Any devious ideas for hiding veggies?

knittingcathy

I have a son who won't eat vegetables although he will eat some fruit. He insists that he will not eat any vegetables but he eats absolutely anything I put in a HM pie so guess what gets grated up and put in a pie lots of veg with mince or chicken etc.
He will try things but says he doesn't like it and will not eat or try again.

claire21

Mine didn't like a variety of fruit when younger but when I put it with a small pot of melted chocolate (like a fondue with a candle under it) along with skewers and a few marshmallows and wafer type biscuits, they would try everything. (They didnt have a lot of chocolate within their week so didnt feel bad about doing it with a pudding). You could try this for novelty value - even have a friend over so he can see them enjoying it and getting a dripping chocolate face. Lot less effort than getting the chocolate fountain out.

blackandwhitebunny

Have you tried pureeing fruit in a blender and then putting it in jelly? Just use the fruit puree as part of the liquid.

FatVonD

I always grate a green or red pepper into my burgers and meatballs (as well as onion and minced garlic) and you'd never really know it was there.

You could try 'posh' sausages with apple or leek in them?

I always make gravy with the water that's been used to steam vegetables and you could go one further and blend some vegetables into the gravy.

iamana1ias

bluebag wrote: »

I really feel for you, it's very difficult when they won't eat the good stuff. I got through it with my fussy eater by putting a half a teaspoon of the required food on the plate and said that had to be tasted first before anything else. She grew to like most veg, salad and fruit quite quickly, however It took about two relentless years to get her to eat sweetcorn but she loves it now.

I had misgivings about the hiding the veg in stuff, as I didn't want her to keep those habits throughout her life. It will test you but be patient and gently persistant and don't give in to the whining. Anyone can taste half a teaspoon of anything that's not poison.

This ^^ :T

You are doing your son no favours by hiding veg in his food! Who is the boss here? Him or you?

(And pasta dipped in ketchup? Seriously??)

Diannec1985

iamana1ias wrote: »

(And pasta dipped in ketchup? Seriously??)

Yes obviously I am being serious! Don't judge someone who is trying to do the right thing, eating can become a very complex issue, reasonable adults will refuse to eat vegetables and children do not come with a manual! It could be that he genuinely does not like the textures of vegetables, obviously when I was weaning him, everything was blended so there was only a differentiation in taste. He also dislikes a lot of stuff children generally like i.e. mash potato, milkshakes, chips etc.

Thanks for some brilliant ideas people. There is no rational explanation for his food behaviour, my husband and I both eat masses of fruit/veg and 'proper meals'. I will try to stop pandering to his needs a little and present him with sausage casserole today for lunch with vegetables and mash!

Any advice if he refuses to eat it? Would you let him starve until teatime? Serve it back up at teatime? I don't want to make the 'issues' worse x

pigpen

First thing I did... bin the ketchup how can they tell what food actually tastes like when it is piled in vinegar and sugar? it took a couple of days before they realised they weren't getting any and they would eat.

I grate carrot and courgette into bolognese.. but they know it is there.. they didn't at first though.. so I would 'hide' veg for a while but then tell him it is there and has been for months.

what about soups with blended veg etc.

Though by 7 mine eat it or starve.. they are taught that lesson very early on! I am currently battling to get the baby (10 months) to eat potato and bread and rice... she really hates them... for now!

I would start tonight giving him a small portion.. and don't give the same plate back at another meal if he doesn't eat it.. it is revolting.. I would refuse to eat that on principal.. but yes I would let him starve to the next meal time if he refuses a meal.

iamana1ias

Diannec1985 wrote: »

, obviously when I was weaning him, everything was blended so there was only a differentiation in taste.

There's no need to pur!e anything to wean a baby if you wait till they're 6 months old. There's a theory that blending flavours together into something that has no texture creates fussy eaters...........

My godchildren were weaned on normal adult food (including curries and steaks) and they are the least fussy eaters I've ever met (aged 7 and 5)!!

NiceGuyEddie_2

http://www.channel4.com/programmes/river-cottage/4od#3140239 This episode of River Cottage had really good ideas for encouraging children to eat fruit, it was interesting to see how the children's attitudes towards fruit changed when it was presented differently, flavoured with lemon juice etc. The relevant segment is in the first part of the show

And ditto the advice about letting him go hungry but not serving the same plate up at the next meal - he needs to learn to eat the foods you've prepared for him because the foods are nice to eat, which won't be the case if he gets the same plate twice.

kinkyjinks

Diannec1985 wrote: »

I will try to stop pandering to his needs a little and present him with sausage casserole today for lunch with vegetables and mash!

Any advice if he refuses to eat it? Would you let him starve until teatime? Serve it back up at teatime? I don't want to make the 'issues' worse x

From his point of view I can see 2 problems there. 1) The sausages will have been cooked in sauce presumably with veg so would probably come into the food touching category and 2) the veg and mash. That's probably going to be too much all at once for him.

If it was me, I'd cook his sausages seperately and then serve it with the veg and mash. It's still 'pandering' to him slightly but like you said you don't want to make a huge issue out of it. Have a look at this article on eating phobias and selective eating disorders.

Oh and good luck, I know how difficult and frustrating it can be.