Picky Children-How To Reducate then to OS eating?

IWannabedebtfree · 12 January 2007 at 12:05PM

Thanks to all your posts, I'm loving this site. I just wish I could get my kids to eat a decent sized OS style meal in the evenings. We used to have a takeaway a couple of times a week (not necessarily unhealthy ones tho-they love tandoori type things.)and I probably gave them too much choice about what to eat for dinner in the evening too, so I was cooking an adults meal for 2 and a children's meal for 2. Very expensive and time consuming.Now that we are all eating the same meal, cooking is much easier and they are slowly beginning to eat a meal without too much moaning, BUT they still don't eat enough to be full, so want cereal/toast afterwards. Has anyone else had this? Does it get better? Thanks for any comments.

MadCowMan · 12 January 2007 at 12:13PM

You could always make your own tandoori marinade ?

http://www.natco-online.com/acatalog/tandoori_chicken_recipe.html

Get the spices from the local indian/chinese supermarket and it'll be much cheaper than a takeaway

or you could 'run out' of cereal/toast magically ?

newlywed · 12 January 2007 at 12:20PM

Get the kids to go through one of your cook books and write down things they think sound/look nice? Then do one of those a week (alternate between the kids).

Did this with cakes/biscuits etc and the kids loved it because they'd chosen it.

Mum used to get bored of meal plans and so do the same thing - we had to think of something we liked eating that she hadn't cooked for a few months... then she had to work out which ones she had time to do and which days (as she was then working part time). Each week we got one of our meals we'd picked.

On the other hand, the boys say they have separate stomach area for pudding and so even if they eat and say they are full, 10 mins later they want something sweet. You could try a quick and easy microwave sponge pudding on some days (in the recipe index)?

When we introduce new veg to the boys, we tell them they have to eat one bit and if they really don't like it they can leave it. They often try one bit and then if I do that a couple of times with the same veg they will sometimes eat more of it!

patchwork_cat · 12 January 2007 at 12:21PM

Children can be very obstinate about new things - my son is dreadful.

His grandma can't eat onions as she found they caused her to have terrible wind. When he was little he would eat onions, but since grandma has stopped he won't touch onions - if he knows they are there.

I puree up veg in sauces and read today in the tesco healthy eating leaflet that you should do that even as an adult because you will get used to the taste and gradually accept them unpureed.

Why not make the sort of foods that you had as takeaways? Pizza is dead simple and my family much prefer homemade. Even if you don't have a BM pizza base is easy to make.

Like previous poster said make tandoori or tikka marinade. Get them to help with the cooking - as long as you aren't trying to hide anything in a puree at the time!

phizzimum · 12 January 2007 at 12:27PM

my advice would be to be patient and keep trying them with new things from time to time.

When I'm planning the weeks meals I (usually) ask each member of the family to chose what we'll eat for one night. Then once a week I'll make something that I know the kids wont like the look of (something really exotic...like shepherds pie!)
I only expect them to eat a little of it...and sometimes they actually like it!

I try to balance the meal out so that there are parts of it they will eat so that no-one starves. for example lasagne...but with bread and salad. or maybe an apple crumble for pudding...something that will provide some necessary carbs and vitamins.

I've found that over the years certain meals that the girls turned their noses up at have now become acceptable. I just have to remember not to push my luck or it backfires!

Having the children help me chose meals and sometimes help me cook seems to give them a sense of involvement...I think that mealtime issues are often about control, so this gives them a feeling that they have a say too.

thriftlady_2 · 12 January 2007 at 12:28PM

You are not alone

Try looking here
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=54777&highlight=picky+eaters

Paige · 12 January 2007 at 12:31PM

How old are they ? My DD went through a terrible eating phase when she was7,she did not eat meals for days at a time. So bad the health visitor got involved after I took her to the doctor. She was brilliant, advised me to cook only one meal for the family, give her a reasonable portion and if she would not eat it put it in the bin - ignoring her - no feedback at all - whilst praising my other DD for eating hers. Then I did not allow her any snacks after the meal at all except for her usual biscuit and bedtime drink. After 1 week she ate everything I put in front of her and still does. I think its all about battle of the wills and despite me thinking she would faint from starvation she was fine, Is this something you could try ? Paige X

natzini · 12 January 2007 at 12:55PM

Gosh they sound like my OH!!

His Mother and Nan spoilt him as a child and now I have to put up with it! Am trying to reeducate him foodwise because of them!

Good on you for trying to do something with them!

smileypigface · 12 January 2007 at 1:10PM

Totally agree with Paige - and think natzini should do the same thing for her OH - if he doesn't want to eat what's put in front of him then perhaps he should do all the cooking in future - hehe!

I'm totally with Paige where kids are concerned - never had a problem with my 3 - I dish it up - everyone gets a bit of everything - there's usually a bit of extra veg up for grabs as I always seem to cram the steamer a bit fuller than necessary - but different kids will go for extra of their favourite (William who's 8 prefers the white stuff that looks like brains and sometimes has the green stuff that looks like trees!! - I'll be sorry when he starts to remember the real name for cauli and brocolli!!!). You eat what's on your plate until you've had enough - if you don't want something then just leave it on the side of your plate. No comment - and very rarely does anything get left.

We've always been the same in our house and meals are a really enjoyable, relaxed time - I think it's important to respect the fact that children might genuinely not like the taste of some foods - I really hate to see parents doing the aeroplane thing with babies food ... showing their desperation to get food into the child so obviously that the child soon learns what a great weapon mealtimes are to exert control over their parents - several of my friends have fallen into this trap and mealtimes have become battlefields!

All kids are different though - obviously - maybe I'm just lucky that all 3 of mine enjoy their food - they all enjoy joining in the preparation too so I'm sure that is a factor too!

Good luck - but I'm sure there isn't a child in the country who will starve themselves to death!

abbecer · 12 January 2007 at 1:12PM

I try to accomodate my boys as much as possible regarding their food. They eat really healthy for at least 90% of the time. I try to involve them in preparation of food as much as time allows also when shopping i let them choose the vegetables. This does help as they feel involved in the whole process. If i know they really do hate something i don't force it. If all else fails and they won't eat a meal i have prepared and know that they usually like then they wait until the next meal. This happens hardly ever as they know they will be hungry. I don't have the money to waste or the patience to mess about at meal times. Maybe this seems mean but i have two lovely boys who are very good at trying new foods and generally give me no problems.

Rebecca x

P.S 4 year olds favourite foods are olives and prawns. One year olds fave things are tomatoes and yellow pepper. Both love prunes, figs etc!!!

abbecer · 12 January 2007 at 1:14PM

Smileypigface, I really agree with your post but your thanks button has disappeared!!

Rebecca x

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Picky Children-How To Reducate then to OS eating?

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