can anyone help me turn my kids into home food lovers

[Tigerhair]

The problem is that they'll go off the spag bol in a few weeks! Then they'll have another fave!!! ARGHHHH

I think the best way is getting them to cook with you - it's easy with my one child, however with more it's bound to be difficult. However, how about trying to cook one thing with each child - taking it in turn - they chose the menu (and it doesn't have to be difficult!) - they might even eat what they make.

Don't kill yourself though. My friend's daughter turned veggie at about 11 years and Paddy said to her "fine, but if what we cook isn't what you want, you'll have to make yourself something". And she did.

[Silver Ether]

Can't you just starve them into submission?

thats my way and it works

[Stonehead]

Alternatively, try the occassional buffet style meal, you could make it fun by getting the kids to stick stars on the dishes you know they can't eat, so that they can avoid them, rather than being told off for picking them.

We do this quite a lot as the OH is vegetarian, our youngest has a serious egg allergy, and the oldest and I eat pretty much anything.

It works particularly well with salads and roasts, as well as Mexican, Indian, Thai and other Asian foods. I put the meat on the meat-eater's plates and then everyone helps themselves to the vegetables they like. We encourage the boys to try everything once and, if they dislike it, we let it slide for a couple of months before trying again.

The oldest didn't like tomatoes for quite a while, but has now taken to snaffling ripe ones directly from the vines and munching them when he feels like a snack. Both of them do the same with lettuce, sorrel, cabbage, peas, purple broccoli, chives and carrots. In fact, they're probably worse than the slugs, caterpillars and pigeons!

Try and get the family into Indian food, there is very little dairy products used in that at all, as long as it is not horrendously spicy then even your little one can eat it.

Others to consider are most of the Asian and South-East Asian foods - Thai, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Burmese, Japanese and the full range of Chinese cuisines. North African and Middle Eastern foods are also a possibility, being either low in dairy or using goat's/ewe's milk products instead.

[JR]

Our 4 used to be a bit fussy, after a couple of years of being slightly devious and firm in that they try things, all is good. I dont let them have a pudding if they dont eat what they are asked too. I think it is important not to try to make them eat too much when then are small. Softly softly and all that.

Spinach is fantastic you can chop it and put it in loads of things! They dont even know it is in there! Try also risotto with loads of fine chopped meat and veggies and lots of juice. Our gang lap it up.

Good Luck, keep trying!

[Russian Doll]

Our 4 used to be a bit fussy, after a couple of years of being slightly devious and firm in that they try things, all is good. I dont let them have a pudding if they dont eat what they are asked too. I think it is important not to try to make them eat too much when then are small. Softly softly and all that.

Spinach is fantastic you can chop it and put it in loads of things! They dont even know it is in there! Try also risotto with loads of fine chopped meat and veggies and lots of juice. Our gang lap it up.

Good Luck, keep trying!

thanks for advice hunny....im doing really well..the kids are now eating lots more and not fighting me anymore

[Thomzo]

I dont let them have a pudding if they dont eat what they are asked too. I think it is important not to try to make them eat too much when then are small. Softly softly and all that.

Hi JR
When I read the first sentance, I nearly screamed. That's what my parents did to me: "eat it all up", "you can't have any pudding until you've eaten all your main course" etc etc. It has led to me feeling guilty if I can't eat everything on my plate and piling on the pounds as an adult. I still find it difficult if I go out to eat as I feel I have to eat everything and sometimes the portions are huge.

I felt much better when I read the rest of that paragraph. You obviously have the idea.

Zoe

[Merry]

My kids weren`t a problem - they never realised that there were options - i.e. "What`s the options? Eat it or don`t eat it!"
My problem is my OH. (My 2nd!)
He`s a shocking fussy eater, esp. won`t eat many fresh veg!! Or anything that isn`t trad English nosh.
His idea of heaven is corned beef and baked beans.
I`m a good cook and like everything! Rotten cooking separate for two singles! No satisfaction in cooking for him

[JR]

Hi Zoe

Yes you are right it is so important to get portions right for children, some of the super nanny type books and websites have good advice on the subject. We do find with our youngest the dinner portions are always too big however small they are and then the pudding stomach is rolled out and a huge peice of chocolate cake can dissappear in front of our eyes! We do have to watch that one.

The older three eat good portions and will all sometimes leave a bit which is ok. We also have lots of meals where the food is on the table and we serve a small amout each and those who want more can have a bit more. They all then tend to have 2 small portions like that and they feel they have eaten adult size dinners but in fact they have probably only had what they would have had served in the first place.

Parenting is such a difficult thing, I think the main problem today is mainly the lack of it, because it can be difficult. On the other hand if ignored kids run riot and are difficult to bring back in line. I am sure we all could go on day on the general parenting thing.

Take Care
Justin

[chadspad]

I cant get my son to try anything new without a huge fight! I have tried the Supernanny way of only giving him what we eat but by day 5 of him not having eaten anything Im afraid to say I do give in because Im worried about him. As a kid he ate everything - then when he got to about 3 things went downhill fast. Ive tried making games with the food, making pretty faces or pictures with the food, read all the websites, watched the programmes but he is very stubborn and it turns mealtimes into an absolute nightmare! Ive tried giving him a small piece of food alongside his dinners but he gags on it, puts it in the side of his mouth and will spend an hour chewing the same bit whilst the rest of his dinner goes cold. I find it very stressful Well done Tea for making headway!

[mrsflibble]

Well, despite eating nothing but total crap all day (lunch excepted Tea m'dear); soph got home and ate a full dinner of ravioli and greenbeans followed by half a cereal bar. this was totaqlly different to what me and the hubby had because i knew she wouldn't eat it.