To season my 3 year olds food?

[amidsummernightsdream]

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?

I wouldn’t add salt to any food for children, there’s more than enough in convenience foods and processed stuff already.

but herbs, a bit of black pepper, unsalted butter, bit of cream cheese… there’s many other ways to add interest. Even the vast majority of adults shouldn’t be having salt added to food as standard, and it can be toxic to kids.

YABU to season with salt it is bad for your health and it is in lots of things already.

By all means use herbs, garlic, paprika etc but no three year old needs salt on top of the salt already present.

Butter fine. Salt no

You could try adding the butter without the salt, see how it goes.

Seasoning makes all the difference in my experience (mines 5). Go ahead and give that kiddo some of that delicious food!

I’d still avoid salt but there’s lots of other ways to add interest, black pepper, herbs, lemon, chilli flakes, butter etc. I let mine chose their own toppings

@loverofalmonds I will test it tonight.
When I have tried in the past, she does seem to eat it. It’s not like she doesn’t eat veg at all, it just depend what mood she’s in.
However, I feel a bit guilty of adding the salt. Hence my aibu for doing it if it does work?

No, I wouldn’t add salt at that age as I think there’s something to do with small children being unable to process salt.

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/food-types/salt-in-your-diet/

I couldn't get worked up about salted butter

But actually adding salt to the food - no

I do understand salt isnt healthy and to clarify I dont and wont be adding it to everything eg if i made a shepherds pie, pasta dishes etc but i think veg on its own or a plainer dish like this Im considering it

She generally eats very well and no processed food

I think the suggestions to with butter and herbs etc first are sensible but we already do that

We add the tiniest crack of salt to our kids' food as they love the action, and it makes them feel included. We also happily add pepper.

Butter with some garlic or similar is a good way to give any blander vegetables some taste.

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 would try to go as long as you can without salt. They might get to a point otherwise where they won't like the taste of food without it. Other seasoning is fine.

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.

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).

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

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.

Sorry does!! That sould have said 🙈

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?

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.

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.

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!