How to stimulate the sense of taste in children
How does the sense of taste work? The sense of taste begins when chewing and drinking food, when taste cells are released that are found in the tongue, the roof of the mouth and throat, smell is an important receptor of taste, taste receptors have also been found in the small intestine, all these ro
How does the sense of taste work? The sense of taste begins when chewing and drinking food, when taste cells are released that are found in the tongue, the roof of the mouth and throat, smell is an important receptor of taste, taste receptors have also been found in the small intestine, all these routes once activated reach the brain where it interprets the taste. But, how can we stimulate it in children to taste food?
The sense of taste
Taste cells have receptors with five basic flavors:
-Sweet (which is preferred in children).
- Bitter(the bitter taste is rejected in children at first, because naturally we consider it toxic and it helps us to detect it).
- Sour or acid.
-Salty.
- Umami (it is a half salty taste of glutamate found in chicken broth, meat extracts, some cheeses and processed products).
According to studies, a flavor has also been found to detect fats, so it is very common for children to be attracted to foods with a high content of fat and added sugars (sweet taste), increasing the palatability of these foods.
When does the sense of taste develop in children?
The development of taste begins during pregnancy through the amniotic fluid (around week 21) and then continues in breastfeeding, therefore it is very important to take care of the mother's diet, since the child will have more preference for the foods that your mother has chosen in this period.
Starting at 6 months when children start to try other foods, there are many possibilities to develop taste even more; It is recommended to take into account the feeding progression of the baby giving different flavor and consistency options, many times a food is rejected by the child for its texture and not for its flavor.
Recommendations to stimulate the sense of taste in children
- During pregnancy and lactation opt for healthy foods. En - In babies
to introduce a new food every 2 or 3 days ir and to try different consistencies, to detect possible allergies and to get accustomed to different flavors. - In children offer different foods, combine them and vary the preparations
. - It is important to respect the tastes and preferences of children, but still offer healthy foods.-
Take into account the preparation of food
, it is not the same to prepare a chicken with roasted potatoes than a battered chicken with fried potatoes, in the second case the palatability in the child increases, increasing the appetite, hindering satiety without to be able to say enough and therefore the child eats more quantities than required. - And most importantlyto set the example
, the child is more likely to like the same foods his family consumes.
