Even before your baby is born, he or she is tasting the food that you are eating.Not only are moms responsible for the food on the table when kids are older, but we have to think about what we are feeding our babies while they are in our yummy tummies!
Babies are able to taste the flavors of the food that you eat while you are pregnant, because the amniotic fluid is flavored by the various spices and herbs and fruits and vegetables that you enjoy every day. You might ask, "How can anyone possibly know this to be true?" Well, through carefully designed studies, and with the cooperation of many yummy mummies of course.
The way to study this is actually pretty simple. Moms who are pregnant are given certain foods or liquids more often than other foods or liquids, and then once their babies are born, and when solids are introduced after 6 months, their facial expressions (the baby's, not the mummy's!) are studied. It is found that mummies who eat more of one food compared to another have babies who like that food better than another baby whose mom did not eat that food. So, don't be afraid of having lots of herbs, and even some spices if you can - while you are pregnant.
Of course, the foods you eat while you are breastfeeding also help to flavor your milk- and your milk composition varies from morning until night. This means that even as a young baby, a variety of flavors are provided through your milk to your baby. Formulas just don't compare- they provide the same taste, day in and day out. Pretty ho hum. No boredom with breast milk, that's for sure! Not to mention all the health benefits, and psychological benefits that breastfeeding provides (I can go on and on about this one!)
By eating lots of different flavors while pregnant, you may just be more likely to have that baby who loves to try lots of different foods, and you may even prevent them from becoming the dreaded picky eater. (OK - the studies didn't say this, but it could be true!) Lots of food variety, spicing it up a bit, both while you are pregnant and while you are breastfeeding (and of course as you introduce foods after the age of 6 months), are the best strategies to help your baby enjoy the wonderful variety of foods that you will offer him or her.
A yummy mummy tip- just because your little one makes a nasty funny face at mango, does not mean that you should not introduce it again later. Keep trying; it may take several tries before they start to enjoy an unfamiliar food!
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