From 1971 to 1972 Naturopath Dr. Alvenia Fulton (1893-1999) wrote “Eating for Your Health and Strength,” a column in the Black-owned-and-operated Chicago Defender. The following is her response to a mother’s question about her child’s culinary likes and dislikes. I share here answer in a paraphrased format when necessary to make it more accessible and as direct quotes as often as possible.
Dear Mrs. K.:
It is simply not true that very young children dislike the taste of certain foods introduced to them in conjunction with bottle feeding. The taste buds of infants are not sufficiently developed to discriminate the tastes of food. Almost invariably, when an infant reacts negatively to a certain food, close examination will reveal that the infant has learned his reaction from the mother.