Anyone who spends time around young children can attest to the fact that picky palates are common. Bold flavors especially those that involve heat often take little kids by surprise, and many react to the unfamiliarity with loud and adamant refusal. My almost-2-year-old niece, for example, is a mini foodie who loves just about every dish she tries unless hot peppers are involved. One bite of salsa or guacamole, and shes in full meltdown mode.

I, on the other hand, have loved spicy foods since I was a toddler (at least, according to my mom), and my adoration for peppers, chili powder, cayenne, hot sauces and all other capsaicin-loaded eats has persisted into adulthood. That makes me wonder: Can spice tolerance be learned? Can kids develop a taste for spicy foods, even if theyre not immediate fans? And if so, how can a parent go about facilitating this while respecting their childs preferences?

To answer these questions, we asked licensed nutritionists and dietitians who work with children to provide some guidance on the best ways to introduce young kids to spicy foods and how to give them the space and the support to decide whether they like these dishes.