Today I got to try out a German cafe in our area. I had a delicious kale and sausage soup

and a salad with freshly made bleu cheese and dill dressing. Quite delightful. {My dad got some potato salad that I would love to make! Fresh dill and cucumbers and ham, eggs and potatoes as far as I could tell. Just wonderful!} Then as we were leaving the cafe, we saw a waitress delivering a large piece of layered lemon cake topped with whipped cream and strawberries. Oh, if I could do the gluten, I would have been sorely tempted to order a piece to go!

So, I’m wondering how you’re feeling about trying new foods?

Do you feel like you are eating the same things over and over and over again? And do you think that your kids wouldn’t like new flavors or textures? I am amazed at what kids will eat when they are exposed to it. My little granddaughter for instance loves to sit on my lap and eat Grandma Sunny’s green salad with rice vinegar and olive oil for dressing. She eats all of the ingredients, from celery to craisins showing no pickiness at all. She also eats curry and spicy food and pretty much anything that is prepared. {Would you say that’s right my daughter?} Remember that children need to be exposed to healthy foods at a very early age and more than once! More like ten times! So be sure not to label likes or dislikes after the first taste!!! We grow into many tastes and textures as we have more experience with them, so it is a parent’s job to train the tastes of their kids. And you can!

It seems that sometimes we get into thinking that kids will only eat bland junk food and that we can’t expect them to eat anything really flavorful.

But, what I guess is that many parents have very limited food experience and therefore a short list of things they will eat.

And I can relate. I was 30 before I tasted Thai food for the first time…and then it was love at first bite!

So, I offer you just a nudge: challenge yourself to try something new each day or each week and get used to a broader variety of not only vegetables and fruits but also different taste combinations. It is such a blast! Swap recipes with people you  know that are good cooks. Look up recipes with taste combinations you’ve never tried {coconut milk and cilantro and peanut sauce was a kicker for me!} and have some food adventures!

Life is too short to each mac n’ cheese every day! Besides, it won’t help your health or your palette!

I wish you well.

Love,

Jacque