What can i feed the fussiest eater in the world?

Savvy_Sue

is now wistfully remembering dumplings in stew (hint,hint)

They're not hard, let him cook them himself!

but I feel guilty after years of making what the kids would eat - one wont eat potatoes,another,pasta,another rice.

Tell me about it! I swear I have an English boy (meat and two veg, preferably spuds and sweetcorn), an Italian boy (pasta and pizza until they come out of his ears!) and an Indian boy (almost anything except meat and two veg!) Beans on toast was never just beans on toast, it was always beans for one, spaghetti for another and plain toast for the third. Cheese on toast had to be cheese for one, scrambled egg for another and plain toast for the third ... and so on!

After trying not toeither scream or run away from home I now do a couple of days that he will appreciate - a day for each daughter and anyone who does not want what is on the table can have a sandwich, beans on toast etc.
I still feel bad if someone does not want what I cook but am steeling myself not to be such a mug . "Hunger is the best sauce"

I do hope there's a day when you get what you fancy too!

Things have improved slightly: they all used to have school meals and then I didn't have to cook for all their fussy tastes in the evening. The eldest now takes sandwiches so I cook for him, and usually for the others as well a) to make them come for tea at the same time and TALK TO ME! and b) so I can exert stronger moral pressure to DO SOME WASHING UP!

I would be SO bored cooking only what the eldest really likes, so I spice it up on the quiet. He doesn't really like it but he's hungry enough to eat it without complaining, which is REAL progress because in the past I would never have heard the last of it.

And I have discovered Dried Salad Onions in Morrisons. They are probably stuffed full of fat, but sprinkle a few of them on the most boring mince in the world and it becomes quite tasty! No cooking needed.

beachbeth

It drives me mad when I see posts like this! Bad enough making fussy kids, but fully grown adults!!!!  In our house I decide what we're going to eat, and they either do, or starve! I'm a single divorced mum on a very limited budget, no fussy eaters here, they know better!!

This is always how I think. Either eat it or go without (or make yourself something else!). Trouble is, whilst my younger daughter will cook herself something if she is hungry, my elder daughter isn't very interested in food at all and wouldn't bother. If I cook something she doesn't like then she just doesn't eat. She is stick thin and hasn't got any fat to fall back on! I find myself desperately thinking of things to cook that will encourage her to eat!

Savvy_Sue

This is always how I think. Either eat it or go without (or make yourself something else!). Trouble is, whilst my younger daughter will cook herself something if she is hungry, my elder daughter isn't very interested in food at all and wouldn't bother. If I cook something she doesn't like then she just doesn't eat. She is stick thin and hasn't got any fat to fall back on! I find myself desperately thinking of things to cook that will encourage her to eat!

Yup, all of mine will cheerfully starve (or graze on biscuits) if they can't be bothered to cook, and the older two are also stick thin. The discovery of frozen fish pies for 99p (or 2 for £1.50 in Asda) which you can microwave has helped me.

Also I got some helpful advice from the school doctor: that if the eldest wanted to eat a jacket potato with cheese and baked beans for his lunch every day then I shouldn't worry, there were plenty of less healthy options out there.

So once you've found what she will eat, don't be too afraid to serve it often. We tend to rely heavily on tins of chopped tomatoes as a base for sauces. Once a week I'll use Italian Tomato Soup for a change - and get glared at. Chicken soup is OK, but mushrooms are a no-no. So I sometimes cook them separately and sneak them onto my plate with those onions!

Chris25

Perhaps you could make several 'blended' meals while he's out and freeze them so he doesn't actually see what goes into them.

I do sympathise as i have a son who doesn't eat meat, poultry, fish, eggs or vegetables. He lives on peanut butter, marmite, cheese, bread, chips, fruit and yoghurt (oh and sweets!). He does seem to get a relatively balanced diet (could just do with a bit more protein and I worry about the fat content) but it's so boring and we often take a sandwich for him if we go out to a restaurant, although he quite likes garlic bread now.

In fact we went out to a restaurant in America once and there wasn't one single thing on the menu he would eat. As it was a big family occasion, we decided to stay and go shopping afterwards for him but when I went to the salad bar, I discovered that it had been garnished with strawberries and melon which I promptly scooped onto a plate and he happily ate. ;D

Cullumpster

Thanks all for the replies, they've been a big help.

I am now getting to the point where i am saying 'this is what we are having for dinner' if he says that he doesn't want it then it's up to him to get something else!

But this usually results in him stomping down the chippie, not very money saving!

Sarahsaver

I wouldnt put up with it. I enjoy a good meal, and he is an adult. I couldnt have a relationship with someone that fussy. You are so patient! (Too patient?)
I thought my daughter was fussy, but she is 7 and she will eat noodles. You can retrain your taste buds, you only have to try the offending item about 10 to 15 times more, to learn to like it combine something you dont like with something you do.
Either that or start going out for nice meals with someone else

Savvy_Sue

I am now getting to the point where i am saying 'this is what we are having for dinner' if he says that he doesn't want it then it's up to him to get something else!

But this usually results in him stomping down the chippie, not very money saving!

So that is something to talk to him about, because it is doubly not money saving: you have prepared something which he isn't prepared to eat and he is shelling out at the chippie. It's not very healthy either!

Scary_Fish

my ex boyf was just like this....*blame the mother*

she got round it by making (for example) the start of a bolognaise then taking out a portion before putting in the tomatoes etc....to sneak some goodness into his diet she used to make a stern curry using pureed yellow and red peppers for the whole base of the sauce then spicing it quite highly.....never grumbled...

regarding eating out....most places are quite accomodating and will cook things without sauces or vegatables. ::)

all this being said...please note i did say EX boyf....bluddy idiot man!! ;D ;D

16011996

lol @ scary fish.

eating out a lot of places are quite good, i can't eat cream sauces, and they are happy to serve food plain.

Laneyh

I used to be a fussy eater and much of it is down to childishness and being stubborn.

I mean I wouldn't eat some things simply because of how they sounded or looked (I still struggle with fish) but it is possible to re-train the palate and expand the options on what to eat.

It sounds like your partner eats a lot of processed food so sometimes the taste of real food can be a bit too full on.

I'm guessing he may have a sweet tooth as a lot of processed stuff is full of sugar.

I would try maybe introducing some sweet veg initially and see how that goes. I good way method is either mashing it in with potato or just making a mash from the veg itself. Most root veg is pretty sweet and could be a good starting point.

You could try chicken on a bed of butternut squash or something.

If he does have a sweet tooth then stir frys incorprating
citrus fruits might be good. Also veg like garden peas and sweetcorn.

It could be a slow process but if you can get him to at least switch to less processed food you will be on the right road.