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The best thing you could ever pack in their lunch
boxes is a nice cold package of Lunchables, and they love beef jerky, french
fries, and pizza. But - here's the
surprise - they also sometimes get a yen for sushi, tofu, fried calamari,
artichokes, Mexican food, or dim sum. They love to eat out, and they love to eat
well.
I'm afraid I can't attribute their tastes to
any exceptional quality of their attitudes or palates. I guess it's simply a
result of continued exposure to these foods and environments. According to
Isobel Contento, a professor of nutrition education at Columbia University's
Teachers College in New York City, "Continued exposure to new foods is extremely
important. Research suggests that children sometimes need to be exposed to food
ten to fifteen times before they develop a liking to the food."
Research by Contento and many of her
colleagues supports my hunch: Any kid can learn to dine out and enjoy a broader
range of foods, if given the chance. Unfortunately, resisting the temptation to
feed kids only "kid food" ordered from "kid menus" at "kid-friendly" restaurants
is no piece of Tastycake. But if you don't, you wind up with kids whose narrow
palates and general cluelessness about restaurant behavior are the
self-fulfilling prophecies of Ronald, Wendy, and the Colonel.
I love going out to eat, but I don't love
anything that comes in a nugget or is served in molded plastic. My solution is
this: While we do consume our share of burgers and pizza, our family also
patronizes real restaurants. If you're ready to try something a little more
civilized and adventurous than another trip to KFC, here are a few tips to keep
in mind.
Tasting Tips for Kids
The journey of a thousand meals begins with a
single bite - or something like that. Here are some clues to guiding that first
morsel safely into the hangar.
- Don't make a huge deal out of the new
food in question. Start simply - just let your kids see the grown-ups eating
and enjoying it.
- While you don't want to flat-out lie,
remember the old "tastes like chicken" ploy. You might say in your most
casual tone, "Want a bite?" Then, when you're asked what it is, say, "It's
like steak" (in other words, it's venison). Or try, "Taste a bite and see if
you can guess."
- Never eschew bribes: "A quarter for the
first person who can guess what it is." "Taste it and you can pick the
dessert."
- If they absolutely hate it, do not make
them eat it. If they're not sure, you might suggest a second taste, perhaps
with soy sauce, pepper, or lemon to personalize the flavor.
Rules for Restaurants
Want to get your kids through an eating-out
experience without a meltdown? Here are a few guidelines to make it more fun for
everyone.
- Do keep paper and crayons or pens in your
purse at all times. This way, the gimmick of kid-friendly restaurants is
yours anywhere. Older kids can play hangman and "dots."
- Don't make a federal case about dressing
up. Most restaurants these days don't mind casual clothes, and by choosing
one with a relaxed dress code, you'll eliminate one area of dissent.
- Don't let kids have too much sugary soda
before the food arrives.
- Don't let the waitperson serve meals to
the kids first. If you do, the timing will get screwed up: They'll lose
patience before you've finished your main course.
- Don't bring other kids who have more
limited palates than your own do. You don't want to get an "ew" thing going.
- Do allow a field trip or two to the
bathroom or the lobby. Accompany your kids the first time to demonstrate
acceptable behavior.
- Don't let your child order some expensive
item she's never had before without having her first try an appetizer or
tasting portion.
Marion Winik is a writer and a
commentator on NPR. Her latest book is The Lunch-Box Chronicles (Vintage).
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