Everything Goes with Everything (Yes, Even Those Things Your Kid Mixed Together)

One of the biggest myths about food is that there are right and wrong combinations. Like peanut butter only belongs with jelly, pasta has to go with tomato sauce, or apples are meant for pie but not tacos. Unless Martha Stewart or Julia Child is coming to dinner, we can lighten up on what “goes” with what 😉

Kids are the best proof of this. They’ll dip their chicken in applesauce, pile cheese on top of rice, or mash together two leftovers that their parents would never dare mix.

As a dietitian who works with super selective eaters, I remind parents of this all the time: it doesn’t really matter how “weird” or mismatched the combo is—what matters is that your kiddo is eating. When we give kids the freedom to mix and match, they feel more in control, more curious, and more willing to explore new foods. That’s a win in my book.

Here’s why embracing “everything goes with everything” can be so freeing:

• Less stress for parents. Your kiddo eats it? Perfect.
• More fun for kids. Food becomes an experiment, not a battle.
• Trust. You can trust your kiddo to know their own taste buds.
• New discoveries. You might stumble on a combo you never expected to love. (Pickles and cheese, anyone?)

So next time your kiddo dunks a carrot in ketchup or stirs rice into their soup, try not to cringe. Smile, let them explore, and maybe even grab a fork to try it too. Because at the end of the day—it doesn’t matter if it’s conventional. What matters is that your child eats it.

Snack Idea:

Mini bagels & cream cheese/jelly/peanut butter

Reach out at Karen@CoastalFamilyNutrition.com or call the office at 603-674-2479.

Please feel free to share this with someone who may like to learn more about feeding kiddos!