When I can stop eating Bland Food!

[DoubleLifeIsALifeHalved]

I love chilli, I love curry, I love spicy, herby beautifully gorgeous adult food!

When can I start trying to get ds (aged 2.8yr) to eat more of what I like to eat? I can't cook separately for him & me so end up eating a dull bland diet and am so sick of it... I can't add chilli after as it's not the pure kick am after its the beautiful depth & roundness chilli & spice gives a meal.

I want to eat dhal, channa masala, sauces with olives & capers, chilli or at least tomato sauces with some depth & character!

It all went well with blw, but now am stuck in a toddler diet rather than him joining mine!

I am indian and have consistently given my children spicy indian food.

Why can't DS eat what you eat now?

It's good to get used to different tastes from a young age. My DS was on the same diet as us by the age of 1. He is now 14 and always chooses the Vindaloo when we go out for a curry.

We just cook as normal for 16mo DD, depending on how i'm cook if if things are particularly spicy i either take her portion out early before adding the heat, or more regularly I add a big dollop of creme fraiche or similar to hers to mellow it. She seems to really enjoy mildd spice and strong flavours so far.

My 10 mo twins eat spicy lentil dahl or thai curry with chili in. I mix some yoghurt into their portion if its too hot for them.

When I was feeding DD she got what we ate. Chilli, curry etc and she loved it and still does.

Oh and they eat olives and capers too. And sardines, anchovies, parmesan, sundried tomatoes, garlic etc. They love strong tadting food. Won't eat carrots or mash unless loads of flavours to hide the blandness!

The only thing you have to avoid is salt! No reason for "toddler food" to be bland.

You could try de-blanding food gradually. DD is 18 months and likes curry, gherkins and stinky French cheese. In fact she likes some flavours stronger than I do. I guess all you can do is try your dc and see how far you can push persuade him.

We've always given our DC's curries, chillies etc, and put lots of herbs etc in the food that we cook. As others do, we cool it down with yoghurt if needed, but they can take pretty hot stuff! DS1 is not quite three and is more adventurous than I was when I was 20 with his tastes!

So, go for it .

Unfortunately the real question is why did you start eating bland food?

Even very hot curries can be made suitable for a 6mo old with yogurt or cream or coconut milk - all of which are good for baby to eat, and had you done that then DS would certainly be happy by now - like most others here DD eats exactly what we eat including plenty of hot and spicy food.

Start cooking it again, use yogurt or something appropriate to reduce the heat and DS will soon get used to it.

Mine west straight on to full on spice. My dd (8) now had dried chilli on her meals just like her West Indian father. I cant even touch it with my fingers without feeling the burn.

I'd got into the rut of giving 2.5yo DD a separate, blander meal, having done BLW to avoid cooking separately when she was little

Now we're weaning DS I've started cooking just once again - they eat what we have or toast if they try it and don't like it. If its something I like to be very spicy, I take DD and DS's portions out, then add extra chilli for me and DH.

Mine have always eaten what we eat. Nothing bland about it.

We went to my uncle's in June and he has a 2 year old. He has always given him bland food, he steams everything (including the bloody chicken) and doesn't add herbs or anything. HIs child hardly eats at home but stuffs his face with the lovely well cooked meals he gets at his nursery. When we arrived there was a BBQ going on for the adults and the children were served this horrible plate of plain pasta and steamed chicken breast and veg. My children who eat absolutely anything (except potato for ds1) refused point blank to eat it.

i have always just given mine whatever we are having, if i think something like a curry is too spicy i would just add a bit of cream or creme fraiche to their portion but mine like spicey food tbh, they are used to it, ds2 is a big fan of tobasco sauce and adds extra to his dinner!

I agree that the ideal is that they eat what you eat, but some children are more sensitive and fussy than others about food (and life in general), and you can't always force it.

I don't see what's wrong with giving them different food to what the rest of the family eats, most toddler food is very quick to prepare (chopped raw veg, rice cakes, fish fingers, tuna, unflavoured sliced meat, hummus etc) and if they will eat stuff like the rice / potato / naan bread / popadums that the rest of the family is having that night then bung some of that on their plate too.

There's no need to be a martyr to kids food, I have never eaten only what my DC will eat, I'd go mad!

The organics vegetable krona was the only jarred savoury either of My DDs would reliably eat.

It's not chillies, but it's definitely rich and aromatic.

Gara masala (sp) is your friend, then a bit of chilli.

Really depends on the type of spicy food you are eating. Like others say, curries are easy to tone down with yoghurt. Now try Sichuan food. I have yet find a way to serve toddler that! It is filled with dried chilies cut open with seeds, and hot numbing peppercorns. The seeds and the peppercorn sadly makes DD cries. Same with the red hot chilli oil.

Oh good! So am not being awful by trying to get my own taste back!

When we did blw it all went v well but then I got ill (long term) & had to let others feed ds, so within 2 days he wouldn't touch water (thanks childminder who gave him juice drinks & rubbish when specifically asked not to!) ... & gradually he stopped eating 'proper' food & now loves all the bland rubbish I never wanted him to eat let alone me to eat!

How should I get him to try other food? Just serve food I like (toned down if nec), & give him toast/ rice / something on the side that I know he will eat? Or go cold turkey? How much should I worry about him getting rounded nutrition?

My six year old doesn't like spicy food. She will eat flavor - garlic, ginger, coriander, but not spice.
Dh and I do, but not all adults do. I don't worry about it, I just give her something else or take out her food before I add extra chilies.

How about just trying it one day? Its not the end of the world if he has a poor meal one evening, just tone the spice down and make sure he eats something (even if its just the rice). If it goes disastrously then leave it a few more days and try something different/milder.

Yes I will, you've steeled my resolve!

It's spice AND flavor he now doesn't like... So back in with the garlic & herbs is a real basic thing for me, & then we'll see about spices.

He has turned into such a faddy eater... Won't eat rice if it's been touched with a sauce, won't eat veggies if not the right shape & separated from each other- argh where did my good eater go!