Parents Picky Eaters & Milk Drinkers Vs. Muscle Mass

[Mr.Bishop]

We have had a couple of gymnasts over the years with this restriction... very difficult.

Here is my next couple of questions for ChatGPT...

Is it possible to acquire a taste for food that you don't like?​

Yes, it is possible. Many of our food preferences aren’t hardwired at birth—they’re learned. Repeated exposure to a food you initially dislike can, over time, shift your brain’s associations and even change how you perceive its flavor.

How It Works​

• Mere Exposure & Conditioning:
  Studies show that the more you're exposed to a particular taste—even one that seems off at first—the more familiar and acceptable it becomes. This “mere exposure effect” is a basic learning process. Over time, your brain starts linking the flavor with positive experiences or simply grows accustomed to it. This is part of what researchers like Paul Rozin describe when they talk about “acquired tastes” (mentalfloss.com).
• Flavor-Flavour Learning:
  Sometimes, pairing a less-liked food with flavors you already enjoy can help you develop a taste for it. For example, mixing a small amount of a bitter food into a dish with sweet or savory elements may gradually change your overall perception of that ingredient.
• Cultural & Social Influences:
  Often, social context and cultural practices play a big role. Foods that seem unappealing at first can become desirable when shared with friends or enjoyed as part of a cultural tradition.

In Practice​

This process explains why many people eventually come to enjoy foods like coffee, spicy dishes, or even vegetables like Brussels sprouts and blue cheese—foods that are often considered “acquired tastes.” Starting with small amounts, experimenting with different preparations, and repeatedly trying them in positive settings can all help in developing a taste for food you once disliked.

In short, while your initial reaction might be one of aversion, your taste buds and brain are adaptable. With time and the right approach, you might find yourself enjoying flavors you once avoided.

The other low tech solution that I've found is when they go to friends houses they tend to be much more adventerous. My daughter recently came home from a weekend away and had aquired a new love for a sandwitch with turkey, dill pickles and mustard. Had never liked a pickle in her life before that moment and boom - she wants it every day.

I keep trying to remind the kids that their tastes will change as they age... just like how Pokemon isn't quite as cool as it used to be for them.

 

[StephensMom]

Yes... can you give me links to the studies?​

Below are a few key studies (and reviews) that you might find useful:

• Repeated Exposure to Foods and Early Food Acceptance: A Systematic Review
  This review summarizes many controlled trials on how 8–10 exposures can increase acceptance of vegetables and fruits in infants and toddlers.
  Read it here
• Infants’ Consumption of a New Food Enhances Acceptance of Similar Foods (Birch et al., 1998)
  This study found that after about 10 repeated exposures, infants increased their intake of a previously unfamiliar food.
  View the PubMed entry
• Repetition Counts: Repeated Exposure Increases Intake of a Novel Vegetable in UK Pre-school Children Compared to Flavour–Flavour and Flavour–Nutrient Learning (Caton et al., 2013)
  In this trial, preschoolers showed increased vegetable intake after around 10 exposures.
  View the PubMed entry
• Early Determinants of Fruit and Vegetable Acceptance (Forestell & Mennella, 2007)
  This study tracked how repeated exposure in early life can shift children’s acceptance of new produce.
  View the PubMed entry
• The Use of Repeated Exposure and Associative Conditioning to Increase Vegetable Acceptance in Children
  This Penn State study (available as a PDF) examines how pairing disliked vegetables with liked flavors can boost acceptance.
  Read the PDF

Each of these provides detailed insights into how and why repeated exposure (often around 8–10 tries, though up to 15 in some cases) can help increase acceptance of foods that are initially disliked.

It’s interesting that these studies mostly focus on fruit and vegetable acceptance although I would assume the principles carry over to meats or other sources of protein. All 4 of my kids would gladly live on fruits and vegetables. We make Caesar salad as the safe food when we don’t know if they’ll eat something new. Protein rich foods have always been the bigger challenge. The other thing with that is, even if they start to accept a food they previously disliked, they aren’t necessarily eating enough of it to get a decent amount of the protein they need as young athletes. For example, I recently found a butter chicken recipe my 7 year old will eat but she eats maybe 6 bites? That’s not really a serving size. I’ve run into this problem so many times. My kids will eat the food but not enough of it.

 

[JBS]

It’s interesting that these studies mostly focus on fruit and vegetable acceptance although I would assume the principles carry over to meats or other sources of protein. All 4 of my kids would gladly live on fruits and vegetables. We make Caesar salad as the safe food when we don’t know if they’ll eat something new. Protein rich foods have always been the bigger challenge. The other thing with that is, even if they start to accept a food they previously disliked, they aren’t necessarily eating enough of it to get a decent amount of the protein they need as young athletes. For example, I recently found a butter chicken recipe my 7 year old will eat but she eats maybe 6 bites? That’s not really a serving size. I’ve run into this problem so many times. My kids will eat the food but not enough of it.

I will say that it definitely works on protein as I love chicken wings and all of my kids started out not liking them... they all eat traditional wings every time we go to Buffalo Wild Wings now. It's like a family tradition at this point.

My Dad grew up on a farm... so if I didn't eat my dinner... it went in the fridge and I got it for breakfast the next morning. Gotta say... when you have no choice... you're going to eat what is there. I distinctly remember hearing... "Eat what is for dinner or go to bed hungry". Then getting up the next day only to hear... "Your dinner is in the fridge waiting for you... you can have something else once it's gone". I learned very quickly that not eating dinner didn't help me at all.

It's just the way I was raised... it was thought of as "disrespectful" to not eat the food that was prepared.

 

[superNova08]

I will say that it definitely works on protein as I love chicken wings and all of my kids started out not liking them... they all eat traditional wings every time we go to Buffalo Wild Wings now. It's like a family tradition at this point.

My Dad grew up on a farm... so if I didn't eat my dinner... it went in the fridge and I got it for breakfast the next morning. Gotta say... when you have no choice... you're going to eat what is there. I distinctly remember hearing... "Eat what is for dinner or go to bed hungry". Then getting up the next day only to hear... "Your dinner is in the fridge waiting for you... you can have something else once it's gone". I learned very quickly that not eating dinner didn't help me at all.

It's just the way I was raised... it was thought of as "disrespectful" to not eat the food that was prepared.

Yes in my household we have been raised to eat what's in front of us. Now that the oldest 2 of us are old enough to make our own food we will sometimes make something else if we don't like it, but we eat most things because we were raised on the eat what you have philosophy.

 

[Rose7777]

I have empathy for you, my daughter is allergic to Eggs. Milk/Eggs are in freaking everything. It is very limiting to what you can give them.

Mine is picky about chicken as well, but she had a skewer from a local Greek restaurant and fell in love. Now I try to either order a ton of extra when we pick it up or work on my greek marinade/skewering chicken skills. All of a sudden she'll have a greek chicken wrap every single day and doesn't seem to get tired of it. Been a salvation for Protein.

Luck be with you. When you're restricted to such a tight category of foods I think all we can do is our best.

Just commiserating… my gymnast doesn’t have allergies, but my other kids do. For 15+ years, we dealt with milk, egg, peanut, tree nut, and mustard allergies. Fortunately, they are down to just milk and tree nuts now. It’s definitely a challenge…. And the grocery bill!!

 

[GymDadWA]

Yeah good or bad children will copy their parents habits and values when it comes to food. You can often see this in a self service buffet environment the kids plates will often be a mirror image of their parent's plates even if they serve themselves.

Parental Influence: The Top Factor in Children's Eating Habits

Research shows that the eating habits of children are most strongly shaped by their parents. Here are the key ways parental influence manifests:

• Role Modeling:
  Parents serve as the primary role models—children often mimic what their parents eat. If parents consume a variety of healthy foods, children are more likely to do the same.
• Home Food Environment:
  What’s available at home plays a crucial role. When parents stock healthy foods and limit unhealthy options, it guides children’s choices without them even realizing it.
• Feeding Practices:
  How parents approach mealtimes—whether they are overly controlling, pressuring, or supportive—can significantly impact children’s food preferences and long-term eating habits.
• Cultural and Social Norms:
  Family traditions, attitudes toward food, and meal patterns (like shared family meals) help set the standard for what children consider “normal” eating behavior.

In general most people don't get enough protein, I have helped a lot of people at my gym with their nutrition and when they actually start logging their meals they almost always consume about half of what is recommended if they are trying to build muscle or gain strength. One chicken breast at dinner and a turkey sandwich at lunch is not a lot of protein especially since very few of them drink milk.

 

[JBS]

very few of them drink milk

I really find it crazy how many don't drink milk... I always loved it. It's just so easy to get protein this way.

 

[Coach Kate]

It’s interesting that these studies mostly focus on fruit and vegetable acceptance although I would assume the principles carry over to meats or other sources of protein. All 4 of my kids would gladly live on fruits and vegetables. We make Caesar salad as the safe food when we don’t know if they’ll eat something new. Protein rich foods have always been the bigger challenge. The other thing with that is, even if they start to accept a food they previously disliked, they aren’t necessarily eating enough of it to get a decent amount of the protein they need as young athletes. For example, I recently found a butter chicken recipe my 7 year old will eat but she eats maybe 6 bites? That’s not really a serving size. I’ve run into this problem so many times. My kids will eat the food but not enough of it.

Our toddler is just now getting into eating meat, but I make her protein ranch with (homemade) plain Greek yogurt and ranch dressing! She dips cucumbers in it. That's been a favorite life hack for me. I also blend cottage cheese into smoothies and you can't tell at all. It has a wonderful texture and the fruit hides it.