Feeding kid's friends real food

kessik

Number 1 son had a pal to stay over for a couple of nights. First day I made lasagne - he didn't know what it was but I gave him some anyway. He just picked the cheese off the top and when I said 'are you a vegetarian?' he said he wasn't. Sadly for him he didn't get anything else that night as there wasn't anything else. The next day he told me, when I asked him, that he mainly just eats potatoes and cheese - no meat, vegetables, fish or chicken, since he got a hair in his plate at primary school. My kids were just incredulous, as was I. He might be cheap to feed but he wouldn't last long in our house where you eat what's on offer or nothing!

Swan_2

Pink-winged wrote:

I'm with the like it or lump it school of thought.....within reason of course.

<nods in agreement> ... I'd usually try to present something familiar, but home-made, particularly on a first visit

but I was up against it with one little boy, who at home only ate jam sandwiches. they had to be cut in quarters, then he'd take one bite out of each piece & leave the rest :eek:
I offered him egg sandwiches, which he ate (in much the same manner :rolleyes:) but refused them at home!

thriftlady_2

Thanks Pink, I knew there was something on this subject, in fact I see I commented on that thread

CAFCGirl

I must admit I think the vast majority of parents these days just dont see the point in arguing with children over meals because it does just seem easier to make their trollies full of processed items.

When we were younger my sister was a very picky eater and so would only ever eat processed chicken and chips! Because I was younger and was quite happy to eat anything (must come from being a fat baby ) I'd end up with whatever she wanted because she was harder to please.

I dont so much necessarily blame my mum because i know it was difficult for her, with no money and a horrible bratty child like my sister was, but I turned out alright so all was not lost lol.

If adult children want to make the choice to eat cr*p, I say let them, i.e at 16 years old if you dont want what I cook, make and pay for your own!
However kids of around 4 to 16 being taken to macdonalds straight after school for salt with salt on, masquerading as a burger and chips, that is the parents fault.

We used to see macdonalds as a huge treat, not as an everyday staple. And now because my taste buds arent completely gone from years of abuse from tasteless poop, I dont even see the attraction in the taste of most fast foods!

I think children need to be taught to try and experience new things, including foods. Seeing them on tv spitting out apples and bananas, saying its youcky but then chomping down on revolting novely shaped crisps makes my blood boil!

I'd say if you do ever get visiting kids, wean them into the good food for the night you've got them, homemade burgers (since burgers are all they know) pizza slices from baguettes, potato wedges........

At the end of the day if they dont like it too much they can smother it in tomato ketchup.

Which, incidentally I recently read what sometimes the healthiest thing on some childrens dinner plates.............. now that is shocking

Jazzy_B

I get the other side of this. My daughter often comes home hungry because she doesn't like chicken nuggets,non HM pizza, fizzy drinks. We find getting decent food for the kids on holiday is difficult, because it seems to be chips with everything.

bulchy

My sons 2 best mates seem to live on takeaways, which ds thinks is shocking. He once asked me if he could invite them for tea and asked me to make chilli, he helped me with this and also did a salad, tortilla wraps and his famous 'plate' he calls it, he spreads philladelphia cheese, well asdas own onto a dinner plate, tops it with salsa then sprinkles grated cheese on top, and they dip doritos, (or asdas own alternative) into it, its his speciality whenever theres a family party. His mates ate everything at the table and talked about this meal for weeks afterwards, they said it was the best they'd had in ages, I was so proud of ds, and I think he was proud of himself. Also another friend of his was over playing while I was cooking sunday dinner, his mam rang him to say his dinner was ready, I dont know what they were having but I overheard him arguing with her that they never have yorkshire puddings, I felt sorry for him, so did ds, he says he would much rather have my homecooked food than the stuff he gets when hes invited round his friends houses.
Sue

thriftlady_2

:T Bulchy's DS - what a star, I'm going to pinch his 'plate' if that's OK.

Sarahsaver

They get what they are given here, no room for moaning!
HM pizza is a good one because if they do moan then you can say' don't you like your own cooking?'
Also sausages and mash is good because you can get better sausages, and have some veg with it. I did HM ice cream once for dd and friend, and DDs friend still remembers it, from about 3 years ago:)
Also a big plate of raw veg and houmous/cream cheese, then they can pick what they want. I would never buy junk food to feed someone elses kids because I wouldnt give it to my own.
And we don't really see mcd's as a treat. Since an early age I have made sure I go 'eugh' at the smell, and when they did pester on the rare occasion I showed them all the fat people/mingers in there, and told my kids they were too gorgeous to eat there.

shell2001

I agree with just a bit of effort homemade alternatives can be made. We made proper chicken breast chicken nuggets and just make extra to freeze. Homemade burgers and the girls love making HM pizza - full on family event all round the table making them together.

They both love pasta and would eat it everynight if I let them. Have started hiding veg in the bolognase sauce though as DD2 not to keen on eating it but when its in the sauce she always wants seconds.

What I really dont get is people who let their kids come in from school eat crisps, biscuits, sweets and then are surprised when the kids not want their dinners!! HELLOOOOO!!!!!

I guess we are in the minority which is a really sad fact. My mum worked full time but we always had a proper cooked family meal in an evening, its really important to me and DH that we all sit down to tea together and around the table (no telly) just a chat about our day!

On the fizzy drink front I went to a toddler group xmas party and they were giving 2 years upwards coke!! Surprise about 10 mins afterwards the room was full of hyper kids bouncing off the walls.

I know a lot of people think I am mean not letting the girls eat unlimited amounts of cake and sweets and other junk but they will get to an age where I have no control over what they eat soon enough, I just want to get them off to a good start.

thriftlady_2

It seems from your replies that we cook the same kinds of things for visiting kids, I still can't get them to eat it though:rolleyes: Anyway my kids love almost everything I give them so I must be doing something right