by Anne Taylor

Created on: April 11, 2009

Curiosity killed the cat, but it cultivates children. And the best way to introduce Asian cuisine to children is to make them curious about this unique and tasty foreign domain. One of the easiest ways to introduce a child to Asian cuisine is to incorporate Asian items into the menu that are similar to foods the child already is acquainted with.

One of my children's first memories of Asian foods is the frying of shrimp chips. I fried these flat biscuits in a wok while my children watched, from a safe distance. To this day, my daughter still must have these at least once a month. She has now conceded to allowing me to just buy a bag, instead of bringing out the wok.

If you allow a child to help you cook the new item, they will be more incline to try the finished product. Not all Asian foods use all unfamiliar products. Find an Asian recipe that uses staples that are familiar to your child, adding maybe one or two new items.

Explain what the new items are. If this is the first time your child is aware of soy sauce, explain some of the history to him, as he adds it to the mix. The key is to s-l-o-w-l-y introduce new items to a child. Do not try to inundate a child with all the wonders of Asian cuisine all at once.

Know your child. If they are willing to take any dare, you probably can throw down the gantlet and introduce them to sushi very early on. If they lean toward the squeamish, you may want to go more down the rangoon path first. Rangoon can be made at home with egg roll wrappers and your child's choice of fillings.

Regardless of your child's demeanor, the main focus you should work on is to introduce new Asian items to your child at a pace they will accept. The cuisine police will not break down your door if you take liberties and adapted authentic Asian recipes with items your child would more readily accept. The key goal is to get your child to try new ideas.

Whether you are trying to introduce Asian or any other diverse cuisine to a child the main thing to remember is trust. Do not try to "trick" your child into eating something you know would bother them to eat.

If your child has a real dislike or fear of a particular food item do not try to hide it in a meal. You may win the battle, but you will lose the war.

The cuisines of the world are a vast collection of experiments that children should love. How a parent presents them to a child is critical on how a child reacts to different tastes and cultures.

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