Many parents spend years trying to get a toddler to eat anything besides chicken nuggets and mac and cheese. Then there are the rare families whose little ones have very grown up tastes. One mom shares her two year old, whose favorite food is sushi, and she cannot believe it herself.
She sits down with her son at the kitchen counter with a big bowl of popcorn and asks him questions about his favorite foods. You can find her at @rachel4dham.
@rachel4dham
The interview at the counter
She begins with the words, “I can’t make this up.” Then she asks her son what his favorite food is. He answers right away: sushi.
She asks what kind. He says ginger, which makes sense, since ginger is one of the things that comes with sushi. When she asks which roll he likes, he gives a clearer answer: crab sushi.
She tells everyone she wishes she were kidding. Their bank account is getting low because of this little guy. Every time he wakes up from his nap, he says, “Mama, sushi?” It happens every day.
The least picky two year old
She says it could be worse. He could only eat chicken nuggets and mac and cheese. Instead, he loves his sushi, and she does not question it. She just goes with it.
In her words, he is the least picky two year old she has ever met. He will eat almost anything. She asks him what they just had for dinner, and he answers, “Chicken!” She adds that they also had cucumbers. Now they are enjoying popcorn because they did well with their dinner.
Her son chimes in with sweet toddler commentary, including a promise that there will be no spilling and no mess. She laughs and says he knows exactly what he is doing.
Why some toddlers are adventurous eaters
Children’s tastes are shaped by what they are offered, how often, and how relaxed the mealtime feels. Many feeding experts say that children who see a wide variety of foods and who are not pressured to eat tend to become more open to trying new things.
Toddlers also copy the adults around them. A child who watches a parent enjoy a certain food may want to try it too. That is one reason eating together as a family is so often recommended.
At the same time, plenty of toddlers go through a phase of being picky, and that is normal. It does not mean a parent did something wrong. Appetites and preferences change from week to week at this age.
Tips for raising a curious eater
- Offer a variety of foods, including ones your child has refused before. It can take many tries before a child accepts something new.
- Eat together when you can, and let your child see you enjoying the same food.
- Keep mealtimes pleasant. Pressure and bribes can make kids resist more.
- Serve a small portion of something new alongside something familiar.
- Let your child help in the kitchen. Kids are more likely to taste what they helped prepare.
- Use simple, fun descriptions rather than labels like yucky or healthy.
A word about sushi and little ones
Not every sushi roll is the same. Some rolls contain raw fish, and some contain cooked ingredients or vegetables. Parents who want to share this kind of food with a young child often talk to their pediatrician first about which options are appropriate at their child’s age.
Cut food into small, manageable pieces for toddlers to reduce the risk of choking. Stay at the table while your child eats, and keep an eye on every bite.
When a food budget gets stretched
The mom jokes that her son’s favorite food is hurting their bank account, and many parents can relate. Specialty foods can cost more than the usual kid meals. A few ideas can help. Try making simple rolls at home with rice, cucumber, and cooked fillings. Choose a certain night of the week as the sushi night. Or save the favorite food as a special treat while the rest of the week features meals that are friendlier on the budget.
Sharing a treat is also a wonderful way to connect. Popcorn after dinner, like in this story, can be a small reward for a good meal without turning food into a bribe.
It also helps to remember that eating is a skill that develops over years. Chewing, handling new textures, and getting used to strong flavors all take practice. A child who happily eats a wide range of foods at two may still go through picky stretches later, and that is perfectly normal too. Staying calm and consistent is the best approach in either case.
Enjoy the surprises
The funniest part of parenting is how kids defy expectations. You can plan every meal and still end up with a toddler asking for crab sushi after a nap. This mom does not argue with it. She just watches, smiles, and keeps her hands on the wallet.
If you have an adventurous little eater, enjoy it. And if you have a picky one, take heart. Tastes change, and the table is a place where small steps count.
Credit for the original post goes to @rachel4dham on TikTok.