What can i feed the fussiest eater in the world?

dander

Well, I don't think cooking for just you is evil if he's already had a main meal and you haven't! Could you start by making sure you at least eat together - cook your food and give him a sandwich at the same time or something else that you know he'll be happy with. Then it's not like you're cooking for yourself, you're just doing you each something different. Maybe each time you make something for youself he'd be prepared to try a mouthful of it and you could introduce him to new things in a way that he might be able to handle and then if you find things he likes, you'll know they're ok to give him.

PasturesNew

I'd just cook for me, let him sort himself out. He's big enough and ugly enough to not starve, he's got a canteen. Leave it. Just cook for you and enjoy it.

You're not his mum, you don't have to wait on him hand and foot. He's not bothered about it, it's you that's stressing.

Once he sees you're not bothered and you're just eating your meals, he'll eventually start to get used to them and start asking "what's that? can I try a bit?"

CFC

PasturesNew wrote: »

I'd just cook for me, let him sort himself out. He's big enough and ugly enough to not starve, he's got a canteen. Leave it. Just cook for you and enjoy it.

You're not his mum, you don't have to wait on him hand and foot. He's not bothered about it, it's you that's stressing.

Once he sees you're not bothered and you're just eating your meals, he'll eventually start to get used to them and start asking "what's that? can I try a bit?"

Agree with this. You're not a bad wife if you feed yourself, he's fed himself at work!

Pink_Giraffe

I agree, it's not your duty to feed him! Offer him sandwiches or something else small while you have your main meal or just have yours and don't worry about it; he's a big boy, if he's hungry then he will eat. If he's not keen on trying things, why not have a look through a recipe book together and see if there is anything you can agree on? OH got me a new one for Christmas and we've been all through it looking at what to try out!

PasturesNew

Pink_Giraffe wrote: »

... why not have a look through a recipe book ... OH got me a new one for Christmas

Oh, and you so wanted an iron or a vacuum cleaner!

sp1987

Just make it for yourself and he may want some.

My partner 'hated' omlette (despite not having tried it) because he is a fussy eater. I made myself one and he wanted a little bit to try and liked it. This happened the same with chicken korma and lasagne. Sometimes I slip a bit of something he says he doesn't like on appearance alone into his food, wait until he has eaten it and tell him what he ate. For instance, he 'hates' chicken legs...so I put a little bit of leg meat in his chicken korma..he enjoyed it and I told him afterwards. He now clarifies it is the meat on the bone he doesn't like, so as long as I remove it all is ok as the meat itself is fine :rotfl:

There are some bits I just know he won't ever like so I leave well alone (baked beans, he just will not ever eat them, lol).

I spent about 20 years as the fussiest eater ever so I know what not liking the look of something is like.

Shepherds pie? That may accomodate both of you? A pasta bake in the oven? Slow cooked beef stew? Tortilla wraps? Maybe blt for you and chicken salad for him? There must be ways of cooking the same meal but with different parts to suit your allergies and his choices.

ceridwen

PasturesNew wrote: »

I'd just cook for me, let him sort himself out. He's big enough and ugly enough to not starve, he's got a canteen. Leave it. Just cook for you and enjoy it.

You're not his mum, you don't have to wait on him hand and foot. He's not bothered about it, it's you that's stressing.

Once he sees you're not bothered and you're just eating your meals, he'll eventually start to get used to them and start asking "what's that? can I try a bit?"

Our PasturesNew is a very pragmatic person :T. I think she's probably right here - to the extent that the way he eats is HIS responsibility, not YOURS. You're both in full-time jobs by the sound of it and no children to take account of. So - let him get his at work and you make yours at home. He just gets himself together a "lighter" meal in the evening - whilst you make your main meal.

Chances are Pastures is right and he will start just wanting "a taste of this" and a "bit of that" from yours and before you know it - you're both eating together at least sometimes.

Can I ask why YOU automatically took on the role of "cook"? Does he work longer hours than you do? If his mother and brother are good cooks - is he as well and, if not, why not? (ie did he just let them get on with it and took a share of whatever they did - rather than taking on a third of the cooking in that household?)

EDIT: I would have a personal concern about letting anyone eat in a works canteen - but then I would have a personal concern about anyone eating in the vast majority of places (because its not healthy enough for my liking - my own food being organic/wholemeal/virtually sugar-free/etc). If I wasnt as concerned as I personally am about this angle - I would just think "Oh well - if he's eating no less healthily there than at home - then let him carry on with it. He must be getting something else out of eating in the works canteen - ie a chance for socialising a bit with work colleagues and he values that opportunity."

Pink_Giraffe

PasturesNew wrote: »

Oh, and you so wanted an iron or a vacuum cleaner!

He does the vacuuming so I would have been quite upset! :rotfl:

As it is, I love cooking so a pretty good present for me, he is quite well trained :T

rozmister

Maybe sit down with him and ask him what he likes and try to work out a way to split the cooking and make food you both like to start with. If he says he isn't that bothered about eating in the evening then you can just make yourself a meal and leave him eat ice lollys and junk, it's his perogative!

With my boy he is always grateful for everything (loves food) and never complains about my cooking and if he did I just wouldn't cook for him anymore. His mum is the best cook in the whole world apparently but luckily I don't live with him yet so he can get her wonderful cooking on tap at her home! Seriously though they're all grown men and they can sort themselves out food wise if they need to, they just let you if you offer so I found from having three brothers!

Seakay

I'm with dander - don't feel guilty about cooking for yourself and make him sandwich if you want to stop him doing expensive snacks.
Also, encouraage him to cook all he wants - there really is no need for you to assume responsibility for the entire kitchen area when you are both working and he comes from a family where men cook and do it well.