Do you remember the fun you had introducing your baby to new foods?
Every day was a new little adventure. You can still enjoy those adventures today, no matter their age – or yours! All it takes is a few dollars and a shopping trip. You may find that “try it, you’ll like it” is true. You’ll certainly make a memory.
My husband reminds me that every child’s food experiences are filtered through the likes and experiences of their caregiver. My childhood table was indicative of the locale and economic status of my parents. They grew up with southern cornbread and a pot of greens or beans. By the time they had me, take-out pizza was considered an exotic splurge.
So, many of my first tastes were because of and with friends.
I remember when I scraped the butter dipped flesh from an artichoke with my teeth, and when I reluctantly held a kumquat in my mouth, and when I fingered through a multitude of pomegranate seeds.
I remember my first raw, not candied maraschino, cherry and the surprise that it held such a firm burst of flavor.
I remember my first taste of mango in an oriental chicken dish and my first fresh mango drink from a bodega in Key West.
I remember my first tostones, made by a new housemate. And with these, I remember, too, my first lesson in buying plantains from a Mexican grocery in West Columbia. If nothing has changed, then deliveries come on Tuesdays.
All but one of these experiences happened after my eighteenth birthday. (The kumquat was on New Year’s Eve when I was 17 years old. I cannot remember if I ever bit down on it or if I spit it out!)
What do you remember tasting for the very first time? Have you shared all your food adventures with your older child? If so, then it’s time for you both to try something new. I happen to have a few tips just for you.
- Keep it simple. I’m not talking about new fancy recipes or odd flavor combos. Stick with fruits and vegetables that can be enjoyed raw or with the simplest of cooking.
- Start slow. Not feeling like taking on a taste risk today? Try a new varietal of something familiar. I remember my first honeycrisp apple. I was over 40 years old. It’s my go-to apple for snacking to this day. Peaches and cherries offer lots of choices that can be easily found at most grocery stores. And, if you’re willing to cook a little, the kinds of potatoes seem limitless. I found a new favorite for potato salad just this week.
- Do some basic research. Thank goodness for smartphones. You can actually research inside the grocery store or farmers market. Google tips for choosing ripe, ready-to-eat produce. (Or ask store employees or fellow shoppers.) Each one is different. At home, you’ll want to be sure to look up how to peel the fruit or vegetable. Trust me! I needed multiple instructions on plantains. Also find out what part is edible – the skin, the seeds, the flesh? It varies. And, does it require cooking.
- Shop somewhere new. Your regular grocery store may have limited choices. Certainly try a farmers market. But, for the most fun, I really enjoy ethnic stores.
This week I’m committing to two new taste tests. Dragonfruit and (unpickled, not from a jar) beets! What fruits and veggies are you putting in your cart this week?
