“Food and love are so bound up, it’s sometimes hard to see where the sugar ends and the love begins.”
Bee Wilson, author
The First Bite: How We Learn to Eat
Mothers, did you know that what you eat while you are pregnant affects your babies likes and dislikes for food?
Yes, if you love garlic-laced foods, the smell is evident in the amniotic fluid. Garlicky food will be familiar and desired by your growing baby.
If your baby is breast fed, he will be used to varying flavors, as what a mother eats affects the flavor of her milk. If your baby is fed formula, she will expect a consistent flavors to her food, as the formula has a constant taste.
All humans are hard-wired for sweetness. At this point, you’re probably saying “Duh!”
I really enjoyed an interview on NPR’s Fresh Air on February 4th: In Baby’s First Bite: a Chance to Shape Your Child’s Taste.
If you are a frustrated feeder of picky eaters, this one’s for you.