There's nothing wrong with tofu specifically. However, kids do not have the taste palette of adults. We grow into this. It is a learned response in our brain. Infants are genetically programmed to respond to sweet things because breast milk is primarily glucose (much needed until the early toddler years for brain development). The process of developing a taste palette begins with the introduction of pureed baby foods and keeps on going through early adulthood.
When a child rebels against a food, it's because they are not acclimated to the taste or texture. Their senses (i.e. the nervous system) rebels against it.
Tofu has absolutely no taste on its own, and when it is not treated properly during cooking, or in recipes, this worse feature of it will be paramount--and kids will instantly pick up on it because it is foreign to them. As adults we don't understand it, because we have a developed palette, and we forget what its like for kids.
Tofu is a great protein source in a healthy diet, but it must be introduced to kids very gradually. One of the great things about tofu is that it picks up other flavors greedily. Marinated tofu is a great way to start introducing it. If the kids in question like chinese food, marinate a small amount of tofu in some basic chinese flavorings (ginger, soy sauce, chili pepper, garlic).
You also have to introduce tofu is small amounts. Don't make it center stage of a meal until they have developed the taste for it. Saute a small amount of marinated tofu and add it with diced chicken, or some veggies.
Some people don't like the texture of tofu (it is kind of rubbery). This can be remedied a bit by placing the tofu between a couple sheets of paper towl on a baking sheet and weighing the tofu down with a couple of cans of food. Leave this overnight in the fridge, and most of the extra water in the tofu (this can really only be done with firm tofu) will drain away. This leaves a tofu that is a lot less rubbery, drier, a bit chewier (closer to the texture of meat; and it allows the tofu to pick up even more flavors in a marinade.
So, no, there is nothing wrong with tofu. But there are bad and good techniques for using it and introducing it to kids.
Rokzane
This message has been edited. Last edited by: rokzane,
I registered for this site specifically for the reason you've posted about.
I'm not sure what goals Dr. Hark has set for this family, but feeding those kids tofu and vegetables for their first healthy meal is akin to a meth addict quitting cold turkey.
You have to understand that problems like this can't be solved overnight. I realize that much of what we see is meant to "shock" the TV audience, but ratings aren't worth the distress those kids were put under. It's not acceptable to stand idly by and watch a child vomit because he's being forced to eat a particular food that many healthy adults also don't have a taste for.
Start out with some lean, white poultry in addition to the stir fried vegetables. Add some natural sweetener (such as honey) or some berries to the morning oatmeal. In other words, teach them right away that healthy eating doesn't have to be so divergent from what they're used to.
Anyway, I have to say I'm disappointed so far in some of the choices Dr. Hark and TLC are making with these families.
Originally posted by rokzane: hmcraig keeps whining "What's wrong with tofu???"
I am responding to the narrow minded views of people who are used to a diet of McD's and can't find their way into a produce section of a grocery store. The same people seem to think that tofu equates to child abuse. The same people who would rather give their kids some marshmallow peeps for dinner vs. broccoli.
There are millions of kids who eat it (hey, look at Japan), but for some odd reason in the US.... tofu=emotional devastation.
Hi all! I watched the show for the first time yesterday and was appalled at the introduction to tofu that family received! We are vegetarian and my children are used to tofu, but even I was disguested by the way it was prepared. It had to have absolutely NO TASTE!! I'm sorry, if you are used to meals with high fat, high sodium, etc. that tofu/bok choy dinner is going to be terribly bland. I host a vegetarian supper club each month in my town, and I've served tofu dishes to folks who've never had it before. The response: wonderful. No vomiting at our dinners! But it has to be introduced sort of stealth-like :-) i.e. smoothies, lasanga, manicotti, cheese cake, etc. The kids were involved start to finish and were grossed out even before the food hit their plates. That stuff should've been marinated or something.
Originally posted by hillarymcbride: Tofu has taste... if you cant taste the tofu your taste buds have something wrong. It is a very good food that is often mis cooked
Yeah, plain tofus actual flavor is faintly reminiscent of muddy seawater.
My mom is Japanese. I've liked tofu since childhood, but improperly prepared it's awful stuff.
