexican, chinese and indian food, so there wasnt a taste adjustment as they got older???...



You've just described a major part of my kid's diet (plus Cuban, Greek and Japanese and he was perfectly happy to try the Middle Eastern foods served at an Egyptian friend's wedding.)

Does that make him interesting? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[sneezles]

I have three sons all with different taste buds. The oldest we alsways kid becuase he will eat anything that isn't moving (except raw broccoli). The second in line has been a veggie freak(as his brothers call him) all his life (he's 16) and he use to ask for trees to eat, it took me awhile to figure out he meant the broccoli flowerettes. The third one is the pickiest, meat and potatoes guy just like his grandad. But they all like ethnic foods-Mexican, Indian and Chinese. The youngest loves Hot & Spicy shredded pork.
I guess it's because I try to cook some of the dishes at home. My mother never cooked anything out of the ordinary so my dad always told me to be adventerous and fortunately my DH is willing to eat just about anything! My kids will even eat calamari because I lied and told them it was onion rings!

[emilycat]

Originally posted by sunbrie:
This grown up / kid food issue is a pet peeve of mine. I have a friend that caters to her children's tastes entirely--mac/chees, hot dogs, pizza etc. It's not that her kids don't like anything else, it's that that is the food they prefer. So they get what they prefer. My kids would prefer that food too, but there is always something in any meal that they can eat--bread, fruit, or vegetables. My youngest son ate alot of bread for dinner until his picky tastes finally expanded. I do not cater to their tastes (most of the time) and it is paying off.

My feelings exactly.

I have very adventurous tastes, and although I don't eat many things in restaurants because of the unhealthy ways they're prepared, I like nearly everything ( except fennel, of course http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif ) and love to try new things. My 19 year old sister is the same way, but our two younger sibling's taste buds (12 and 15) are virtually limited to fast food, cheese-laden dishes and junk food.

Jennifer and I grew up eating what my mom fixed and we liked it. If we didn't like it...well, there were no other options. I guess she got tired of rules, because if Susan and John don't like what's for dinner (which is cooked approximately one time a week -- what can I say, my mom doesn't like to cook) they eat grilled cheese and bean with bacon soup.

It's very annoying.

[Natasha]

There was no distinction in our house between grown up and kid food. We cooked and ate a variety of foods from all kinds of countries, including spicy dishes. As kids, we liked most foods and dishes, but not everything, and that was accepted by our parents - but we were definitely encouraged to at least try everything. I think I was almost as adventurous about trying new things then as I am now.


[This message has been edited by Natasha (edited 12-20-2000).]

[Ohioan]

I, too, grew up eating all kinds of food -- Italian, Eastern European Jewish, Chinese, Korean, Mexican, Spanish, American, etc. -- and not knowing there was supposed to be a difference between kid food and grown-up food. There were some things I didn't like, but they were individual things that other kids did like; milk, butter, and rhubarb are three that come to mind.

As far as I can remember, too, everyone in my family, from grandparents to kids, liked trying new ingredients, new dishes, recipes from different cultures, and so on.

I should add that on both sides of my family, Jewish and Italian, food was part of the joy of living, and very nearly sacred. When I was a child, any time we dropped a bit of food on the floor, my [Jewish] grandmother expected us to pick it up and "kiss it up to heaven" to show we meant no disrespect to the food.

Do you suppose the "kid food" thing could be at least partly a self-fulfilling prophecy, i.e., if we consider some things kid food or grown-up food, kids will pick up the idea? Or maybe even an outgrowth of the fast-food culture, where people don't have respect for or serious joy in food?

I dunno. Just dithering, I guess.... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif

Hungrily,
Phoebe

[lorilei]

Originally posted by Ohioan:
Do you suppose the "kid food" thing could be at least partly a self-fulfilling prophecy, i.e., if we consider some things kid food or grown-up food, kids will pick up the idea? Or maybe even an outgrowth of the fast-food culture, where people don't have respect for or serious joy in food?


Now, Phoebe, you've stated exactly what I've been thinking! (Of course, I do ascribe to the theory that most food aversions are psychological -- so that makes me more prone to ideas like this.)

I grew up eating almost everything. And I enjoyed eating foods for which my parents expressed pleasure. Until I was almost in high school, I never knew that my mother disliked anything! She encouraged us to be adventurous and try new things. She never refused to make something that she didn't care for -- and she ate it right along with us. I never second guessed them. I grew to like anchovies because my father was just NUTS for them...

I seriously wonder... if kids weren't exposed to the idea that certain foods are "less likeable" than others, would they still dislike them?

[BarrieCov]

I was very lucky to have two very progressive parents who delighted in exposing us to all kinds of different food from a very young age. My mother enjoyed cooking, and was always experimenting with something new and interesting.

It has definitely carried over into my adulthood, as I am a real chowhound, and am always looking to explore different cuisines.

As a result, I think food appreciation is more "nurture" than "nature".

But, I still like a big old bowl of macaroni and cheese every now and then..... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by BarrieCov (edited 12-21-2000).]

[tovie]

I work with 3rd-5th graders at church and about 10 years ago I got really mad when the current group started going "ick" and making gagging noises when I was reading something about what people ate in other countries. Given that I grew up Seventh Day Adventist, there's usually weirder things on the potluck table every week than what most folks in other countries eat (bg) So I started doing a tasting program several times a year to try to put a stop to this.

I cook a variety of dishes from another country and we all try them. You don't have to eat anything you don't like but you're not allowed to say ick until you've tried it and really didn't like it (g) I've discovered that a lot of the "ick" factor is psychological, so I never tell them what's in anything until they've tried it. That they'll eat stuff and really like it and then you can watch their eyes get really big once you tell them what it is. Once we've tried everything, I'll talk a little bit about the different kinds of food and spices they have and any different cooking methods.

We've discovered some wonderful food and some not-so-wonderful food and sometimes the kids will bring their parents in and ask for recipes, which is kind of neat. The funny thing is, I've often found the adults are worse than the kids about trying stuff.

Tovie

[venus]

I am not certain where the "kid food/grown-up food" distinction comes in. Maybe this is because I don't have children, but my parents never made any distinction between our food and their food when my brother and I were growing up. We ate whatever they were eating--and some of it was pretty strange stuff. We had Indian, Thai, Greek, Italian, Mexican, English...you name it, we ate a vegetarian version of it, crammed full of "weird" foods like bok choy cabbage, Tofu Khan, tempeh, gluten, garam marsala and bamboo shoots. We were really encouraged to enjoy food and cooking. My mother's family has something of a love affair with food (which doesn't explain why they are all skinny), in the entire event of preparing and offering it to someone to eat and then eating it with them! Because of that, I have a need to find new things to eat, and so does my brother. In fact, we now think that my parents aren't varied enough in their diet.

There were "kid foods" that were treats to the entire family--spaghetti night was a big one. So was lasagna night and corn on the cob. And there were foods that my brother and I learned to thoroughly detest. I know it wasn't because we were encouraged to think they were bad--but probably because the versions that I first ate of them were prepared improperly or not as well as one might like. To this day I cannot eat a brussel sprout, since my mom burned them once and I still ate them. And Indian food makes my brother and I gag--since we had friends of the family who cooked these huge experiments full of curry and cumin. For years I associated "chinese food" with my dad's version of it--bok choy, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, carrots and whatever other veggie he liked, stir-fried with various spices. it was not until years later that I learned chinese food was actually good!

As for now-I still love "kid food"--pizza, french fries, grilled cheese, tomato soup and my favorite--mac and cheese http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by venus (edited 12-21-2000).]

[Cbyerman]

I grew up in South Louisiana, and then moved to the Middle East while in high school. I love the spicy seafood of Louisiana, and also all the Middle Eastern food. My husband grew up on the west coast, and still likes processed, un-exotic "kid" food, though now he will eat the occasional "exotic" Cooking Light recipe. We have a 1-year old baby who already likes all the "exotic" items - roasted red peppers are a favorite, along with olives, and other strong tasting foods. I attribute this at least partially to my breastfeeding of her. After she was about 4 months old, I did not restrict my diet at all. I found that the more garlic I ate, the better she nursed. Ater a big mexican meal, I noticed that her breath smelled like salsa! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Caroline

[Gail]

Originally posted by tovie:

I work with 3rd-5th graders at church and about 10 years ago I got really mad when the current group started going "ick" and making gagging noises when I was reading something about what people ate in other countries. Given that I grew up Seventh Day Adventist, there's usually weirder things on the potluck table every week than what most folks in other countries eat (bg) So I started doing a tasting program several times a year to try to put a stop to this.

I cook a variety of dishes from another country and we all try them. You don't have to eat anything you don't like but you're not allowed to say ick until you've tried it and really didn't like it (g) I've discovered that a lot of the "ick" factor is psychological, so I never tell them what's in anything until they've tried it. That they'll eat stuff and really like it and then you can watch their eyes get really big once you tell them what it is. Once we've tried everything, I'll talk a little bit about the different kinds of food and spices they have and any different cooking methods.

We've discovered some wonderful food and some not-so-wonderful food and sometimes the kids will bring their parents in and ask for recipes, which is kind of neat. The funny thing is, I've often found the adults are worse than the kids about trying stuff.

Tovie

Bless you, Tovie, for opening the kids up to new experiences and life! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[Laura]

My daughter has a very mature palate. She loves most things that I make although I do like things spicier than she does. My son on the other hand,would prefer to eat mac and cheese spaghettios. That being said I don't allow him to get away with it. When I make salmon with a ginger/citrus sauce, he just buries it in barbeque. When I make a spinach quiche, he covers it in ketchup. When I make anything w/onions or green chiles, I try to go easy on him and let him pick out what he can find. But my parents never made separate meals for me, I am not going to start. The rule is he must try everything and eat all of it if he wants dessert. If he doesn't like the main entree there are always veggies and rice/potatoes/pasta that he can eat and still have a generally healthy meal.
I can't blame him too much. I was an extremely picky eater as a child. Thankfully, I had a dog who would sit with me at the table. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[beck]

I also grew up on processed foods , but have
expanded my horizons a great deal. When my
baby was about one year old he would eat
about anything but now that he is 2 1/2
he only seems to like about 10 different things! It is very exasperating but I keep
offering him most things in hopes this is only a phase. At least he does like rutabaga.
Go figure?
I once invited our young cousin over to eat
knowing that he is very picky but I told him
we were having lasagne and he was very excited because he said it was his favorite.
When he came over and I took the lasagne out
of the oven and put it on his plate he just
picked at it and said he wasn't hungry. I found out later he only liked Chef Boy R Dee
lasagne. I guess he didn't know you could
actually make it from scratch.

[Wendy w]

Growing up, I did not have the option of being picky. I grew up in an "adultcentric" household with my mother and grandmother who were of the old school where you ate what was in front of you or didn't eat. I was also taken to nice restaurants and was expected to behave appropriately.

Grandma made some good things like chicken & rice and soup with lemon, stuffed peppers and tomatoes, lamb shanks, lamb stew, artichokes stuffed with parmesan, breadcrumbs, garlic & olive oil.

On the other hand, she broiled meat until overdone and cooked vegetables until limp. As a result of being exposed to so many types of food, there are very few things that I don't like. I truly feel sorry for those who are picky eaters as there is so much that they are missing.

My 11 year old nephew likes the usual kid things like mac & cheese, hotdogs, spaghetti-o's. He also likes cheesecake, shrimp scampi, various seafood (has requested lobster in restaurants). He also really likes pickled herring as I do-Ed would be proud. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

Wendy

[This message has been edited by Wendy w (edited 12-21-2000).]