Are your child's food preferences linked to what you ate in pregnancy?

Just wondering what other people's experiences are because I have noticed Ethan likes dried apricots which I ate a lot when I was pregnant. Also he doesn't seem to like meat very much and I wonder if that is because I am vegetarian so he never got that while he was inside me.  Although I do eat fish and he will usually eat that without a fuss. 

Plus my mum said when she was pregnant with me she couldn't eat peas, they made her feel sick and I hated peas when I was a kid - still not that keen on them now.

I was thinking about this the other day myself..

I know I craved fruit alot, especially raisins and pineapple. And of course, peanut butter. Those were my BIG cravings. Not all together! 


Yeah, the kids are obsessed with raisins especially. They could eat those little snack boxes of raisins all day long. They like their food most of the time. I've tried to give them a variety of things so they wouldn't be so finicky. Can't say its worked 100% but at least they aren't as picky as I was as a child.

Did you find that you craved alot of water when you were pregnant? I always try to drink it alot, but when I was pregnant, I couldn't get enough! I guess its true when they say you tend to crave things your body needs.

Peas.....     

Angela

Well... I craved dairy the most, especially cheese.  And now?  My son has a bad dairy allergy.  I've been told over and over that the two aren't necessarily related, but I can't help thinking it's my fault for having so much while I was pregnant.

Well... I craved dairy the most, especially cheese.  And now?  My son has a bad dairy allergy.  I've been told over and over that the two aren't necessarily related, but I can't help thinking it's my fault for having so much while I was pregnant.

Nooo it's not your fault. Its not genetically possible ,... Its just a weird coincidence

My mom said that when she was pregnant with me, she ate bananas all day long.  I cannot stand bananas.  The very thought of them . . . eeuuww . . . even writing this . . .   

Nooo it's not your fault. Its not genetically possible ,... Its just a weird coincidence

Thanks.  While my brain knows that it's just a coincidence, my heart sometimes has problems with it.  Just another fun perk of motherhood - guilt that you've done something to raise them wrong!

I ate nothing but M&Ms while pregnant with Philip... and he seems to enjoy them.

I wish!  I LOVE spicy, hot foods.  Aillidh's Scottish stomach can't take them.

Here's an interesting article on food for babies...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051009/ap_on_he_me/fit_baby_food_myths;_ylt=AmH9Gj8S0W1QJsTsqklJqFGs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3ODdxdHBhBHNlYwM5NjQ-

Here's a quote from the article...

"Science is catching up with the folklore that babies in the womb and those who are breast-fed taste — and develop a taste for — whatever Mom eats. So experts say if Mom enjoys loads of oregano, baby might, too. "

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1098969.stm
It's still being contemplated but to me there needs to be a bit more than 24 test subjects for it to be a definite in my book

..my feeling is that it's not linked with what you ate in the womb ...my mother ate pigs feet throughout her pregnancy and yet I'm not going near that sh*te... Although the mother's diet can affect the child's development in the womb....Eating habits are influenced by environment and behaviour. Jessica used to go to a childminder that was a vegetarian and her liking of meat decreased during that time....Eating habits change through time as well ...tastes change through time...what you enjoy as a toddler doesn't mean you'll enjoy as a teen or as an adult... Most of the times the early infant/toddler stage is a good time to introduce them to varied tastes/foods as they are more likely to try at least once.

I've got two kids whose tastes are miles apart....one eats very little meat and loves Indian food....the other prefers rather bland food and LOVES meat.  I ate the same things during both pregnancies, so I think there's more at play here than what mom has for dinner.  It's interesting to think about, though...

hmm i dont know with me and Calvin. i hated broccoli when i was pregnant. and Calvin will go mad if he sees it on anyones plate (on a good day!!) =)  he also adores fish, while i hate.