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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why most parents don't give their toddlers any spicy food?

230 replies

laweaselmys · 25/10/2010 20:38

I understand not giving tiny babies jalepenos.

I understand (when they are confident with eating solid food say over one at least) giving them some plain options and a bit of moderately spicy stuff to try.

I don't understand waiting until they are 5, making a big fuss about it, then being surprised when they don't like it.

OP posts:
Psychommead · 27/10/2010 19:52

I used to eat quite spicy food as a child and loved it. Now spicy food upsets me and I seem to have developed a pepper intolerance Hmm

Having it from a child doesn't necessarily mean they will have a broadened palate as an adult.

spidookly · 27/10/2010 19:54

My DD (2) has started crying when she eats anything even mildly spicy, even though we had been giving her spicy things since she was weaned, pretty much.

She also refuses to eat nice sour apples now, insists on the gross big sweet horrible gala apples and turns her nose up at the lovely British cox's and such we get.

mrsnoodle · 27/10/2010 19:54

What is the obvious reason why people don't offer their children spicy food?

Crazycatlady · 27/10/2010 19:57

How is it judgey appletrees?

It would be no different from wondering why someone didn't ever offer their toddler gravy, or tomato, i.e. normal foods that are part of a pot of people's diets that there is no reason to avoid.

If a toddler doesn't like a particular food, that's another matter entirely and of course it would be a daft waste of effort and unnecessary distress to cook it and insist it be eaten.

Crazycatlady · 27/10/2010 19:58

pot lot

GrendelsMum · 27/10/2010 20:10

Gosh - is there actually a reason not to offer babies spicy food? I assumed it was just cultural, and that English people didn't eat a lot of spices. DSis's DMiL is making quite a bit of curry for baby DN.

Appletrees · 27/10/2010 21:06

Because it's not as normal as gravy is it -- it's a relatively new thing that spicy food is home-cooked in English households. And not giving it to children is probably a hangover from that. Of course! How obvious do you want it to be?

What's the most cooked spicy food in non-Asian/mixed households? Probably chilli con carne and sort of Thai stir fry. There isn't a range of dishes that you can chop and change about so it's spicy every day but something different. So kids and parents are less likely to be accustomed to it and confident with it.

So CTM is the most popular dish? Yes - eaten out, takeaway or as a ready meal -- none normally given to children as parents prefer to give their kids better quality than ready meal/take out junk food and if spicy food isn't a "norm" in the house.

Now people not of Asian heritage are cooking more Asian spicy food at home which is an easier food to give in a sort of "casserole" way ie more suitable for kids, so they're now eating spicy food more.

Jeez I can't believe people can't think this out for themselves.

Or -- maybe they can but just choose to be smug about it.

Appletrees · 27/10/2010 21:08

In case you think this is because mine don't -- I have two curry eating children. Do I win something.

EveWasFramed72 · 27/10/2010 21:10

I don't really see how people are being smug, Appletrees, I'm not really following the logic of that last post...

Most people have just talked about stuff their kids will/won't eat. Some posters don't like spicy food, so their DCs don't eat it. Some just let DCs try whatever food is available around the table, and some don't. Those are the things I'm reading in this thread...what's smug about that?

Appletrees · 27/10/2010 21:13

The op was smug and judgey, I said.

EveWasFramed72 · 27/10/2010 21:16

Really?? OP isn't condemning anyone, she is asking a general question...I don't really think there is any smugness going on...

Appletrees · 27/10/2010 21:18

of course there is

"I don't understand waiting until they are 5, making a big fuss about it, then being surprised when they don't like it."

judgey

EveWasFramed72 · 27/10/2010 21:19

Right. Confused

Appletrees · 27/10/2010 21:20

well I did say it was obvious to even the simplest mindest person but.. there we are Confused

Appletrees · 27/10/2010 21:21

oh Eve I think I've seen you around and you're nice so that was uncalled for

however this is a judgey and superior op -- she might as well be saying "what on earth is wrong with people"

no two ways about it

EveWasFramed72 · 27/10/2010 21:28

Thank you...not uncalled for, I just don't see the point you're trying to make, and I see what the OP is saying...I've seen lots of people make a huge deal out of specifically not giving DCs stuff because they vehemently believe that 's/he will not like it' without giving the DC a chance to find out...

I don't think that's being judgey, it's just being a bit Hmm . I think most of the responses here have been fairly reasoned, and conversational, which is why your post confused me...you are in the minority, that's all.

Appletrees · 27/10/2010 21:32

It's so obvious why children aren't given spicy food. The same reason children in India aren't given fish fingers every day. Is that so confusing? Plainly so, for the majority of people.

GrendelsMum · 27/10/2010 21:34

So there isn't a specific health reason not to give DCs spicy food then? It is purely cultural?

Appletrees · 27/10/2010 21:37

Isn't it common sense that if children of a different culture eat spicy food without harm then it is not harmful.

Appletrees · 27/10/2010 21:40

If you are likely to give your children spicy food then you probably eat it yourself. You will know the effects it has on your body. Does it kill you? Make you feel hot? Make you feel sick? Make your bottom burn?

You will use this information when providing food for your child.

If you don't eat it, you're less likely to be confident giving it to a kid.

Why be so "whatever can they be thinking" about it. It's so obvious.

Crazycatlady · 27/10/2010 21:48

I think we've interpreted the OP differently appletrees. When I read it, I thought it was referring to parents who probably eat spicy food themselves but wouldn't consider giving it to their children. This was an assumption on my part, and for that reason I agreed with the OP and joined in with the wondering 'why wouldn't you'?.

If it's not something routinely eaten in the home then equally, I can see the viewpoint that you wouldn't automatically think to offer it to your child.

I have encountered plenty of eyes out on stalks surprise from other people (the majority not currently parents of toddlers) who have seen me give my daughter curry that I have cooked, in a 'gosh do you really think she should be having that' kind of way. I'm not sure why, but clearly there are people who are quite comfortable feeding themselves spicy food who think it's somehow inappropriate or damaging to give it to a toddler.

I don't think any of those people are on this thread though!

Appletrees · 27/10/2010 21:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

backwardpossom · 27/10/2010 21:55

Can I thank you for this thread - I read it yesterday and it kind of dawned on me that I had never tried my (15 month old) DS with anything spicy. So, tonight, we tried him with some chilli con carne and he absolutely wolfed it down! He's been refusing food all week. Thank you thank you thank you! [hgrin]

Appletrees · 27/10/2010 21:59

ha ha good timing.. someone is happy Grin

GrendelsMum · 27/10/2010 22:00

Well, I agree. I thought we were talking about a situation where everyone is eating curry, and the DCs are also eating curry.

Where does the mashed potato come into it? Surely if you were all eating mashed potato, you'd feed the DCs mashed potato?