That thing about how babies may need to taste (and reject) something 6-12 times before really knowing if they like it or not really holds true for toddlers, and pre-schoolers as well. Tonight I was craving this delicious dhal so I decided to make it, even though, in the past, none of the children have really eaten it. I’ve probably made it four-five times before and even though it’s mild and fragrant, and a little sweet from the coconut milk, the children have tasted and rejected it every time. But this evening, the stars aligned, and all three ate happily and well and Louis even said it was yummy!

Both Alec and Louis (now five and three and a half years old) are in a good place food-wise lately. Both of them have had a few experiences where a new meal they rejected at first sight turned out to be something they liked once we convinced them to taste, and it’s made them more open to trying new things. Yay!

As for this dhal, it really is easy to make and absolutely delicious. I highly recommend it. Recipe here. We’re trying not to have too much rice so I made naan bread from this recipe instead, and they actually turned out pretty good!

Also – tips for picky eaters.