That it's all genetic, probably not. That there are genetic factors, a
definite yes.

My oldest daughter takes after me (when I was a kid,) hates everything
green, and doesn't go beyond pasta with "white" sauce and junk food. It
was after I was in my mid twenties, that I developed a fondness for
salads, veggies, and guava and papaya--something I would frown upon my
parents enjoying.

My youngest one takes after my wife; you have to literally force them to
eat meat. Since the age of five, she would down an entire Caesar's
salad, and refuse to eat any starch or meat (protein.)

It was in her mid thirties, that my wife opened up to eating steaks and
veal. The little protein she received, came mostly from legumes, some
chicken or fish.

Not that there is anything wrong with that; but I do worry with my
daughters protein intake. If you don't watch her carefully, greens is
all she'll eat.

Not that I want to boast about it, but I have yet to meet a kid, with
such an appetite for things like broccoli, rabe, carrots, lettuce,
tomatoes, green peppers, endives, fennel, et cetera. Oh, I almost
forgot, she does have one demon that haunts her constantly: cotton
candy. Go figure?

Regards,

Rich



Miche wrote:
> In article >,
> OSPAM (JLove98905) wrote:
>
>
>>I have wondered about genetics and predisposition (or lack thereof) to spicy
>>foods.
>>
>>I have never been able to eat anything with chili pepper or cayenne, etc. I'm
>>extremely sensitive to it - it causes me pain and I get no pleasure out of
>>it,
>>so I just avoid it altogether. Logically, it does not factor into my
>>household
>>recipes. I grew up in a household where no spicy food was eaten - and I
>>asked
>>my dad why that was. Was it because he and/or his parents couldn't tolerate
>>spicy food, or simply because he grew up eating no spicy food in his own
>>household? The answer was, both. So I was left wondering, do we share a
>>genetic
>>distaste for spicy food, or is it a function of what we ate as kids?
>
>
> There are some food preferences which are genetic -- some people think
> coriander leaf (cilantro) tastes soapy, and that's genetic. Likewise
> the celery "extremely bitter" taste is genetic. I have them both. I
> love Thai food as long as it's not loaded with coriander. Makes it
> completely inedible.
>
>
>>I have a Mexican coworker who told me that kids there eat chili pepper
>>lollipops. Is it because they are born tolerant to chilis, or because at that
>>age, it is easier to form food preferences?
>
>
> It's the age thing.
>
> Miche
>