Trying to get my kid to eat Japanese food.

[ashleyn]

Went grocery shopping today, I bought packets of Kimchi ramen and Japanese Nissin ones for boy to try... hahahhahaha Training for our Japan trip!

He won't eat anything Asian and he is practically the "Chief Tester" of McDonalds around the world. It's a drag for me, as I have to find him Western foods before finding mine whenever we travel to Asia.

Look at one of our meals we ate in Bangkok, View attachment 16949 I had the Namtok rice which is very nice by the way...

How do you get your kids to eat local food?

If you must there are Maccas and Subway all over Japan but as others have suggested, start with less confronting dishes and work your way up from there. No point in spoiling your holiday over it, he'll come around eventually (maybe when he's 23)

 

[vertisol]

When I was growing up we went out for dinner maybe once a year and it was the local Chinese. It was possibly the most exciting day of the year for myself and siblings.

We'd have eaten anything they put in front of us but the fried rice and sweet and sour pork remain in my memory (do the Chinese really cook with pineapple rings?).

So perhaps it's about doing without that makes the heart grow fonder?

 

[bass_ke]

We did baby led weaning and ended up with a 15 month old that eats most things, especially sushi!

Good luck with the attempts, don't want him to miss out on awesome Japanese food!

 

[JohnK]

I was raised to either eat what I was served or go without. Why isn't this done now?

Because people like me will starve.

I have been going to SE Asia for ~10 years and do not like the food. I prefer Western food of which there is an abundance in Thailand.

I have been to 3 lounges tonight in KUL and I will wait until my BKK flight later tonight to have something to eat. I just do not like curries or ragouts or chilli or whatever else they want to serve. I should have had some chicken that looked edible in CX lounge earlier.

 

[medhead]

I was raised to either eat what I was served or go without. Why isn't this done now?

It is, both my children have to do this. Helps that the oldest likes testing the boundaries. Taught herself to like olives between the ages of 1 and 2.

 

[Timtammi]

I have 3 children with a big spread of ages with the youngest now 9. Although they are far apart in ages I dont really think I did anything differently with regards to food as they were growing up. The oldest (now 26) was notoriously fussy and I remember thinking he was going to get malnutrition after an extended overseas trip to the US and Europe when he was about 5 where he ate pretty much nothing other than french fries! He is now a non fussy adventurous eater btw. My youngest has always been an adventurous eater and has been exposed to lots of different foods as we have always travelled a lot since she was born. She eats oysters, anchovies and olives as well as just about anything put in front of her! So I'm sure its got a lot to do with the individual personality of the child but of course getting that exposure to lots of different foods at a young age doesn't hurt!

Cheers

Timmi

 

[QF WP]

Don't tell them it's good for them...although I am having trouble with my 3 y.o. son eating meat (and he only want to eat fish fingers as well), so I can understand the OP's frustration

As a lover of Japanese food (okonomiyaki anyone?), I can't understand how others can't eat it, or don't like it. But I was accustomed to foreign foods from a young age and has a 2 week trip to Japan to really learn to love and eat Japanese food.

Drewbles and notzac know - whenever I'm in MEL and they're available, Japanese it is....

 

[Timtammi]

I should add re my 9 year old - Japanese is her absolute FAVOURITE. I think they cater for kids well in Japan, small serves, quite often nicely compartmentalised in little bento box type serving dishes/containers will generally appeal to most kids!

 

[drewbles]

Drewbles and notzac know - whenever I'm in MEL and they're available, Japanese it is....

I will confirm that QF WP does have a taste for the Japanese Bento Box or similar, and have to say I do too.

As a kid, I wouldn't have called myself fussy but there were definitely foods on my 'yuck' list. These included Avocado, Brussel Sprouts, Tomato in a salad (any type) and the thought of 'raw fish' aka sashimi, was purely vile.

As an adult, I now love Avocado and Brussel Sprouts. I can't like Tomato by itself though, it's purely a textural thing (love the smell of them on/fresh off the vine) and it's great in a toasted ham/cheese/tomato sambo, but it's like tofu; I just can't deal with the texture. I also regularly eat Sashimi now or Nigiri (Salmon and Prawn yum).

People grown into things if they want to. The world is a boring place with only burgers

Japanese is probably my favourite Cuisine, right up there next to Mexican.

Speaking of which QF WP​, when are you down next? Ichi Ni may be calling (in a smaller group this time ).

 

[Pushka]

One thing I like about travelling on SQ is the tendency to serve Asian style foods. With the total exception of sushi which I really dislike, I could eat Asian inspired everyday. Just wish I was better at cooking it.

I'm not sure why its hard to understand why people don't like Japanese. I don't like seafood so my choices are limited. People say to me I have to like lobster/crayfish/prawns etc. Well, I don't. I struggle to swallow it when I've tried it.

If your child isn't eating meat at 3 then don't stress. Maybe at 3 they just don't need it. As soon as they see they have some power in not eating it they've won the deal. Just give them a selection of various tastes on a plate and let them select. Get them to grow their own veggies in their own little patch.

My parents made me eat everything on the plate. So when they left the room I'd hide it in my pockets. It made them feel good and I didn't have to eat food I totally disliked. I'd rather go without.

 

[QF WP]

I will confirm that QF WP does have a taste for the Japanese Bento Box or similar, and have to say I do too.

Speaking of which QF WP​, when are you down next? Ichi Ni may be calling (in a smaller group this time ).

You giving me an excuse to come down for another day trip. Perhaps a business lunch over nigiri sushi...

 

[drron]

Fortunately our son was easy to get to try new foods.Wouldn't eat his brussel sprouts though.Spent a Saturday afternoon sitting with a plate of them in front of him.
grandkids are good on the tooth but prefer fruit and veggies.No problems.
Surrogate grandkids were good also.number 2 granddaughter was the only one taking "sea ham" sandwhiches to kindergarten-smoked salmon.
Number 3 loved Japanese especially Suki yummi.

 

[Pushka]

Fortunately our son was easy to get to try new foods.Wouldn't eat his brussel sprouts though.Spent a Saturday afternoon sitting with a plate of them in front of him..

See, I don't get that. With all the veggies available then why is it so important for kids to eat brussel sprouts. So many better tasting alternatives out there.

 

[samh004]

See, I don't get that. With all the veggies available then why is it so important for kids to eat brussel sprouts. So many better tasting alternatives out there.

Cooked right they're amazing

 

[drewbles]

You giving me an excuse to come down for another day trip. Perhaps a business lunch over nigiri sushi...

I know a place around the corner from me in South Melbourne that does a good sushi platter for lunch too. You have my number

 

[drewbles]

Cooked right they're amazing

Couldn't agree more. In fact, they're probably one of my favourite veges.

 

[The Rok]

When I was young, we got McDonalds only for our birthday.,that was it.

Dinner in on the table, you get an empty plate and serve yourself. If you put it on your plate, you ate it. Only thing mum & dad would do is make sure you had at least 1 serve of vegetables.

If you didn't finish it, then guess what's for breakfast.

 

[Cynicor]

I read recently, in some throwaway journal rather than a real one, that kids taste bitter worse/more than adults, so Brussel sprouts, if not done properly, would be quite horrid to a kid but better as the grew up. This fits with my experience- that's probably why I thought I true enough to remember!

 

[Pushka]

Cooked right they're amazing

So what method is that? And if they were amazing then why do people use them as an example of their "hate" vegetable?

 

[drron]

I like my brussel sprouts.Only one veggie I wont eat-chokoes.