Picky Eating: What's Aftertaste got to do with it?

OK. So sorry to Babybel but I just can't enjoy your product. I've tried on two different occasions, from two different stores and two different flavors but I just don't like the taste. Why is this worthy of a blog post? Well, my absolute love of cheese aside, because this is what many of my clients and their children experience on a daily basis. 

The Babybel experience begins typically enough with good texture and good flavor and THEN after the swallow, there is an aftertaste that I simply can't deal with. It's like plastic. No, maybe mildew.  It's "off." It ruins the experience for me and after one bite, I'm done. I WANT to like the cheese. {mostly because of the cute little, round packages} I really do. I just can't. Ironically, I think it may be the way it is packaged but I can't be sure. I know it's not just me as 2/3 of my family members agree on the presence and possible source of the aftertaste. 

Why does my picky eater take one or two bites and then stop?

It's very likely aftertaste. Much like my Babybel experience, they at first enjoy then food and then they suddenly don't. There is definitely a process to "tasting" a food and we are each different due to our sensory differences. Aftertaste can also be determined by things like:

• being an OVERtaster {AKA supertaster}
• being an UNDERtaster
• Medications
• Dehydration
• Combinations of foods {think toothpaste and orange juice}
• Genetics
• Packaging

Aftertaste be gone!

Thankfully, there are ways to deal with the aftertaste issue that stops many kids from trying more than a couple of bites of a new food. Whether it's a too bitter flavor, too salty, too sweet or "off" like I described above you can help greatly by using the following techniques:

• Flavor masking
• Flavor mapping
• Transitional foods

Each of the above techniques is part of the Food Chaining protocol and are very effective in dealing with the issue of aftertaste. The key is making sure you are properly using the strategies and that they are individualized for your child.  Many children develop these strategies on their own but many don't and need to be helped a bit. The techniques are easy to implement without pressure for the child. 

What are your thoughts on aftertaste? Are there some foods that you feel have more than others? 

Until next time, keep growing and blooming. 

Jen