Question
My ten year old son insists on eating hot Mexican food, adding chillies to meals and eating hot salami whenever he can. He lives in a house with four adults and we think he is just mimicking their behaviour. I don’t think a child this young should be teaching his palate to only like spicy foods. Am I wrong?
Answer
Your question is a common one mothers have about their children.
There should be no problem at all in your son eating hot, spicy foods. As long as he is not getting a stomach ache after eating these foods (and not eating too much at one meal that it gives him a stomach ache), then be you do not need be concerned, as it just shows he has a palate that is open to eating such foods.
It is now acceptable for pregnant and nursing mothers to eat some hot and spicy foods in their diet – that could be where he learnt to have a “taste” for this type of food.
Paediatric experts say that it is fine to feed infants food with spice and flavor – even spicy hot foods – as long as the meal is nutritious.
Just make sure you are feeding him a wide variety of foods, which hot and spicy is just one type of the foods.
Please note that the information provided is for educational purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or treat medical conditions. Consult with your medical physician regarding appropriateness of using supplements in your healing process.
