One evening, a young couple goes out with some friends to try Indian Food in Washington DC for the first time. Everyone orders something different, and the couple discovers they love this cuisine. They’d like to make future restaurant outings a family affair, but their kids are still pretty young. What are some good ways to introduce children to the unfamiliar flavors of food from India?
Getting Takeout
Getting a variety of foods for takeout is a possibility. The parents might bring the kids to the restaurant and let them look over a menu with colorful photos, then let each child choose a couple of items to bring home. This is one time when the parents shouldn’t give the kids any flack about not liking food they have chosen. The children have no idea what their choices will taste like; it’s essentially an experiment.
Dealing With Spice
It’s a misconception that all Indian cuisine is spicy and laden with chile peppers and heat from the curry. If the parents do think anything that was ordered is too hot for the youngsters, they can reduce the heat by adding yogurt, coconut milk or tomato sauce. Having those items on hand before getting the takeout dinner is helpful.
Choosing Familiar Ingredients
Introducing children to Indian Food in Washington DC allows them to try many ingredients and combinations of flavors they otherwise would not get a chance to taste. Nevertheless, they will probably appreciate the inclusion of ingredients they already know they like. One child might love chicken, for instance, making chicken in a lightly spiced yogurt sauce a good bet. Another may prefer shrimp and fish, while a third youngster likes dishes with plenty of cheese.
The Fun of New Flavors
Although the familiarity can be a nice starting point, children can be unpredictable regarding what they like and don’t like. Parents may be startled to discover one of their kids gobbling up vegetables with great pleasure for the very first time, just because those healthy foods have been marinated in a curry or yogurt sauce at a restaurant such as Heritage India.
