These days, a new generation of parents are getting even more proactive when it comes to kids’ sugar consumption. I’ve encountered many moms who are making it a goal to avoid artificial sugar in their children’s food - a goal which inevitably goes awry as soon as well-meaning grandparents or friends at school offer candy, cookies or sweets. Then, the new challenge becomes finding ways to curb those opportunities as much as possible!
But where does that “sweet tooth” come from to begin with?
Infants do not have to learn preferences for the basic tastes like sweet, salty, sour, or bitter. In fact, babies are predisposed to pleasing flavors. Shortly after birth, children express a preference for sweet tastes and reject those that are sour or bitter. Research has showed these predispositions may have have evolved to serve a protective function by encouraging the consumption of
energy-rich foods (often signaled by a sweet taste) and discouraging the ingestion of toxins (signaled by bitter and sour tastes). These taste preferences are unlearned, and become clear to parents once infants begin the transition from exclusive milk feeding to a modified adult diet.
So now we know why sweets are more acceptable for kids. Now, how can we put that sweet taste in a form that is actually nutritious? Fruits of course are the most obvious answer. Personally, I love that it’s becoming more common to see dried fruits at Halloween, or find raisins, prunes and dried mangos in things like gift bags, piñatas, and Easter eggs.
Today we’re sharing a fantastic recipe for you to add some healthy sweetness into the everyday meals you give to your kids. “Datehini Salmon” is a great option for the spring holidays…sweet yet savory, and most importantly, very healthy. Use this dressing to marinate or spread over baked salmon for a perfect family meal. Enjoy!
5-ingredient Salmon Dressing:
- 1 clove of smashed garlic
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Juice from ½ a lemon
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon Datehini™ Original
Blend ingredients with a fork. Apply over the salmon and bake/grill as you wish.
