David I heard something rather interesting on this subject several years ago. It was while I was watching Lidia, the Italian chef on PBS. She reflected on tastes, smells, and food that children like. I always thought kids liked something or didn't because of individuality. She went on further to state that in homes where families cook (rather than zap in the microwave or get take-out), children are exposed to an array of smells as they grow up, even while not eating the food yet. This starts in infants.These smells become part of their DNA, so as they get old enough to try a new food to them, it is already familiar. I grew up like this, my Italian side were all huge cooks, and I seemed to not have distastes for any food my family prepared. In fact when I was a young boy my father worked swing shift, and when he was on days he would make his breakfast at 4:30 am. It ALWAYS was bacon, eggs, and fresh brewed coffee. In my sleep I could smell those smells permeating throughout the house. And to this day those smells of bacon, eggs and coffee are extremely comforting.....because they ALWAYS were.
Don't know about this. I've got two daughters that are 13 months apart. They were, obviously, exposed to same cooking smells and food options. One is very adventurous with food, the other, well waaaay not so much! Oh, and neither drinks coffee ! ! !
I am impressed, though, David. While my GF would eat shrimp until the cows came home, about the only other thing out of the water she would eat came from Mrs. Pauls.
First cam a big surprise, she unexpectedly chowed down on my mom's zuppa de pesce. I saw a glimmer of hope . . .
Now I've even got her eating Yellowfin steaks, cod, halibut, and some others. (No to salmon, so far.)
She even ate some tilapia, well that was until that episode of Dirty Jobs . . .
BD
