The Italian Secret to Raising an Unfinicky Eater
Lisa Anderson | Lisa’s Dolce Italia
”You are what you eat from your head down to your feet.” This is an expression that many might know, but it seems the more we advance as a society, the less healthy our food becomes. As an American expat, I love going back to the States and eating all the things I miss, but I also notice how the way people eat has changed since I was a kid. As you walk down the street, how many people have food or a drink in their hands, not just water? Apparently, this was already noticeable when I came to live here in 1997, as my Italian friends pointed out at the time. While I was living in the US, I never noticed.
In Italy, it is almost impossible not to talk about food when we get together, to do what else— eat! Long, lingering meals shared with friends and family are one of the things I enjoy most about this country.
When I was a child, I, like so many other kids, was a finicky eater. I didn’t learn to like food until I was twelve when my dad made me try this horrible plate of green pasta. It was covered with pesto, and I was cynical, but my dad insisted I try it. It was a revolution. From that point on, I tried everything and learned to not just like but love food and to appreciate all the good things I was fed at home.
When I had a baby of my own, a small part of me was worried that I would end up with a child that was as picky as I had been, but luckily, I did not. The Italians have indeed mastered the art of food, and it starts when a child is weaned, with simple but tasty ingredients. When it came time to for my son to start eating solid food, our paediatrician shared this recipe:
Boil a small potato, a carrot and a zucchini until soft. For the first few weeks, you simply use the broth mixed with cereal, cream of rice, corn or tapioca, a small spoonful of extra virgin olive oil and a small spoonful of grated parmesan cheese.
The next addition is using the vegetables used to make the broth, then finely chopped meat, turkey, chicken, rabbit and beef, or fish. The cereal base is always the same. At 7 months, pastina (little pasta) can be added, and the only thing sweet is fresh fruit.
Simple, natural ingredients from the start—the key to open minds and a broad palate.
Image | Lisa Anderson
As in any culture, different flavors are slowly added, expanding the palate. The mush is slowly replaced by larger pieces as teeth come in. By not starting with a bunch of heavily processed foods, sugar and salt, the idea is that children learn to enjoy the simple, healthy foods that make Italian food so delicious. A very happy beginning to one of the most enjoyable things in life!
