Around the age of one children can start eating whatever parents are eating. This process might happen quickly, it might stall or reverse back to puree for a long time or it can be a slow steady development. Every child is different. Factors such as illness, teething, growth spurts, vacation, starting daycare or changes in the environment, to name a few, have a huge impact on a child’s interest in trying new foods.

Children are also very different in their interest in food. Some eat slowly, others can’t stop, some like only one food and others don’t mind trying whatever is available. There are also genetic, evolutionary and developmental factors that influence your child’s behavior around food. For example, if your babies teeth don’t come in until 12 months it will be hard for them to eat certain foods that they have to bite.

This is the time to create a positive environment around food. Eating together, at a table without distractions, enjoying the food that has been made and talking about it will heighten your babies’ interest in new flavors, even if it takes a few times to try it. This time also shapes what food means to us for the rest of our lives. Do we eat when we are stressed, sad or need to reward us for something? Do we savor our meals, overeat or prefer unbalanced choices?

During these early days in life, parents are examples to their child and play a vital role. An authentic and good relationship with food by the parents will likely shape their child’s positive mindset towards their food choices and allows them a chance to grow up with healthy and positive lifelong habits.

Family meals mean eating foods that everyone can cherish. There might be some foods that you will eat more often than others, simply because your baby will slowly develop its own taste and preferences. Maybe you will eat more pasta than you would normally do, which allows you to try out new variations. And the long-awaited sushi birthday dinner might not be as favored by your baby, and you need to present some alternatives. All in all, family meals mean including what works best for everyone within your little community.