Daniel_

I love food.

I love food from all over the world.

When she was born, I took my daughter to a restaurant before I took her home (I'd been busy and there was nothing in the house).

I have never entertained the possibility that she NOT eat something. She never had "special kiddie food" when I was cooking - she had what I was making; I believe that the totality of human history shows that kids don't drop dead if you don't give them smiley face potato croquettes.

Aged 4, she was asked (at school) to draw her favourite food. The teacher showed me the picture (a load of white rectangles, and some yellow scribble) and said "She can't draw chips very well, can she".

I asked the teacher why she thought it was chips (we're in England, you might like to call them "fries"). She pointed me to the other pictures, almost all of chips.

I called my daughter over and (knowing the answer) said "What's this?".

"Penne Carbonara".

If you ask her what she wants to do for dinner, she'll most likely say "Sushi", or "Thai". When her friends come round, sometimes as a special treat we have kiddie food (like fish-fingers).

The best way to introduce you child to adult foods is not to treat it as special, I've found. If she claims not to like something (a habit she gets from my ex-wife) I ask her to explain what she dislikes, and if he can't I get her to eat some and think about the taste and texture.

A stock phrase that we've come to use in this house a lot is "you thought you didn't like it, but your tastes change as you grow up".

Good luck.

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Overhead, the Albatross hangs motionless upon the air,
And deep beneath the rolling waves,
In labyrinths of Coral Caves,
The Echo of a distant time
Comes willowing across the sand;
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PulpMind

In my experience, what will help prepare a pallete most to enjoy "unpopular" foods (especially those deemed "healthy") is watching what else is being eaten.
Kids (or humans) are not supposed to eat food that's made entirely out of sugar. Salt, however delicious it is, is almost always over used. ... if kids are eating these kinds of foods frequently, then foods at the opposite end of the flavor spectrum are going to taste horrible to kids.
My parents certainly were not hippies, but somehow I didn't eat a lot of crap as a kid, and, in turn, I've always enjoyed brussel sprouts and other health food. Never much of a fan of uncooked onions or bell peppers, though, even to this day. So maybe I'm full of shit...

spindles

My kids love sushi as well - the local sushi 'train' place is a favourite for them. Two of their favourite things - trains and sushi

They'll eat curries but it has to be at the mild end of the spectrum (which as I'm a green curry and laksa lover is a bit annoying). They'll grow up soon - meanwhile, I leave the really spicy food for when I'm out!

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