> > This raises the question: should those of us
> > who are parents be forcing our kids to eat
> > foods they do not like? We could, without
> > realizing it, have spawned one of these
> > "supertasters," and in some cases, wouldn't
> > forcing them to "clean their plates" be akin to
> > torture?
>
> Assuming my opinions don't change before I actually have kids, I'll certainly make them *try* anything, make them eat enough of *something* to get proper nutrition, and not let them eat dessert without eating a proper meal first. But I don't think I would make them eat something they truly don't like, assuming that they like enough other things that they can eat nutritiously. (As a kid, my mother could count on her fingers how many kinds of food she liked.)

I have three children whose eating habits and tastes are all different. My youngest daughter has had a liking for Brussell sprouts and green olives since she was five. My middle child, now twelve, had an aversion to anything with fat. She loved fried liver because that "steak" had no fat! My son, now fourteen, would seldom eat anything spicy...

They are all changing the ways they are eating. Each one will try new things now, where before, when they were younger it was "no way" that is gross..looks gross, smells gross...

Whenever we had something new to try, I insisted they try two bites. The first one was to taste it, and the second one was to figure out if they really liked it or not. I was not always successfull in getting my kids to round out their pallets, but they are not afraid to try new things.

My point in all this is that if you can at least get your children to try, they will eventually figure out which of an infinite variety of foods they will enjoy and not be afraid to experiment with new foods.

My middle daughter will not eat cooked vegetables...to ensure that she gets her nutrients, I give her raw veggies.

Ar"I hate Brussell sprouts but like liver"ley