Chiku chronicle - Taste is everything

'Puli pasithalum pullai thingadu'  is a well known proverb in Tamil, meaning a tiger will not eat grass even when it is hungry. Chiku is still a tiny baby, so he will agree to take a few morsels of food when he is hungry. But if it is not having the 'arusuvai'(all six tastes), he will purse his lips tightly and turn his head away and will not have a morsel more of plain paruppu sadam. D asked me to quickly make rasam and when it was mixed in the paruppu sadam, he put his tongue out and tasted it and was able to have the remaining portion quite comfortably enough. So now rasam is a must have dish at home.

He is fascinated with us eating and keeps literally salivating. So D gave him a tiny piece of ragi dosa that she was having. And he tasted it just like an adult, his face broke into happines, he made a clucking sound and was reaching out for the next piece of dosa. And this was after he had his meal. If it is not tasty, he will not eat a morsel more than just satisfying his immediate hunger. But give him something tasty, then even when he his not particularly hungry, he is able to enjoy and ask for more. I gave him my philosophy on food; chiku, listen to me, dont become a slave of taste.I was looking at him and D told me, he is not going to hear you now or later as I see it,, he will at best say, there is some ringing sensation in my ear, but can I have one more ragi dosa!

We were having sandwiches and he was very much interested. Again the same ragi dosa sequence was repeated. Even a plain bread was more fascinating than his nestum and cerelac. It actually has texture and original taste. D was relieved and said it will be really very convenient if he takes to bread, it will make it easier to take him out on travel.

Homemade mixed cereal kanji with buttermilk and salt seems to hold his interest now. D tried plain ragi kanji with buttermilk and salt and it did please him to have a different taste.

Chiku does not drink water. At all. Yes, he says no to even a drop of water. D was trying all tricks to make him drink water, but only after she put in some jaggery in his water and gave it to him in a tumbler, he was able to drink decent quantity! what a boy!

Every food has to be spiked! Even water!!