How to Ruin One of Henry’s Favorite Foods

Last night’s cooking did not turn out well. I attempted a new crockpot recipe of red curry with pork and winter squash, but it was too salty and looked very unappetizing. As a result, we decided to go out to eat. I ordered a hummus plate and Daddy had a hamburger. In celebration of Oktoberfest, the restaurant also had a German pretzel appetizer so we got one to share.

By now you probably know that one of Henry’s favorite foods is bread. He loves having toast or pancakes for breakfast, but he also enjoys sandwich bread and dinner rolls. The fresh pretzel was another favorite. He ate several pieces dipped in hummus, along with jicama, grilled zucchini and a few bites of burger patty.

The pretzel was served with cheese sauce and spicy brown mustard for dipping. The cheese sauce tasted like processed fake cheese so it went uneaten, but I really liked the mustard. It had a mild kick with a touch of sweetness. I thought it might be good for Henry to sample the mustard too.

I lightly dipped a piece of pretzel in the mustard and handed it to Henry. He happily took a taste, but then immediately his face turned bright red and his body started to shake. Henry was so upset by the mustard that he burst into tears. It took a few minutes to calm him down with hugs and several sips of water. Then, Henry was happy to eat more pretzel dipped in hummus, along with some dill pickle slices.

This is the first time Henry has had such a violent reaction toward eating a food. In the past, he might make a sour face or spit something out when he didn’t like the taste on the first bite. I will usually re-offer it later in the meal or the following day and he is willing to try again. This time, I think we will wait until he is a bit older before I give him more spicy mustard.

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