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AIBU?

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To season my 3 year olds food?

114 replies

amidsummernightsdream · 07/05/2024 16:19

Dd has just turned 3. Eats the same as us and generally eats well. Up until now I have always plated her serving up without salt and then seasoned ours after.

Recently she’s been a little more fussy around certain foods including veg but tbh a lot of things taste bland and unappetising without salt, particularly veg!

When I have added (a small amount) of salt with butter she is more likely to wolf it down.

Tonight we’re having pan fried fish, asparagus, broccoli and new potatoes done with garlic, herbs and butter.

It’s 50/50 if she will eat this but I imagine if I seasoned it like ours (nothing crazy!) she’d eat it. Butter, salt, whats not to like?

Would I be unreasonable to lightly salt some of my 3 year olds food on a semi regular basis to encourage her to eat I wider variety of nutritious food she would otherwise likely not eat?

OP posts:
WitchWithoutChips · 07/05/2024 16:59

I see my view is against the grain but the reason most people eat too much salt is because they eat too much processed food. A child whose diet is almost entirely made from scratch likely takes in very little salt and in this case I think you can be a bit more relaxed about seasoning with a tiny, tiny bit of salt.

CutthroatDruTheViolent · 07/05/2024 16:59

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I don't either tbh.

CutthroatDruTheViolent · 07/05/2024 16:58

Why are so many people completely ignoring what foods OP has posted? She's not saying add salt to a Happy Meal, she's saying add salt to some fish, veg and spuds!

Yes I would absolutely be offering her foods that have been cooked properly, with a little salt. Unsalted foods taste of basically nothing, salt is needed to bring out the flavour. And butter without salt is just fat. Unappetising fat.

And don't add after. Add while cooking. Pasta, veg, potatoes should be cooked in salted water.

PS I have three teen boys and have added salt to their food once they got to about 1. Two out of the three eat anything, but none of them have any allergies or health issues of any kind.

loverofalmonds · 07/05/2024 16:58

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loverofalmonds · 07/05/2024 16:57

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spriots · 07/05/2024 16:57

To put some context on salt - a slice of bread contains around 0.5g of salt and about the same in a slice of cheddar. So if you regularly feed your 3 year old a cheese sandwich, you're easily giving them the equivalent of a pinch of salt on some veg.

It's not a big deal but people get weirdly pearl clutching about it

loverofalmonds · 07/05/2024 16:56

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amidsummernightsdream · 07/05/2024 16:56

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@loverofalmonds I didnt say for all. I said generally

OP posts:
nonottoday · 07/05/2024 16:55

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Yes, that's why she said 'generally' *sigh.

amidsummernightsdream · 07/05/2024 16:53

@PeloMom this is exactly my view on it

Prooerly cooked veg is the food of the gods. Badly cooked veg is rank

and by properly cooking I dont mean salt necessarily but timings and method etc too but for me salt plays a part in that

Why not make veg as appetising as possible so kids enjoy it so they dont want the processed crap or plain pasta alternative

and just to reiterate again im talking about tiny amounts amongst an otherwise balanced diet

OP posts:
loverofalmonds · 07/05/2024 16:52

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loverofalmonds · 07/05/2024 16:51

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loverofalmonds · 07/05/2024 16:50

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nonottoday · 07/05/2024 16:50

If you can get Celtic salt even better :)

nonottoday · 07/05/2024 16:49

Depends - if she eats mostly whole foods, then a little salt on the veg is fine (universally accepted as making veg taste nicer, btw!)

If you give her processed stuff including bread - I'd be less inclined to, but honestly, either way (unless her diet is mostly UPF) I wouldn't be grabbing for the clutching pearls!

spriots · 07/05/2024 16:48

Salt does make things taste better.

I think a tiny sprinkle on plain veg is better than her not eating vegetables.

Also depends what else she eats - if her diet is generally homemade food without salt, I really can't see the harm. If she eats a lot of processed snacks, I might be more careful with added salt.

PeloMom · 07/05/2024 16:45

amidsummernightsdream · 07/05/2024 16:42

I’m happy to accept IABU but I cant accept anyone saying adding salt to veg is strange or doesnt make it taste better

Come on guys that’s ridiculous

Maybe you personally dont like it and that’s fine but i think it’s generally accepted that adding a small amount of salt doesnt make it taste better.

Right?? No wonder most people don’t eat enough veg and actively dislike them- they’ve never had them cooked and seasoned (including a little salt) properly. As per the NHS link someone provided age 1-3 is limited to 2g salt per day- that’s a tonne of salt given how much they eat so a small sprinkle on the veg is not a big deal. Also salt provides important minerals.

CowboyJoanna · 07/05/2024 16:44

Mumtoasdboys · 07/05/2024 16:31

It’s fine. My ds is 3 and under the care of a consultant and dietician - his diet consists of the following each day:
-pack of mini ritz crackers , 8 oz aptamil and a banana for breakfast. 2-3 packs of crisps a raw carrot and a cup of water for lunch , dinner is a pack of ritz crackers, plain pasta with ketchup , a pack of crisps and before bed another 8 oz aptamil . I was concerned about the amount of salt but the dietician said not to worry he’s fine and it’s ok so I think you are way off a dangerous amount op !

I must say, that is a very strange diet.
Crisps and carrot for lunch?? Baby milk at age 3?
Why is he not eating sandwiches?
Or proper hot meals?

amidsummernightsdream · 07/05/2024 16:43

Sorry does!! That sould have said 🙈

OP posts:
amidsummernightsdream · 07/05/2024 16:42

I’m happy to accept IABU but I cant accept anyone saying adding salt to veg is strange or doesnt make it taste better

Come on guys that’s ridiculous

Maybe you personally dont like it and that’s fine but i think it’s generally accepted that adding a small amount of salt doesnt make it taste better.

OP posts:
mitogoshi · 07/05/2024 16:37

I wouldn't be adding salt anyway, it's not good for you though I buy salted butter. I haven't cook veg with salt or added salt my whole adult life

loverofalmonds · 07/05/2024 16:36

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loverofalmonds · 07/05/2024 16:35

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Isitisit · 07/05/2024 16:34

I think it depends a lot on how much processed food she otherwise eats. If you cook every meal from scratch a small amount is fine. If she has a snack or meal with salt in elsewhere in the day than no. Salt guidelines are strict as they generally assume people are feeding some processed food (even if it’s just supermarket bread).

Overthebow · 07/05/2024 16:33

Do vegetables need salt? I do add seasoning to our meals that our DC eats as we eat all together, but I add a little bit when cooking, for example when making spaghetti bolognese. I wouldn’t add additional salt after food is cooked and would never add to vegetables, they’d be a bit strange salty.

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