Chef gives toddler fancy dishes including LOBSTER and scallops so he doesn’t become a ‘picky eater’
A dad who works as a professional chef has revealed how he serves gourmet meals to toddlers like lobster and braised ribs.
Jack Zhang, 31, from New York, wants to make sure son Levi, two, isn’t a picky eater, so he’s been making lavish dishes for him since he was able to eat solid foods, in an effort to make eating fun.
Levi has had scallops, ratatouille and pork dumplings and likes to try new things, Jack said.
Jack said, ‘I started making baby food from scratch when he was young.
‘I love to cook, that’s my passion. Now I always have someone to cook for. I love to introduce him to all types of dishes, cuisines and cultures.
Jack Zhang, 31, of New York, serves his toddler Levi, two, gourmet meals like lobster and braised ribs (pictured with wife Emily, 28)
“The mindset is that he shouldn’t be picky all the time and try a bunch of different foods.”
Jack, married to part-time English professor Emily, 28, grew up on homemade meals.
He wanted to replicate that for Levi – so he started making meals from scratch when he was a year old and able to try different foods.
Jack said, “In the beginning I would try to introduce him to proteins like fish and meat.
“I would make rice, salmon and peas and cook and mix everything to the consistency of baby food.
‘He really enjoyed it. When he was young he loved anything containing salmon and when he was a little baby he loved Greek yoghurt.’
When he was 18 months old, Jack was able to test his new dishes on Levi.
And he now serves dinners like scallops with a cauliflower puree, quick-pickled cucumbers, radishes, microgreens, and tobiko.
He wants to make sure son Levi, two, isn’t a picky eater, so he’s been making fancy dishes for him since he was able to eat solid food, in an effort to make eating fun
Levi has had scallops, ratatouille and pork dumplings and likes to try new things, said Jack
Jack said, “About 18 months old I started giving him things he could chew on.
“It helps him explore and learn. Recently I made braised short ribs with parsnip puree.
‘He really enjoyed it. He loved pulling it from the bone.”
Jack said Levi loves avocado, seafood and fruit and is always able to develop his “curious palette.”
Jack and Emily try to turn Levi on with food so he wants to try it.
He said, “I made a ratatouille inspired by the Pixar movie. We let him watch first to get him excited.
Jack said Levi loves avocado, seafood and fruit and is always able to develop his ‘curious palette’
Jack said strangers are ‘shocked’ to see such a young trying different foods such as caviar and scallops
Jack and Emily are working on putting together a cookbook about some of Levi’s favorite dishes and giving other parents ideas on how to get their kids to try new dishes.
‘We make food fun. They want to experience different textures.’
Jack said strangers are “shocked” to see such a young person trying different foods.
He said: ‘I think people are shocked to see someone so young eating different foods.
“People say ‘I’m 40 and I haven’t even tried that yet’. Levi speaks extremely well for a two-year-old.
“I have whole conversations with him.”
Jack and Emily are working on putting together a cookbook about some of Levi’s favorite dishes and giving other parents ideas on how to get their kids to try new dishes.
Jack said, ‘His [Levi’s] palette is always changing. It’s never too early for kids to learn.”