However, the palate of a child fed with bland or same taste meals will not develop and this child might grow up without liking much or even developing major food phobias. By restricting the supply in terms of variety of food, textures and tastes, we might cause dietary deficiencies to a child…

Yet, there is no reason to deprive our children from a diversified cuisine who makes his taste buds travel!

Because, if the “baby” food we find in store is bland and smooth, it is only for technical and commercial convenience and not because it is what our little ones need…

Therefore, it is definitely possible to serve your kids the same meals you would prepare for yourself, even if you need to pay attention to their specific needs: no added salt or sugar, no chemical additives, adapted in taste and coming (mostly) from organic farming. Prepare them dishes with varied textures, rich in spices, aromatics and herbs which will help forget the need to add anything else as flavour enhancer! In a nutshell, a healthy and diversified diet with savours and smells to tickle their senses and that can be adapted to your whole family.

Article by Gisèle Gual, Pediatric dietitian.