trader joe's faves and assuming kids will be picky

We went to Trader Joe's today. M asked me to go with her to try a sample. It was tri-colored chips with salsa. She approached the table, and before she even said anything, the lady said, "Would you just like some plain white chips, Sweetie?"So, M hadn't said anything, was excited to try the food and she was told off. The opposite of the expectation of mastery. The expectation of pickyness and the lowered expectation. (Like all the childrens' menus in the US it seems. It simply reinforces the cultural myth that kids are only capable of liking fried foods and carbs- of course many kids prefer carbs, but not giving any other options sends the parents and the kids a message...) So today, I stepped in, and handed her the little pre-made plate without comment. She tried all the chips and loved the salsa (which was surprisingly sweet, yet with no added sugar-still don't know how they did it.)Anyway, it reminded me of a few tips:• Never assume a child won't like something. I once remember M wanting to eat raw brussels sprouts, and I started to say, "We don't eat them r..." but bit my tongue.  She ate 3 raw ones and a few ones I cooked too. Consider serving a little bowl of whatever veggies you cook with dinner, but put some raw on the table. Also, watch those preconceived notions. My little one liked spicy pickles and even cocktail onions (thanks Gramma!) Artichokes are a treat. I think she likes pulling the leaves and dipping them in balsamic. Try to include some of your old grown-up favorites next time you eat dinner. Enjoy them yourselves, don't goad, pressure or push and see if your children are curious...• Have an expectation of mastery. Offer foods in a neutral way. Kids are naturally curious about new foods. All the prodding and praise can slow that process down. The curiosity might not mean a taste and swallow this time, but someday it likely will.• Avoid labeling or describing a child as "picky." They will live up to that reputation.• Kids like something one day, and refuse it the next. That is normal. Just keep serving what you want them to learn to like (with a few items they generally like.) Avoid rationalizing, explaining, pressuring. For example, M has liked salsa in the past, but had gone off it recently. I did not say, "Yes, try it M, be a big girl, you liked it before!"Other things I like from Trader Joe's• dried strawberries (I think they are gross, but M likes them with snacks)• blue corn tortilla chips. They are simply my fave blue corn chips, or any chip right now.• dark-chocolate covered pretzels• Cambozola cheese, WITH the blue corn chips. Heaven!• the butter croissants were pretty good. (M loved them one time, didn't like them the next. Again, go figure!) I also thought they must have been fresher and better the first time.• Ritter-Sport dark chocolate with hazelnuts.• the Tuscan melon, and whatever other organic berries are on sale. (I do tend to do the dirty dozen organic...)• pear tart• dried mango• pecan raisin bread(but, their Spanikopita aren't that hot, or the frozen green beans, or the mini-quiches...)What are your Trader Joe's favorites? What was a hit, what was a miss?