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A growing number of nutritionists say it’s time for parents to
toss out most of what you think you know about feeding babies. It turns
out some of what parents believe are myths.
Three-year-old Jedidah loves garlic. So does her baby sister
Jerusha. Their mother, Susanna Jebakumari says, “When I’m
cooking, the little one who’s my toddler, she picks up and
puts a piece of garlic in her mouth, or ginger in her mouth, kind
of holds it there for two minutes, and she doesn’t make a
funny face. So I guess it’s probably a taste that they’re
used to by now.”
The girls eat food with hot pepper, curry, and chili powder—just
like their mother did in her native India. Susanna says, “Right
from the time they were in the womb, that’s what they were
used to, because I eat a lot of spicy stuff.”
Dieticians say there are many American myths about feeding babies.
One big one is…babies should eat bland foods, like oatmeal
and rice cereal.
Rachel Agnew, a registered dietician in metro-Atlanta says, “So
giving your child or introducing them to those spices and different
varieties of flavors may in fact lead to healthier eating habits.”
A growing body of research shows that what a baby eats early
on will shape choices in the future. Susanna says, “I can
see it in my older daughter. She doesn’t eat half as much
candies or sweet things as a normal three-year-old does, but she
prefers spicy foods.”
Agnew says, “One reason why variety is better is because
it does expose you to a variety of nutrients. So if you eat the
same types of foods every day, you’re probably going to get
the same types of nutrients, the same calorie levels, and so on
every single day.”
For lunch today? A pastry loaded with turkey, potatoes, and every
spice you can imagine. Susanna rattles off the list of ingredients. “Chili
powder, tomatoes, onions, garlic, ginger,” she says.
The American Dietetic Association says it’s also a myth
that feeding babies fruit before vegetables will breed a sweet
tooth.
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