How I Spoiled My Dog
I am the owner of Zoey, a 5 year old Shitzu/Maltese mix, who is an adorable, well-trained pet. Except in the food department. In this area, she is very demanding. But it wasn’t always so. For the first two years of her life, she ate Science Diet small bites dry food. Everyday the same exact taste and quantity, and it was just fine. She was content. Easy for me and for her. This simple routine might have continued forever if it hadn’t been for a TV documentary on Asian culinary delicacies. In one amazing segment, a group of Korean boys—ages 5-8- were shown happily munching on things from the sea. Most of these “things” looked to be still moving!
Now I consider myself an adventurous eater who will try any new taste, but frankly, what I saw in that pivotal TV show made me squeamish. Thinking about these weird-looking foods, I remembered a CNN interview with Julia Child. She talked about how little we know about the science/art of taste: why people differ so passionately in this area. Where does it begin? And why do American kids have such limited palates—if this word can even be attached to their few preferences. Why do we take it for granted that they will dislike foods-maybe even refuse to try something– because of its color, shape, texture and, of course, smell. Obviously, if most vegetables, fish, fruits, cheeses, etc. are deemed undesirable by American kids, how will their palates expand out of this minimal zone?
Almost immediately, I thought about Zoey, my own baby, and her very limited diet. How would she take to new foods/tastes? I decided to start with vegetables. Dogs are naturally carnivores, but could Zoey be led to becoming an omnivore? So first I gave her some arugula. She sniffed it and walked away. Then I dipped it in oil & vinegar and she decided to taste it. Progress—except she spit it out. Undeterred, I sprinkled some sugar on it and suddenly she liked it. Three years later, Zoey eats asparagus, Brussels sprouts, bamboo shoots, parmesan cheese, kiwi and everything else. Without any added sugar. Or salt. Or fat. She is no longer content with just dry dog food. Her palate is sophisticated— and expensive!
Now I know that you are thinking that your children are smarter than my dog—or any dog– and can’t be so easily led. You are right, but nevertheless I recommend that you read American Journalist Matthew Forney’s article, “Scorpions for Breakfast & Snails for Lunch,” New York Times 6/1/08. Forney, who writes from Beijing for the New York Times, Time magazine and other publications, has two American children, ages 11 & 14, who are very, very adventurous eaters. In fact, they pride themselves on eating thousands of selections that their cousins back home in Indiana wouldn’t be in the same room with!
For me, as the mother of two sons, now 28 & 31, none of this is surprising. My kids were raised to “compete” with us and each other in trying new tastes. And, they were never, ever told to “Eat Healthy.” Aside from its ungrammatical structure, eating healthy is a direct route to weight gain and food issues. Yes I know that this sentence contradicts everything you have learned about nutrition and wellness. Unfortunately, this subject is more complex than the over-simplified pabulum that is served up to the American public. So in subsequent articles, I will try to elucidate.
Even though the CDC predicts that by 2030 nine out of ten Americans will be fat and right now one out of four kids under six is obese, we still cling to the directive that has failed: eat only good foods and exercise to lose weight. As someone without weight or health problem who put Pilates on the fitness map and who has raised two slim kids for whom fast food has no appeal– when they want a hamburger, Mc Donalds is not even on a distant radar screen–I am worried that we will keep pushing programs that won’t work. I am from the generation ( WWII) that never thought you needed a Phd in Nutrition to eat a sandwich. Nutrition labels didn’t exist. Health claims didn’t sell foods. No one knew about cholesterol. And no one talked about wellness and practically no one was fat. Maybe it is time to go back. Maybe everything old will be new again. Stay tuned. Next week I will begin with the myth that exercise is a weight loss solution.
