Children’s taste: how parents can help kids try new flavors and tastes

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Nutritionist from the Umami Committee shows ways to encourage healthy eating from an early age

São Paulo, October 2022 – Certainly, all parents have faced difficulties with their children at mealtime, engaging in the well-known battle at the table. The great “villain” of healthy eating is known as the “children’s palate,” a term used to describe people who reject certain food groups such as vegetables, greens, grains, and even fruits, preferring sweets, fried foods, and fast food.

Despite its name, the “children’s palate” also affects teenagers and adults, potentially leading to various health problems due to nutrient deficiencies in the body, such as anemia, which, according to the Ministry of Health, occurs when blood hemoglobin levels are below normal.

Nutritionist and member of the Umami Committee, Mariana Rosa, explains that childhood eating experiences can influence eating behavior over the years. One way to help children develop healthier eating habits is to stimulate them early on by introducing the five basic tastes (sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami), helping to prevent eating disorders in the future.

Umami can diversify children’s taste

In addition to breast milk, the umami taste can be found in various foods such as tomatoes, corn, peas, mushrooms, and animal-derived products such as meats and seafood. “When mixing these ingredients with others that have sour or bitter tastes, an interesting balance is achieved, as the umami taste has the power to soften them, preventing rejection. This way, children get used to a variety of flavors and build a more colorful diet and a sensory dictionary in their memory,” she explains.

That’s because umami makes it easier to combine with other tastes, enhancing the flavor of foods and making healthy meals tastier. An arugula salad might be boring for a child, but try adding tomatoes, a bit of Parmesan cheese, and a small spoonful of soy sauce (all very umami). There — much more appealing for kids!

The nutritionist also reminds that, according to the official recommendation of the WHO (World Health Organization), other foods should be included two to three times a day in children’s routines. Between the sixth and eighth month of life, meals should include all tastes, and the stage up to two years old requires greater attention, as this is when taste preferences are formed.

Finally, the nutritionist advises using various seasonings in adequate quantities: vinegar, lemon, and other herbs and spices. This way, meals become more enjoyable, and children learn to eat foods with different flavors, contributing to a more balanced and healthy diet.

UMAMI
It is the fifth basic taste of the human palate, discovered in 1908 by Japanese scientist Kikunae Ikeda. It was scientifically recognized in 2000, when researchers from the University of Miami confirmed the existence of specific receptors for this taste on the taste buds. The amino acid glutamic acid and the nucleotides inosinate and guanylate are the main umami substances. The two main characteristics of umami are increased salivation and the persistence of taste for a few minutes after food ingestion. To learn more, visit www.portalumami.com.br.