What can i feed the fussiest eater in the world?

mikeywills

How about making up yor own questionaire and asking him to fill it in, which foods he likes, loves, hates, hasn't tried, never heard of. You will expect things like chips to be on the loves list but don't give it as an option.

Go through the fruit, veg, seeds, pulses, meats, etc lists, obviously offer some kind of rewards for filling it in. Maybe say that you will make up a meal to include some of each of loves, likes, hasn't tried and never heard of.

See if you can get him involved in making it with you, not just cleaning the veg but him cooking you giving assistance.

Some of us hated what was put in front of us as teenagers and especially being told to eat it all up, or try it this time you might like it (that was one of my mothers favs).

If he likes roasts and bbq, then how about grilling kebabs, some meat some veg, some fruit, a nice home made salsa, and a selection of dips. Let him pick what goes on them, food is all about being involved.

Or perhaps some home made pizza, with a potato base, and oven roasted veg as opposed to chips. Beetroot is my personal favourite it is so sweet sliced thinly and roasted, love parsnips and sweet potato, broccoli tips go a bit like crispy seeweed.

I am getting hungry justing thinking about this.

recovering_spendaholic

I have a 16 year old DD who is fussy and stroppy with it and I come close to despair on many an occasion with her. I make HM pizza which she will eat, but only if it has french bread base, I also make BBQ pork (pork chops marinated in tomato ketchup, soy sauce, honey, wine or cider vinegar, lemon juice and a bit of mustard and then cooked in the oven or on the grill). I use the leftover marinade and boil it and then serve it for dipping with wedges which she will eat. That is about all I can get her to eat most of the time - she often infuriates me by messing her whole dinner around her plate and then going out with her mates and buying chips or pizza. She is in Russia on a school trip at the moment and I am secretly hoping that they are offering her borscht and runny eggs at every opportunity:rotfl:

mikeywills

We never really appreciate the value of our parents until me move out of home.
I remember hearing or reading somewhere, 'when we are small our parents know everything, when we become teenagers, they know nothing, and when we are adults we are surprised by how much they have learn't since we were teenagers'.

DebtphobicDeirdre

I sympathise, I too have a fussy stick thin teenage son who is pale skinned
so he looks quite ill at times .roast chicken drumsticks go down well and . a small fillet steak mixed with baked beans seems to work well sometimes. I add an egg to his milkshake hehehe. Bribing does work occasionally . I try not to let mealtimes become a battlegroundand try to keep connected with him. He is more cooperattive when we are getting on in general .

suep

I do sympathise, I have a 16 year old who is very fussy. I get fed up with going through the list of meals I can make for dinner only to have her refuse everything. I give her 2 choices, you either eat what I'm cooking or make you own meal, she usually goes along with what I'm having then, but does occasionally enjoy making her own meal. She likes Spag bol and when I make it I always make extra and freeze some down, so in an emergency she can have that. One of the problems I have is she has crazes on certain foods and wants to eat them all the time, so I stock up on them only to have her tell me shes gone off them now so I'm then stuck with a cupbord full of food that no one wants. Teenagers, dont you just love them!

hilstep2000

Sorry, I've said this before, I'll say it again. There are no such things as fussy kids! If they're really hungry they'll eat it! My kids are 16 and 20. I decide wha we are having for dinner, they either eat it, or go hungry. There's no choice at all. I'm even like that with their friends, so when they come over, they know not to argue about food!
Trouble with parents' today is they don't know how to discipline their kids(they are never told NO). I'm a teacher, and the kids in my class know that if I say NO, that's it, no going back on it. Come on, get wise, we are the adults!

mikeywills

If you want children to grow up without an opinion of their own, and with little independance, and prepared to to accept whatever anyone else tells them then follow hilstep2000's philosophy.

My wife is also a teacher, and there are several different kinds, those that dictate to children, those that engage them, and those that get mowed down by them. Yes you need to be consistant, but we all have different tastes, how would you feel if you were only fed food you did not like, and told eat up or go hungry.

northern_star

mikeywills wrote:

If you want children to grow up without an opinion of their own, and with little independance, and prepared to to accept whatever anyone else tells them then follow hilstep2000's philosophy.

My wife is also a teacher, and there are several different kinds, those that dictate to children, those that engage them, and those that get mowed down by them. Yes you need to be consistant, but we all have different tastes, how would you feel if you were only fed food you did not like, and told eat up or go hungry.

Hear, hear. :T

I work in care and hilstep 2000's approach would be termed abuse.

I'm also mum to 4, one of which is a fussy eater and while I'm frustrated by him at times, I would not wish to 'dictate' what he eats (by the same token I wouldn't wish to be dictated to).

It's not about 'spoiling' or 'pampering' but offering realistic, achievable choices should someone not want/like what the rest of the family are eating.

More work perhaps (though not necessarily, if the person is able to prepare their own 'alternative' food) but it sends an important message respecting individuality and promoting choice.

DebtphobicDeirdre

I was brought up by 2 teachers who were insistent that everything on the plate was eaten. It was no problem in my house as we all had a healthy appetite. Then I got married to a thin man[5'11" and 9.7 stone] and realised that not everyone is the same. We now have a thin boy who is a fussy eater and has a poor appetite and being strict is not the right approach because he is not bothered about eating almost nothing. My Mother agrees her rules would have not worked for him.

blessings3

hilstep2000 wrote:

Sorry, I've said this before, I'll say it again. There are no such things as fussy kids! If they're really hungry they'll eat it! My kids are 16 and 20. I decide wha we are having for dinner, they either eat it, or go hungry. There's no choice at all. I'm even like that with their friends, so when they come over, they know not to argue about food!
Trouble with parents' today is they don't know how to discipline their kids(they are never told NO). I'm a teacher, and the kids in my class know that if I say NO, that's it, no going back on it. Come on, get wise, we are the adults!

Donnt want to be rude but this is one of the causes of aneryrexia in teens - extreem contol can produce extreem responses

And to be honesst 16 +20 they are adults donnt they have any say? Besides in my house they would be cooking tea anyway !!! Does that mean I have to shut up an eat whatever they cook?