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Cynthia Lair has been a member of the nutrition faculty at Bastyr University since 1994. She also stars in the humorous online cooking show Cookus Interruptus.

The Macaroni Syndrome

Or how we teach our kids to be picky eaters

February 28, 2008

We give the power of deciding what to feed our children away to food manufacturers and let them train our kids’ taste buds to prefer poor-quality food. Here’s how:

Choosing formula over breast milk. We buy into the myth that it is more convenient and that it is somehow the same (or better!).
When babies are ready to start trying solids, we buy manufactured bland refined carbohydrates (baby cereal) instead of simply feeding them fresh food from the family meal. This teaches children to expect “special food” and prefer bland refined carbohydrates (do I hear macaroni calling?).
Believing that toddlers and small children need “kid food” and purchasing boxes and bottles of refined manufactured foods. This perpetuates the myth that they need “special food,” food that only comes in cute packaging with smiley animals. Put your money instead into a trip to the farmers’ market with your child, or into planting a small garden.
Selecting food from the nutritionally inferior “kid’s menu” when dining out.
Feed kids wholesome foods right from the start.
And finally, the coup de grâce comes when parents begin making separate meals for their children and justifying that sugar pops and macaroni made from refined white flour is OK, as long as they eat a baby carrot or take a vitamin pill.

Feed kids fresh, local, organic whole foods. Right from the start! They deserve the best.

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There are 11 comments on this item

1. by Joanne on Mar 2, 2008 at 6:58 AM PST

Yes! Yes! Yes! Beautifully stated Cynthia. Kids are people too and the more we talk down and feed down to them, the less validity they have as people, and the less they learn about feeding themselves well. Food is an essential part of existence - and life should not be bland!

2. by rosewx12 on Mar 2, 2008 at 12:31 PM PST

So true! My 2 year old loves grabbing whole apples from the fruit bowl or a handful of Kale out of the garden. She adores fries but that doesn’t mean she gets to live off them. They are an occasional treat when eating out. We tried to incorporate her into eating what we eat from a very young age and it seriously paid off. Not only does she eat healthier... but we do to. :)

3. by Cynthia Lair on Mar 3, 2008 at 12:49 PM PST

Joanne and Rose,
Thank you for your support! I love the phrase “feed down to them”. And yes it is true - when you feed your kids better - you eat better too. Lots of smiles from me upon hearing from you.
Cynthia

4. by whatscooking on Mar 4, 2008 at 8:16 PM PST

And it makes me sad that the wives of famous actors can encourage parents to hide veggies inside of other foods, so that they don’t learn to love the flavors as they were meant to be!

5. by Cynthia Lair on Mar 5, 2008 at 8:09 AM PST

I agree! I don’t see what the point of hiding veggies in the soup or pasta sauce. What does that teach our children?
Cynthia

6. by whatscooking on Mar 5, 2008 at 8:30 AM PST

Plus, think of all that extra time it takes to cook the stuff you are hiding in the first place. Come on!

7. by Noelle on Mar 5, 2008 at 1:57 PM PST

I thiink your first point is a big one. Babies are introduced to the flavors of their culture first through amniotic fluid and later through breastmilk. Breastmilk changes by what mama eats teaching babies to appreciate variety early on. If your food is constantly the same for months on end, I’m sure you’d come to expect that predictability. And the idea that the first solids needs to be cereal is crazy. Why not a little banana thinned with breastmilk? Or a ripe stone fruit mashed with a little milk?

I could go on and on I guess!

8. by Cynthia Lair on Mar 5, 2008 at 2:23 PM PST

Noelle,
Please DO go on! We need more moms with common sense about food shouting out about breastfeeding, school lunch and more!
Cynthia

9. by cafemama on Mar 6, 2008 at 9:35 PM PST

I messed up bigtime in allowing my oldest son to be ‘fed down to,’ and with both subsequent boys I’ve made a concerted effort to let them eat whatever I’m eating. the almost-three-year-old is a bit polluted by his brother’s tastes (though he’ll happily eat my kale-adzuki bean chili if I feed it to him), but my baby is so far “pure” -- he’s not yet eight months old and all he’s been eating is delicious bites from my plate like garlicky hummus, oatmeal bread, chicken broth-soaked potatoes, dolmades, and so far: he hasn’t refused a thing. I’m not giving this one up!

10. by hippy, happy & hoping on Mar 9, 2008 at 7:23 AM PDT

So inspired by all of you, I gave my 7 month old daughter oatmeal this morning instead of the baby oatmeal cereal. We shared and she loved it. I’ve made all her meats and veg up to this point I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me to make something as simple as oatmeal and rice. No tip is to small for the new mom, thanks to all of you for sharing.
Heidi

11. by Cynthia Lair on Mar 9, 2008 at 9:11 AM PDT

I was interviewed yesterday and asked about"world baby foods”. This is a new brand of baby food where they put things like curries and hummus in a jar. I was floored. Why not make it for the family and serve some to baby so it’s fresh? Hang on to your common sense friends! Rock out with oatmeal and dolmades.
Cynthia

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