Healthy Eating

sleepy

As a child I was really picky (I still am to tell you the truth), and it would drive my parents up the wall. I used to say I didn't like things before I'd tried them, just because I didn't like the idea of them (still can't eat mushroom - its a fungus!).
I would only eat bland "british"/american food - so lumps of whole plain meat, or processed rubbish.
Then one day I went to a friends after school for tea, and they had spaggeti bolognaise. I'd always refused to eat it at home, but didn't want to make a fuss at my friends house so I ate it. Surprise, Surprise I loved it and went home and told my parents that I'd eat it from now on.
So how about getting together with a couple of other parents (or relatives) that share your concerns and arrange to each have the others children over for tea and serve healthy meals they might not eat otherwise. You could be surprised at the results.

mrsmab59

I'm guilty of giving in to my 12 year old son, which means he grew up on junk food, takeaways, snacks etc However, now we're having to watch the pennies I've found that by telling him exactly why we no longer eat the expensive way he's become an absolute angel and will try anything I conjure up. He's even become interested in food preparation and searching for alternative snacks himself...he's making his own flapjacks this weekend because he reckons he can make a dozen for the price of our normal pre-packed one and his will be healthier.

He's also informed me that if I ever try to feed him anything with vinegar in he WILL notice

tiff

Foreverskint, I totally agree with you. Mine have gone to bed without their tea before now due to constant whinging about the food in front of them. It works for the next few nights then they go back to whinging again. We've also thrown it in the bin when they said they dont want it. I will try some of your tips though, just might get through to them, him mostly. The thing is he will eat veg, he loves curry, chilli, spag bol, fajitas etc but if you put the wrong thing in front of him he has a Kevin episode. His favourite meal is roast dinner, so he's not a picky eater as such, just a blinkin pain in the backside LOL

MATH

I can't believe the number of people who do not serve puddings. Dinner should be 3 courses or at the very least 2 IMO. It gives your kidz a choice of tastes, textures and food groups that cannot be supplied in one course and encourages them to eat correctly. How will kidz know how to dine correctly if they continually sit down to one course with one knife and one fork only. A couple of playground mothers were gobsmaked the other day when my little girl let it slip that we use linen napkins and serving dishes at every meal. Why is this so odd? they thought it hillarious and yet are constantly complaining about how fussy and faddy their kids are when it comes to food. Mine arn't

Galtizz

mrsmab59 wrote:

He's also informed me that if I ever try to feed him anything with vinegar in he WILL notice

Always one for a challenge me vinegar cake

Ticklemouse

When can we come to tea, MATH?

My kids always have something for pudding, often yoghurt or fruit, but we rarely have puds. (she says having just finished her apple after main course!)

I do like a traditional pud, be it milk pud, crumble and custard etc, but what with all this good home cooking, how am I going to stay the size I am now, never mind lose a couple of pounds!

What was on your table tonight then MATH?

Anne_Marie_2

Galtizz wrote:

Always one for a challenge me vinegar cake

Going to have to bake now and try that one Galtizz, sounds very interesting!

As for fussy eaters, can't be doing with them, genuine dislikes are okay, but turning nose up without even trying, is just a big no. They can starve! Used to have more bother with daughter's friends coming round for tea, rather than with her, blame it all on the crap junk food they were given at home. Always did have bother with the veggies though, and as her father wouldn't eat them, it was a right struggle. Every meal seemed to accompanied by sweetcorn/corn on the cob and peas for a long time, as it was the only veg she would eat - apart from asparagus, which was a rare treat. It has gotten a whole lot better, and she does try out things now, mind you she is 18, so it's been a bit of a long slog! Try different methods of cooking veg if they don't like one way, found that roasted veg tend to go down well, steamed too, or raw.
I do sympathise as there is nothing worse than whinges and tears at the table, when you have slogged over a hot stove, and you just want a nice quiet life!

tiff

I cant tolerate fussy eaters either, which is why I dont make anything different and I know he's trying it on rather than disliking what I've made. The real problem may be the pudding issue, will have to talk to my husband and see what he thinks. His general attitude towards us is terrible at the moment, its almost as if he has to have a battle about EVERYTHING rather than just doing something without a protest.

He had two friends come to lunch once, I had made ham sandwiches, they both didnt like ham. One wanted marmite which I didnt have, and the other wanted cheese which was ok. The one that wanted marmite ended up with just bread as he didnt like anything I offered him. Those two dont come at the same time any more, cant be doing with it!

MATH

Ticklemouse wrote:

When can we come to tea, MATH?


What was on your table tonight then MATH?

My little 7yr old girl had a friend come round for tea so I had to do the burgers 'n' chips thing cos although my kidz shovel anything thing I find visiting friends won't. So Kidz had burgers 'n' chips I had lemon sole, chips 'n' salad and Mrs MATH had tuna 'n' salad. Puddings don't have to be time consuming or anything flash, fresh fruit is as good as anything else. Tonight we had one of the kidz favs - tinned peaches and a couple of pints of thick custard. Yum

Had to smile the other day when a friend crowed "We always have a dessert" Until then I didn't realise kitkat and twix qualify as pudding. What's Nigella wasting her time blind baking for beats me:D


TIPPET: Found a really cheap 'n' chick salad dressing the other day. Economy coleslaw. I chucked it in a bowl of tossed salad cos it was on the last day of its use by and it was great.

MATH

A CRY FOR HELP

I'm looking for easy to cook, very few ingredients, low preparation, one pot dishes, cheap to make, tasty recipes to make for me and the kidz when we are at our caravan. (Did I mention I've bought a caravan BY THE SEA;) )I know! I'm driving my own family mad talking about it too - sorry
I've got quite a few things I make but am looking for new dishes that can be special 'not at home' meals. Hope this isn't dragging the thread off topic - I'm on a health kick so of course we're only considering healthy dishes. Don't want anything too heavy after a fried breakfast anyway!

Please post you wise and frugal recipes. Thanks in advance MATH

PS: No slo-cooker ones as my trusty side kick has gone to the great caserole in the sky:A