Comfort Food of the past: Grandparent's Role in Expanding Kids' Horizon

There was nothing better than a plate of warm, juicy sausage smothered in tangy sauerkraut. It always made me feel at home and brought back memories of cozy family dinners. What about you? What was your favorite comfort food when you were a child? Mac and Cheese? Sloppy Joe’s? Meatloaf? French Fries? Something else?

For me, it was Polish sausage and sauerkraut. My Busha (a diminutive form of Polish grandmother, but we called her Bushi) was the best cook in the universe. Walking into her house was like walking into heaven. The smell of sauerkraut simmering on the stove permeated the house all the time. Bushi made a full range of Polish food, from pierogi to potica (translation here—pierogi is like Polish ravioli, and potica is a nut roll pastry, which is to die for.)

Another food that I enjoy is called czernina (pronounced: CHAR-nina), one of the oldest Polish soups. My Busha would make this when the butcher got in a load of ducks. The key ingredient of this soup is duck blood.

Yes. Seriously. Ducks. Blood.

It is honestly delicious. I've talked with friends whose grandmothers made czernina, and they remember their Bushi telling them it was 'chocolate soup,' and they believed it pretty much like believing in the Easter Bunny. They liked it until they learned the ingredients. Oh well.

Fast forward to today. What do your grandchildren like to eat? My guess is chicken nuggets. That is today's comfort food for our grandkids. It is understandable as it can be eaten with their fingers and easily ordered at any restaurant on this planet.

How do you introduce new food to your grandchildren? Or do you?

It is so hard when we have our grandkids for a weekend (or week). We want them to have a good and memorable time. As grandparents, we want to pamper them, but we realize this is also an opportunity to expose them to new gastronomical experiences.

Now, I am not necessarily recommending this but…my Busha never asked us what we wanted to eat for breakfast/lunch/dinner. She put a plate in front of us and expected us to eat what she had made. If we didn't eat it, we went hungry.

Did you ever hear the comment, “Remember the "starving children in Poland/Africa/everywhere else in the world?"  That was thrown at me and my sisters who refused to try something new or not eat what was given to us.

So, should we return to expecting children to eat what we put in front of them or let them control the narrative?

This is a tricky question for grandparents who want their grandkids' experiences to be positive when they are visiting.

How do you handle fussy eaters in your house? How would you entice a child to try czernina? (seriously, this is a delicious soup!).

I have to ask: "Are we limiting our grandkids' food horizon?" Are we limiting our grandkids' innate curiosity about the world around us, including food?

Shouldn't we strive to give our kids the same opportunity to explore other cuisines and flavors as we did growing up? We should strive to introduce our grandkids to more diverse food choices by exposing them to different cultures and cuisines.

I believe that it’s really up to us as grandparents to encourage kids to explore new flavors and ingredients and give them a chance to sample dishes that may have been part of our past.

The key here is to get creative!

Start by introducing one new food at a time, and make sure to describe the food's taste, smell, and texture beforehand.

I suggest dessert since most children are drawn to sweets. Candied pecans maybe, a Southern favorite. Or be a little more adventurous with candied hibiscus flowers (an Arabic favorite). Even just candied dates. Or how about a chocolate croissant (French favorite). Each has a distinct texture and flavor. The pecan may not be far from their experience with pecan pie. Chocolate croissant would be similar to a chocolate donut. The other two are simply sweet. Get them to trust that trying new things can be tasty.

Letting kids explore different ingredients and tastes on their own terms will help them develop healthy eating habits and prevent fussy eating habits from forming early on. Don't forget that including family favorites can also help bridge any gaps between food choices from different generations; it's also a great way to teach kids about cultural traditions and the importance of sharing meals with family.

Ask questions throughout the meal, like "Do you like it?" or "How would you rate it?" Allow your grandchild enough time to try the new food without pressure—you may even lead by example by eating some yourself! You could also turn mealtimes into educational opportunities by discussing where certain foods come from, their nutritional benefits, and even some fun facts about them. By doing this, you can make mealtime an enjoyable experience for everyone involved!

We should also take advantage of opportunities, such as international events or multicultural festivals where kids can explore flavors from different countries without having to leave home. We should also look for ways to involve kids in meal preparation, so they get excited about the process, even if the final product isn't something they usually enjoy. It's about giving access to different types of cuisine and fostering an attitude of exploration, so they are always open to trying something new.

Maybe Polish 'chocolate soup,’ (czernina) will be the next comfort food. Quack.

Share your favorite childhood comfort food in the comments below and let's reminisce together!