What to do about fussy eater?????
Looking for suggestions about fussy eaters. I spent an hour yesterday cooking chicken cacciatori, it was so yummy. Both my 5 year old and 11 year old groaned when they saw it and continued to comment on how gross it was. The 5 year old refused to eat it and my 11 year old plugged his nose while forcing it down. I don't know about you all but I had my last straw. I lost it a little because this is a usual occurrance and I had had it. Both boys were sent to bed after I lost it telling them that "when I was a child....blah blah, blah" and "the kids in Africa....blah blah blah" I asked both them to tell me what exactly it is that I make that they do actually like. I was thinking of making the things that they like every day for a week at a time. Like just make a batch of spaghetti sauce, freeze it in 7 portions and feed them that every day, for a week. And then the next week make tacos and do the same. Maybe then they would appreciate some variety? Cook something different for myself. I would like some opinions on this. I also have decided that one word of "yuck" or "gross" about the food I do cook is an immediate dismissal from the table and straight to bed. My husband works away from home three weeks out of the month so I won't have to worry about what he like...THANK GOODNESS. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mindful Mimi on -
My suggestion is simple, though I know daily life is not :-)
It's all very nice to want to cook what kids like but they would be eating pasta every day (I know mine would!). So I suggest you cook the healthy food with lots of veggies that you like, add a little something they like (but not always) and don't make a fuss about them refusing to eat. They don't like it? Tough, they don't have to eat it. They will eventually get hungry enough and then they can get the left overs heated up. End of story. They will whine and curse for a while, but if you stick to it, they will get that you won't budge and actually start eating properly. Believe me. All you have to get through is the first few days. And don't worry if they don't eat. They will if they're hungry. Just make sure they don't raid the pantry and eat candybars instead.
Good luck.
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Permalink Reply by Denise Doxilly on -
Thanks, I will try that. My boys are so skinny though and it is just thier body type but I worry that they aren't eating enough. They take after thier father's body type and both have almost no body fat.
Mindful Mimi said:My suggestion is simple, though I know daily life is not :-)
It's all very nice to want to cook what kids like but they would be eating pasta every day (I know mine would!). So I suggest you cook the healthy food with lots of veggies that you like, add a little something they like (but not always) and don't make a fuss about them refusing to eat. They don't like it? Tough, they don't have to eat it. They will eventually get hungry enough and then they can get the left overs heated up. End of story. They will whine and curse for a while, but if you stick to it, they will get that you won't budge and actually start eating properly. Believe me. All you have to get through is the first few days. And don't worry if they don't eat. They will if they're hungry. Just make sure they don't raid the pantry and eat candybars instead.
Good luck.
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Permalink Reply by jazzy on -
:sigh: my two year old is exactly the same way. All he wants to eat is chicken every night for dinner, if I try to give him something different he will literally go on a food strike...i am so lost!
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Permalink Reply by Michelle Hutchison on -
I agree with mindful mimi - a couple of missed meals is not going to hurt them - if they are hungry they will eat. My daughter is also skinny. I always get her to eat at least a little of what we are having. It takes perseverance, but she is finally starting to be more adventurous. Good for you for not putting up with negative comments. We as moms don't deserve it. You could try getting them involved in the cooking - this helped with my daughter - she is more likely to try something different if she helped make it.
Denise Doxilly said:Thanks, I will try that. My boys are so skinny though and it is just thier body type but I worry that they aren't eating enough. They take after thier father's body type and both have almost no body fat.
Mindful Mimi said:My suggestion is simple, though I know daily life is not :-)
It's all very nice to want to cook what kids like but they would be eating pasta every day (I know mine would!). So I suggest you cook the healthy food with lots of veggies that you like, add a little something they like (but not always) and don't make a fuss about them refusing to eat. They don't like it? Tough, they don't have to eat it. They will eventually get hungry enough and then they can get the left overs heated up. End of story. They will whine and curse for a while, but if you stick to it, they will get that you won't budge and actually start eating properly. Believe me. All you have to get through is the first few days. And don't worry if they don't eat. They will if they're hungry. Just make sure they don't raid the pantry and eat candybars instead.
Good luck.
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Permalink Reply by claudia on -
i am lucky and dont have fussy eaters but my best advice is to...
simply tell your children you have a rule . they must try it at least once before they can say they dont like it . that means two good bites. after teh two good bites if they really dont like the taste then dont make them eat it. have a little note book and write down the different ways you have prepared it.
when i had my girls eat green beans i got the white cheese popcorn topper. the one that comes in a shaker. since it is only white cheese nothing else i figure why not let the girls shake the cheese on top of the green beans and they think they are using pop corn powder(which it is ) and they have a fun sood they get to eat
you can come up with fun ways to make the food for your kids and with the try it once rule (two bites) you can keep trying the same food in different ways till you find the way they like eating it ...
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Permalink Reply by Denise Doxilly on
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Hey thanks, I like the idea of getting them involved with the cooking. My 11 year old has expressed interest in cooking. I think it is sooo disrespectful when then make negative comments plus it kinda hurts my feelings after I have spent so much time preparing. I am striving to teach me kids to be respectful.
The Triumphant Child said:I agree with mindful mimi - a couple of missed meals is not going to hurt them - if they are hungry they will eat. My daughter is also skinny. I always get her to eat at least a little of what we are having. It takes perseverance, but she is finally starting to be more adventurous. Good for you for not putting up with negative comments. We as moms don't deserve it. You could try getting them involved in the cooking - this helped with my daughter - she is more likely to try something different if she helped make it.
Denise Doxilly said:Thanks, I will try that. My boys are so skinny though and it is just thier body type but I worry that they aren't eating enough. They take after thier father's body type and both have almost no body fat.
Mindful Mimi said:My suggestion is simple, though I know daily life is not :-)
It's all very nice to want to cook what kids like but they would be eating pasta every day (I know mine would!). So I suggest you cook the healthy food with lots of veggies that you like, add a little something they like (but not always) and don't make a fuss about them refusing to eat. They don't like it? Tough, they don't have to eat it. They will eventually get hungry enough and then they can get the left overs heated up. End of story. They will whine and curse for a while, but if you stick to it, they will get that you won't budge and actually start eating properly. Believe me. All you have to get through is the first few days. And don't worry if they don't eat. They will if they're hungry. Just make sure they don't raid the pantry and eat candybars instead.
Good luck.
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Permalink Reply by claudia on
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ooo by the way ... the reason fo r the two bites with the true it once rule is because first of all if they dont try then how can they say they dont like it . and the two bites ... well the first bite is to get it in there mouths the second bite is to see if they like the taste. most kids after two bites will keep eating it anyways.. serving for a kids is usually 8-10 bites worth . so if you can get them to eat the two bites(sticking with the must try it rule) then ask them to take two more... if they really dont like it then why make them eat it ... as an adult would you eat something you dont like. try it in a different way maybe they will like it with different seasoning or if it looks different
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Permalink Reply by Aissa on -
Maybe I'm a mean mom, but either they eat what I make or starve. If they don't eat when I cook and its ready, then I have them leave the table, cover their plates, and when they feel hungry enough to eat it, the food will be waiting for them. Not sure if its the right thing, but it works at our house.
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Permalink Reply by Kristie on -
I menu plan a month at a time - we never have the same thing twice in a month. In my house you eat what is served for dinner or you don't eat. We always have plenty of fruits and veggies at every meal so at minimum they eat that if they are not too into the main meal. I would suggest that you let each of your children (since they are old enough) to plan one meal per week. That would get them involved. You could also have them help cook dinner when possible to get them involved.
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Permalink Reply by Stephanie Bice on -
My kids are picky too! Something I do often is add veggies to pasta verry thinley sliced and just leave that part our of the tittle. Like, "Moms extra cheesey mac-n-cheese" has chopped carrots in it. I will also add spinanch to any pasta that will have other herbs and spices. I also introduced raw veggies with ranch drsg. Now, they will eat just about any veggie as long as they have ranch. We also have the "no saying yuck until you have eaten 3 bites" rule. Most of the time, if they try it, they like it and after 3 bites if it is "yuck" then I don't make them eat it. I think we all have those child hood scars of being made to eat things we don't like. If they don't like what I have cooked, then its raw veggies and a sandwich and no dessert! Hope this helps!
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Permalink Reply by Denise Doxilly on
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I like the idea of letting them plan one meal a week. I will do this because I think they will like that.
Kristie said:I menu plan a month at a time - we never have the same thing twice in a month. In my house you eat what is served for dinner or you don't eat. We always have plenty of fruits and veggies at every meal so at minimum they eat that if they are not too into the main meal. I would suggest that you let each of your children (since they are old enough) to plan one meal per week. That would get them involved. You could also have them help cook dinner when possible to get them involved.
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Permalink Reply by Denise Doxilly on
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The raw veggies with dip at the meal is a good idea. I also agree that you should make them taste a couple of bites and if they still don't like it then I will not force them. I do have memories of being forced to swallow peas whole just because I didn' want to eat them but I had to. I said I would never do that to my kids. Thanks for the suggestions
Stephanie Bice said:My kids are picky too! Something I do often is add veggies to pasta verry thinley sliced and just leave that part our of the tittle. Like, "Moms extra cheesey mac-n-cheese" has chopped carrots in it. I will also add spinanch to any pasta that will have other herbs and spices. I also introduced raw veggies with ranch drsg. Now, they will eat just about any veggie as long as they have ranch. We also have the "no saying yuck until you have eaten 3 bites" rule. Most of the time, if they try it, they like it and after 3 bites if it is "yuck" then I don't make them eat it. I think we all have those child hood scars of being made to eat things we don't like. If they don't like what I have cooked, then its raw veggies and a sandwich and no dessert! Hope this helps!
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