Feeding Fussy Kids

falconhell2002, you're right - allowing choice is one of the basic principles of child psychology.There are fewer two-year-old tantrums if, instead of saying. 'Let's put on your jacket', the parent says, 'Which would you like to choose,the jacket or the hoodie' etc

We all get dished the same meal with sauces on the side where possible. I don't insist they clean the plates, but sometimes have to encourage them to eat a little more. They don't get anything else if they get hungry before bedtime unless they finished dinner though. Maybe dish out the cooked pasta plain for your child that hate sauce. Then mix it up nice for yourselves with a bit of saucy pasta on the side for the child in case curiousity gets the better of them.

and veges taste so much better with simple grated cheese ontop.

Children will sometimes eat for breakfast what they rejected the night before at dinner.Part of being contrary.

"Be Cruel to be Kind" or "Tough Love".

If they don't eat this then you don't get that, time to toughen up, they need to know now that life is not easy at the earliest stage so start now with meals, their clothing etc.before they make their own beds to lie in for the rest of their life.

They will appreciate it all later.

Cheers.

I expect moderation in their diet but am just so grateful for my requests for some idea because i am running short of them.Does anyone else get into the same habit of always eating the same things weekly.
We do a meal plan for our shopping and regularly stick to it but finding new idea's to add to the menu is a struggle.
loving the ideas so far. Thank you to all!

One thing I do find as really great and a reward is do meals with noodles in them, everyone simply eats them regardless of age.

A chicken laska by donald6 is very popular, a stir fry using different meats each time and with fresh veges, a nice simple stir fry sauce with say "Sobu" noodles tossed through or even chunks of most fish flesh with a nice light citric flavoured dressing-sauce goes well also.

Another meal is a good basic lasangna completely made from scratch ( that is using fresh items although instead of using fresh tomatoes to use cans of tomatoes and wee bit of tomato paste) is very popular.

Finally, do a thorough search through this messageboard, (will need quite a bit of time), copy and paste recipes that you feel suits yourself and family and print them off, put into a special "To Try Folder", tell everyone that your mission is to do one of these recipes at regular intervals and you will be surprised on their anticipation of trying these.

Hopes this helps.

Cheers.

The links in the download to above is under TMC short for trademecooks.

Cheers.

How old is the fussy child?The policy in our house is and always has been (since they turned 5) "eat it or starve" - under 5 you get Weetbix if you don't want/like what I've cooked.I'm not a short order cook so I won't/don't cook different meals for each individual in the family.My 16 year old isn't keen on recipes involving sauce/gravy either but that doesn't mean the rest of us miss out - just means that when I serve his I drain the sauce/gravy which is easily done using a slotted spoon.Whilst likes and dislikes are perfectly natural I don't see why we should miss out on the food we like simply because one of the kids doesn't like, for example, mushrooms.

Did anyone watch "do or die" last night on TV1 where the overweight family try to change their eating habits and lifestyle - last night the 13 year old son would eat nothing but white bread sandwiches with potato chips as the filling.None of the family ate fruit or veg.It was a real eye-opener.The other thing that always amazes me with this type of program is that usually the families don't sit at a table to eat, but have their meals balanced on their laps while watching tv - probably they think that's what a balanced meal is!

kuaka, I like your definition of a balanced meal...reminds me of the difference between a carefully thought-out meal and a carefully thawed-out one :)

elliehen - no, it's not my definition of a balanced meal, just an observation of the way some people eat.Personally I can't stand eating with a plate on my lap, probably because I'm such a shortie, and my feet normally don't touch the floor so it's uncomfortable for me to eat "snack-style" as I always think of it.We have all our meals at the table, breakfast, lunch and tea.I even find it difficult on the odd occasion when I'm sick in bed, and have to have my meals on a tray.Just doesn't seem right to me to eat other than at the table (picnics excepted of course)

Bollocks. You probably gave her the idea if you really believe a child under 10 will starve.

I expect moderation in their diet but am just so grateful for my requests for some idea because i am running short of them.Does anyone else get into the same habit of always eating the same things weekly.
We do a meal plan for our shopping and regularly stick to it but finding new idea's to add to the menu is a struggle.
loving the ideas so far. Thank you to all!

One thing I do find as really great and a reward is do meals with noodles in them, everyone simply eats them regardless of age.

A chicken laska by donald6 is very popular, a stir fry using different meats each time and with fresh veges, a nice simple stir fry sauce with say "Sobu" noodles tossed through or even chunks of most fish flesh with a nice light citric flavoured dressing-sauce goes well also.

Another meal is a good basic lasangna completely made from scratch ( that is using fresh items although instead of using fresh tomatoes to use cans of tomatoes and wee bit of tomato paste) is very popular.

Finally, do a thorough search through this messageboard, (will need quite a bit of time), copy and paste recipes that you feel suits yourself and family and print them off, put into a special "To Try Folder", tell everyone that your mission is to do one of these recipes at regular intervals and you will be surprised on their anticipation of trying these.

Hopes this helps.

Cheers.

Editing to add to go through all the pages of this Messageboard individually then at the following linkhttp://www.e-ware.co.nz/downloads.htmare downlaods of recipes that were saved from previous posters from here. both links and scroll through them as well.

I realised your tongue was firmly in your cheek.And yes, sitting around a table for a family meal is a socialising and civilising experience.

How old is the fussy child!The policy in our house is and always has been (since they turned 5) "eat it or starve" - under 5 you get Weetbix if you don't want/like what I've cooked.I'm not a short order cook so I won't/don't cook different meals for each individual in the family.My 16 year old isn't keen on recipes involving sauce/gravy either but that doesn't mean the rest of us miss out - just means that when I serve his I drain the sauce/gravy which is easily done using a slotted spoon.Whilst likes and dislikes are perfectly natural I don't see why we should miss out on the food we like simply because one of the kids doesn't like, for example, mushrooms.

Did anyone watch "do or die" last night on TV1 where the overweight family try to change their eating habits and lifestyle - last night the 13 year old son would eat nothing but white bread sandwiches with potato chips as the filling.None of the family ate fruit or veg.It was a real eye-opener.The other thing that always amazes me with this type of program is that usually the families don't sit at a table to eat, but have their meals balanced on their laps while watching tv - probably they think that's what a balanced meal is!

kuaka, I like your definition of a balanced meal.reminds me of the difference between a carefully thought-out meal and a carefully thawed-out one :)

elliehen - no, it's not my definition of a balanced meal, just an observation of the way some people eat.Personally I can't stand eating with a plate on my lap, probably because I'm such a shortie, and my feet normally don't touch the floor so it's uncomfortable for me to eat "snack-style" as I always think of it.We have all our meals at the table, breakfast, lunch and tea.I even find it difficult on the odd occasion when I'm sick in bed, and have to have my meals on a tray.Just doesn't seem right to me to eat other than at the table (picnics excepted of course)

Our daughter was the Queen of Fussy Eaters.As a baby we went to Karitane for a month and they declared her the worst baby they had ever fed.I gave up breast feeding after a month of emotional and physical pain trying.In the end they fed her diluted condensed milk.Anyway as she got older and refused anything but cheerios, we started giving her the same as we had only I pureed it, added an egg and some flour and fryed them and she loved them.Everything got pureed, roast meat, all veges, fish whatever we had she got it too and would only eat "Fritters", so if that helps well and good.I hope it does.Incidentally, my husband used to ride round the house on a push bike with a clown hat on, and when he passed the window she would laugh and I would put food in her mouth.The things you do to get them to eat.She is now 35 and still picky and like a bean pole but not my problem anymore.

Feeding Fussy Kids

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