A Texture Breakthrough Tonight!

I made "Mac 'n Cheese" tonight with quinoa, instead of pasta, for the 1st time. Guess who didn't like it?  I have been struggling with B's dislike for quinoa for a couple of years now.  He doesn't like the texture.  He also does not like brown rice because it's texture is more firm and crunchier then white rice.  However, tonight I realized that when we went to a friend's house last year, and she sprinkled a sesame seed and sea salt mixture over the brown rice she served, B gobbled it up!  I am now thinking his mind thought the firmness, or texture, came from the seed/salt mixture instead of believing it was the brown rice, itself...


After a bite or two of the quinoa 'n cheese tonight, B said, "Mama?  I'm sorry, but I don't care for the mac 'n cheese with quinoa.  I really don't like the feel of quinoa at all."  Then I thought of something.  I served My Made-Up Mexican Dump Recipe, which contains quinoa, for dinner on Friday and he ate the entire serving I gave him - no complaints.  In fact, it dawned on me that he's eaten that dish every time I've served it with no complaints.  When I said to him tonight, "It's funny that you say you don't like quinoa at all, because you ate your entire bowl of My Made-Up Mexican Dump Recipe with quinoa Friday night."  His eyes got big and he said, "I didn't know that had quinoa in it!"

So, what is the issue?  Does he not like it when he is told there is quinoa in the dish or is it truly a texture issue?  As I've pondered this over the last 4 hours, I think it is a moisture issue (which falls under texture, as far as I'm concerned).  I make My Made-Up Mexican Dump Recipe with pureed, thin, runny salsa in it, making it a fairly moist dish.  Homemade Mac 'n Cheese, however, has a thick cheese sauce that clings to your starch of choice and definitely tastes differently.  I am so excited with this breakthrough!!  Quinoa is not off the plate; I just need to make sure it's served in moist dishes for him.  Do you know what it is like to "unlock" a mystery in a child with special needs or sensory processing disorder or learning disabilities, etc?!  It ranks up there with unsolicited hugs/kisses/"I love yous" from your child, winning the lottery, best day of your life moments!  I'm so excited, I don't know if I'll be able to fall asleep tonight and I can't stop grinning!