What can i feed the fussiest eater in the world?

annie-c

Some ideas (assuming that your children are generally healthy and not suffering from stress/emotional difficulties beyond the norm)

1 Plan and cook the meals together - teach them about nutrition as you cook. Tell them what really goes into sausages and chicken nuggets (if you dare!) and teach them the principle that 'you are what you eat'. Reinforce this teaching throughout the day - eg at hairbrushing/teethbrushing time compliment them on their strong white teeth or their shiny hair and comment on how they get that way from drinking their milk and eating their fruit and veggies.

2 Give them limited choices at mealtimes, so that they feel a sense of control without having the option to go wildly out of limits, ie don't ask 'what do you want for tea' but rather 'Would you like your fish grilled or baked?', 'Shall we cut the carrots into circles or long strips?'

3 Offer a selection of veg etc at every meal and allow everyone the option of turning down one dish on the table -again to allow for genuine likes and dislikes and to give a limited amount of control - but have a rule that everyone in the family must try at least one mouthful of each other part of the meal. Explain that this is because people need a balanced diet and that as people grow up their tongues often 'change their minds' about what they like to eat - so it is important to keep trying things because they might find they like them one day....

3 Keep between-meal snacks to a minimum and don't allow these at all if a child has refused the previous meal. Be matter of fact about the rule - don't get emotional or show anger. Remember at all times that your child is a learner and you are a teacher in the lessons of eating/nutrition. At mealtimes, respond to refusal by reminding them of the rules and reminding them how long it will be to the next meal - and if they still won't eat just let them sit quietly at the table until everyone else has finished. Then if they complain of being hungry between meals, sympathise briefly but in a matter-of fact way, eg by saying 'Oh dear are you hungry? That's a shame - it must be because you didn't have much for dinner. Never mind -I'll make sure to call you in straightaway when tea is ready in an hour...' And then distract them quickly with an activity and don't get drawn in to whining. They won't starve, they will learn quickly to eat a reasonable amount of what's offered and they will grow up healthier on the long run.

Do all this in the context of a fun, loving family atmosphere and you won't have to feel like the wicked witch for very long - and above all stay firm because you really do know best!!!

wigginsmum

Having raised two fussy stepchildren from the ages of 4 and 8, I pretty soon adopted the motto 'Eat it or go without' and I stuck to it. I knew they wouldn't starve and I expected their Dad to back me up. They didn't have to eat what I put in front of them but they also couldn't go and help themselves to other stuff; I don't keep snacks in the house, and I control the money and shopping (makes me sound charming, doesn't it?). They're now 12 and 16 and will at least try anything I cook (and I'm a pretty good cook so I don't give them disgusting stuff) and usually like it - in fact they do some of the cooking now. DSD is celiac so I make some allowances for that now that we know (I sometimes buy gluten-free snacks for her), but they're past the food-difficulty stage (and onto raging teenage hormones, but that's a different matter!)

Rachie_B

recovering_spendaholic wrote:

My lot love Nigella's nuggets (the chicken ones that is!)

Good Luck.

Ooh - how do you do them? DD1 is a real fan of nuggets and I refuse to buy the supermarket ones![/QUOTE]


here you go

http://www.nigella.com/recipes/recipe.asp?article=1236

tr3mor

I say put the meal on the kid's plate, if they don't eat every bite give them a suitable punishment, whatever your usual method. Keep it up and they'll soon realise it's easier just to eat everything.

thriftlady_2

Re chicken nuggets.

I notice Nigella uses crushed Ritz crackers,crushed cream crackers also work really well as a coating for nuggets or hm fish fingers.I think they're probaly cheaper than Ritz;)

Rachie_B

you are right but i just love ritz crackers

i only get them when they are buy 2 for x or BOGOF in tesco though lol

squeaky

There are other useful ideas and hints in the Cooking section of the MEGA Index, he sez

They're listed under "Fussy eaters".

Trow

tr3mor wrote:

I say put the meal on the kid's plate, if they don't eat every bite give them a suitable punishment, whatever your usual method. Keep it up and they'll soon realise it's easier just to eat everything.

I don't think its fair to expect a child to eat everything - I have read elsewhere about people puking up their forced dinners - it's just not right.

My kids have to try everything on their plate - including stuff they think they don't like. Sometimes they like it, sometimes they don't, but in my house they get no dessert if they don't eat a reasonable amount. It works, but I wouldn't force them to eat anything they don't like (although sometimes they might choose to if they think there is a gret dessert coming up!)

culpepper

My OH hates boiled potatoes.
One day I was talking to him about school dinners and he told me the dinner ladies always stood over him and made him eat them even though he could see they had 'slugs' in .He would then chuck them back up.
It turned out,he'd never seen potatoes being prepared and thought the place where the little shoots (the eye) had been peeled off with the peeling machine was a slug !:p
He will eat boiled sometimes now if we are having stew or new potatoes.
My DS doesn't like peas and would ask to be excused(for the loo) many times during a meal .One day I found out why ,when I looked in the loo and saw his peas floating in the pan(he'd fill his mouth and then spit them out when he got there).
Have you tried putting things in serving dishes at the table for them to help themselves? Mine would eat lots more that way than if I put it on their plates.

MrsTinks

Bizzimum wrote:

I remember it well :rotfl:

I wasn't even there but I have memories of it from the 80's

Seriously though we had little money when I was growing up and if I didn't like what was cooked (my mum loved uncle bens sweet and sour... I HATE IT!!!) then you could have plain rice and a roll - end of argument.

I'd be tempted to put up with the tantrums and just leave the food till they are hungry enough to eat it... It worked for me even if I still HATE uncle bens sweet and sour sauces