> >My 23 month old grand daughter *loves* chilies. And she does feel the > >heat. She likes all kinds of strong flavours. She is also partial to mustard, horseradish, lemons (skin and all), pickled onions, smoked oysters and roquefort cheese. A weird kid with grown up tastes. Jim in Yellowknife .....Jim, I'd say she is a budding chilehead, not weird! > >My parents never let me eat hot foods until I got older. Something about >the "heat" ruining my taste buds so that when I got older, nothing would >taste good unless there was a lot of heat added. I'm using this same >thinking with my kids, anybody have any thoughts on giving hot food to kids? > >scott Scott....I am no expert but I would suggest letting them try it if they want to. My kids, 7 & 5 1/2 like interesting flavors like those above as well as worchestershire, raw garlic and onions, sour crock pickles, salt and vinegar chips, salsa, and now tobasco and additionaly the 7 year old is into Schrirracha chile sauce. I think it makes them well rounded kids and ones that know what they like. And interestingly....it hasn't ruined their taste for candy and the other finer things in a kids life! Linda in Upstate NY