When did you start adding salt to your child’s food?

[Hope54321]

When did you start adding salt to your child’s food?

My grandparents used to sprinkle salt on celery.

But celery is always going to raise rank no matter what you put on it!

We stopped portioning off DD1’s food before increasing salt etc at around 1, but I think we did it too early. She’s 3 now and resolutely insists that she doesn’t like Daddy’s cooking…DP is an outstanding cook, always works from scratch but does go for full flavours so includes a lot of spices and garlic. I think this put DD1 off and we should have left it a bit later.

Gallingly for DP, he says that the reason he learnt to cook for himself young was that his parents are very traditional meat and two veg people, don’t use any kind of salt or herbs/spices and overcook everything to a mushy texture. However, they look after DD1 four days a week in term time and she openly adores their cooking 😂

The only time I use salt is in the water for potatoes if I am going to mash them. Otherwise I never use it, not even on chips.

My food tastes lovely and DH agrees. When we eat out a lot of the food just tastes of salt

Never, can’t see why you would? They are 15 & 17 now

I agree with this. Interestingly my sister drowns her food in salt whereas I hate salt. I only put salt on sliced fresh tomato and scrambled eggs

This sounds as if you are only considering salt as an additive to a cooked meal. Rather than as an ingredients during the cooking process before it goes on the plate.

The two result in different outcomes.

I don't use salt when cooking, have had the same pot of salt for 15 years! My dinners taste fine to me which is all that matters I guess. Whenever I have eaten meals with salt that's all I can taste- no flavour just salt. I do love it on chip shop chips though!

Woah woah woah don't need to add garlic? Garlic is the main ingredient

@DigitalGhost

Woah woah woah don't need to add garlic? Garlic is the main ingredient

Well, yes, quite. But the point stands. It's not technically "needed".

I hate garlic.

The only thing they put salt on is chips once in a while. Never in cooking for any of us.

Never tbh and nor to adult food, the exception being roast potatoes. I use lots of pepper though

Still haven't and they're 12 and 14. We cook from scratch every day and don't add salt.

I dont understand this thread and everyone saying they dont add salt at all. Do you not add salt to boiling water when you boil pasta or potatoes? Add salt on steak? Add salt to flavour curries or tacos? Salsa or guacamole? no salt?! it would be incredibly bland.

I cook from scratch and never add salt. Hot bland at all… use loads of spices, onions and garlic etc and all delicious. My kids have not had salt added to home cooked food ever

@RussianSpy101

Cucumber sprinkled with salt?!? That’s a joke surely?!

People do realise you can season food without adding salt, yes?

Not a joke. Draws out some of the moisture, brings out the flavour of the cucumber. You don't need much (salt that is). It's how you make salad taste of more.

To answer the OPs question, I did BLW mainly so kids always ate our food. We cut salt quite a bit and have never gone back to the original salt levels (kids now 7 & 9), but we never did 0 salt

Never, I don't add salt to my food, why would I for my children.

Your question pre-supposes that we should be doing that, where is that coming from?

@UnshakenNeedsStirring

I dont understand this thread and everyone saying they dont add salt at all. Do you not add salt to boiling water when you boil pasta or potatoes? Add salt on steak? Add salt to flavour curries or tacos? Salsa or guacamole? no salt?! it would be incredibly bland.

No, I think I can confidently say that I have never added salt to any boiling water. I don't eat steak so can;t answer that one and if I added salt to curries that's all I would be able to taste, I can't stand salty food

The answer should be never.

My little girl didn't know salt existed until my mum put salt on her eggs. Since that she's obsessed and loves it. I often pretend I'm putting it on as she now asks for it. She says it doesn't taste likes grans salt 😂 she's 4.

As someone that likes salt too much, I know it's not good for you so my thinking was she won't miss what she's not had.

@GiveMeMyKeys

Never, I don't add salt to my food, why would I for my children.

Your question pre-supposes that we should be doing that, where is that coming from?

Is this an english thing, not putting salt on food?? (Besides due to severe health problems)

I can't imagine anyone from where I'm from even having that thought tbh!!

Totally surprised at how many on this thread Cook without salt as a seasoning. I'm sorry, but a curry or chilli, or bolognaise or chops, would be utterly bland without it. I know you think it isn't, but it really is.
I used much less when cooking for my BLW children and still probably use a little less now.

@GiveMeMyKeys

Never, I don't add salt to my food, why would I for my children.

Your question pre-supposes that we should be doing that, where is that coming from?

Well we’re an asian family who live on curry most of the time. Can’t imagine a curry without salt. I don’t know anyone in person who doesn’t add salt during their cooking. Definitely surprised by the responses on this thread.

I guess I may be confused be the question

I don't add salt to kids food at the table (aside from occasional chips) but salt does get added to cooking water for veg, sauces and yes, salad. Not a huge amount, a fraction of what is in processed foods

Just been reminded of this. www.theguardian.com/science/2018/aug/09/salt-not-as-damaging-to-health-as-previously-thought-says-study

If I ate no salt I would eat a fraction of the green veg I do. Steamed broccoli is fucking dull. Steam in salted water & it's less dull (add some oyster / soy sauce and it's 10 times less dull and you actually want to eat 2 or more of the five portions a day). If you avoid processed foods alongside this you'll be within the recommended levels (for adults, with kids you prob do need to watch things like soy sauce) but the article linked would suggest these levels may be a bit on the cautious side

Steamed broccoli without salt is delicious.. not bland at all! Am surprised by how many people add salt to food and to boiling water. I don’t think my food is bland at all.. each to their own

The only thing I put salt in is home made bread. I cook quite a bit from scratch and stuff doesn’t taste bland. I can’t think of any curry recipes or pasta recipes I have in my numerous recipe books which have salt in the ingredients. 🤷‍♀️

I'm going to try adding salt for a bit to see if I can taste the difference, I've never added salt to anything when cooking!