What does your kid eat?

As a toddler, my son ate curry. Not the seriously spicy stuff, but when he was 2 or so, his favorite foods included rice and his grandmother’s yellowish-green, Filipino version of chicken curry.

Even now, he digs ethnic food. Perhaps that’s because it was always part of his diet. But he also loves pizza and the occasional corn dog. He’ll eat broccoli but he’d rather have cookies or cake.

Matthey Amster-Burton, a Seattle food writer and author of “Hungry Monkey: A Food-Loving Father’s Quest to Raise an Adventurous Eater,” told National Public Radio that many children are able to self-regulate, so it’s good for parents to let them try all kinds of food – even the ones that are often considered taboo.

Amster-Burton advised parents “to let their kids navigate the world of food without getting between them and their plate. This includes providing access to salt, sushi, spices and, yes, sugar.”

This made me laugh, but it also hit home. I know childhood obesity is a problem and I do think our culture relies too much on pre-packaged food. But sometimes, a little sugar can’t hurt, don’t you think? Instead of keeping certain foods away from our kids, wouldn’t it be better if we encourage them to try different things and teach them to enjoy it all in moderation?

– Posted by Virginia de Leon

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