› Budget101 Discussion List Archives › Budget101 Discussion List › Picky, Picky, Picky- How To Deal with Picky Eaters
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February 23, 2014 at 12:15 pm #339137
Melissa Burnell
Recently some of our members and guests have asked, How do I deal with a Picky eater, or a husband who wont eat what I make unless it’s his favorite, etc. So we’re Challenging you to share your best ideas for the situation at hand…
What is your best tip for dealing with picky eaters in your family/household?
what is the goodie giveaway for this challenge? an amusing new mug & a $10 Amazon Gift Card
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February 23, 2014 at 12:38 pm #451369
Peace2You
My family is three teenagers and three adults. If they don’t care for what I have prepared for dinner, they are on their own–they can purchase their own food. Since they are all working and saving, they usually don’t want to part with their cash.
I have a wonderful husband who will eat just about anything I make, so no challenge there!
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February 23, 2014 at 12:39 pm #451370
rmruffin
Let the family be involved in menu
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February 23, 2014 at 12:40 pm #451371
RosesBistro1234
Quote:The Challenge Question is : What is your best tip for dealing with picky eaters in your family/household?- one bite rule- the kids always have to have at least one bite of something, even if they hate it. sometimes they realize that it’s not as bad as they thought and they eat it all.
- refusers- those who are just not hungry right now, we save the food plate until they are hungry and then they have to eat it (reheated, if necessary) at the next mealtime. regardless- they are going to eventually eat whatever is put on their plate
- the power struggle- they’re hungry but refusing to eat, i just put it on their plate and if they don’t eat, they don’t get anything else until the next meal, at all.
just water, no other snacks or food.
dealing with picky adults:
they may have been raised that way (aka momma’s boy or girl!) introduce new foods and ask them to have enough respect for you to at least try it. they might be surprised.
find out why they dislike a particular food, my other half hated butternut squash because it just “mushed around in his mouth” so i fixed it by adding scallions, garlic and a bit of blue cheese for texture. now he likes it.
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February 23, 2014 at 12:40 pm #451372
wholeea
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February 23, 2014 at 12:48 pm #451325
Hollydlteacher
Thankfully my kids are not picky eaters but I have a husband that is! I “hide” veggies like zucchini and tomatoes in sauces like spaghetti. Cauliflower makes a great crust and no one knows it is a veggie.
It is an easy way to get my hubby, who doesn’t eat veggies, to get them. Even if it is a sneaky way! lol
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February 23, 2014 at 12:52 pm #451331
Autismomma
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February 23, 2014 at 12:56 pm #451332
truleelee
I have a picky eater, so the way I get around the fact that he doesn’t like vegetables in his food is to shred them up & add them to what I am cooking and he never knows he’s eating vegetables. I will tell him after he’s finished, which is usually when he says he now likes vegetables.
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February 23, 2014 at 1:03 pm #451373
2charlie
When I want to make something new and get a turned up nose reply, I usually fix the husband what he wants and add what I want for me. I’ve learned to make extra of the “for me” item because he usually will eat it after he gives it a try. If he doesn’t like it, I have lunch to take to work the next day!
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February 23, 2014 at 1:13 pm #451375
lcniles
And I like the challenge of creating something new.
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February 23, 2014 at 1:14 pm #451376
sky8114
After raising 8 boys and 1 girl, I couldn’t please everyone at every meal. We followed the one bite rule, and tried the rule “you can’t have anything else to eat until you eat what was fixed” . These didn’t work in our home.
If someone chose to be picky and wouldn’t eat the planned meal, they forfeited their choice meal night.pretty soon everyone ate
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February 23, 2014 at 1:27 pm #451380
lynng3
My kids often won’t eat their vegetables. I sneak vegetables into their diets by adding grated zucchini and carrots to meatloaf.
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February 23, 2014 at 1:29 pm #451381
Moylan501
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February 23, 2014 at 1:38 pm #451379
agnesmac
Since my children are teens now, I figure if they don’t like it they can make their own.
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February 23, 2014 at 1:41 pm #451377
GGMA14
I’ve found that if they don’t know what’s in it, they won’t complain until they taste it.. Do not let them see you preparing the food. My husband is very picky about things he’s never tasted and some of my grandchildren say they hate onions, but when they smell and taste the food, they like, and sometimes love it.
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February 23, 2014 at 1:45 pm #451378
aquamar38
There are so many ways you can substitute ingredients when preparing food. Another way to work with a picky eater is to have that person list the food items and/or ingredients they do like. Then once you know what the person likes, you can work around those food items/ingredients to come up with something everyone can agree on.
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February 23, 2014 at 1:50 pm #451383
canadianmama
The way I deal with picky eaters (my son is 2, and his dad will eat anything) is if they don’t like it, than they can go hungry. I serve to meal options, eat what I make, or go hungry.
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February 23, 2014 at 2:03 pm #451384
PeggySwink
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February 23, 2014 at 2:09 pm #451385
zeppah
I have a toddler and I feed him in courses. He gets his veggies first, when he’s very hungry. The rest of the meal comes when that is done.
It’s been successful in our family. Also, I’ve started to include him in cooking with easy steps like helping me stir, etc. I noticed he’s more open to eating when he helps.
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February 23, 2014 at 2:21 pm #451387
kengoad
Well, I am that picky eater….lol.
The challenge for me is that I have a Filipina fiancé and in the Philippines they eat a lot of seafood and rice. Neither of which I don’t care for. Unless it is something like Gortons Filets or fish sticks…lol.As far as rice it is the texture I cant get past.
However out of respect, I will really give it a sincere try. After all, they do eat foods that are better for me then I do. Besides I am hoping that she prepares foods differently then I am used to seeing or having. -
February 23, 2014 at 2:28 pm #451389
Begreer
We told my granddaughter she couldn’t be a princess unless she ate “trees” (broccoli). I have tried to incorporate a variety of foods in eAch meal that we fix so that everyone would like something that was made. Then they could choose what they wanted that was available already.
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February 23, 2014 at 2:29 pm #451390
rogersfamily200
We have a house of three boys, ages 7,4 and 2. Most of the time they are not picky, but when they are in the mood to give mom and dad a headache, they become the pickiest eaters in the world. When making breakfast, lunch, or dinner, I give them the option of, “Do you want this choice or that choice”.
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February 23, 2014 at 2:29 pm #451391
ST1963
My kids hate cooked peas. I took them to my garden and convinced them to try fresh peas, straight off the vine. They loved them so much that now we never have cooked peas because they eat them in the garden and the peas never make it to the kitchen!
Trying a different form of the food sometimes works.
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February 23, 2014 at 2:31 pm #451393
JodyWhite
So they learned something (I couldn’t believe it) Some foods they still don’t like but they don’t always make up their minds before trying it. P. S.
they are well into their 20’s and will try most things now. Except rocky mtn oysters.
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February 23, 2014 at 2:33 pm #451394
Heatherazz
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February 23, 2014 at 2:33 pm #451395
Mommymonkey
When my kids (9&10) get picky I let them know they will be planning and/or cooking the next meal. They have to keep it healthy & balanced. Sometimes they like the idea and have fun and other times they think for a second and then get happy about what is on their plate.
I’ve done this since they were pretty young & have made it progressively harder. Now the budget aspect is part of the process.
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February 23, 2014 at 2:38 pm #451386
GalieAysu
The Challenge Question is : What is your best tip for dealing with picky eaters in your family/household?
my home currently houses two families at this time. my kids are 19 and 17 and pretty much will eat whatever I cook or they will make themselves some ramen or hunt for other leftovers in the fridge if I am making something they particularly don’t like.
The other family has four children ages 13, 14, 15 and 17. They use the one bite rule or as they call it, the no thank you bite.
Usually if I am making something that I know one of the kids doesn’t like, I will be sure to make side dishes that I know they do like. This way if they don’t like the main part of the meal, there are still rice, potatoes or pasta and veggies on the side that they do like. -
February 23, 2014 at 3:04 pm #451400
norrismotherof2
my boyfriend is the picky one in the house, when he doesnt like what i cook i usually have to get him to cook his own food or if hes hungry now then he will deal with what i made and not waste food or money on take out. 🙂
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February 23, 2014 at 3:06 pm #451401
Polly466
Seriously, I am the picky eater in the house!!! the best way to deal with me or any other picky eater is to have a few of their favorite easy to make food choices on hand, mix them in with whatever your making as the main meal…if they don’t like what you’re making they will fill up with those side dishes!! i have learned to adapt to fit in around other peoples meals, so i can literally be happy with side dishes that i like.
and never force a child to eat something they don’t like!!! try it yes, but eat a whole portion , no!!! they are not going to learn to like it!!
it is just torture for them!!
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February 23, 2014 at 3:06 pm #451402
42schwartzq8
When I have picky guests I also chop onions, garlic, peppers celery etc in the food processor and add it, they never know what makes my food so tasty.
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February 23, 2014 at 3:11 pm #451404
yellow35
I had some friends that were not adventurous eaters. My friend claimed she hated beans just detested the things. The whole family felt the same way.
Little did they know it was a chocolate garbanzo bean cake! Which uses no flour! I know it’s not right to trick people but some people need to be tricked, the walls they have built in their minds about certain foods needs to be challenged! -
February 23, 2014 at 3:20 pm #451405
bon3262
How do I deal with a Picky eater, or a husband who wont eat what I make unless it’s his favorite, etc.
I include them in meal planning and preparation. Everything tastes better when you make it yourself! Well, at least they think so!
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February 23, 2014 at 3:22 pm #451406
kellygrimes88
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February 23, 2014 at 3:32 pm #451408
SandyMcCarty
I tried to offer a variety of different foods like a couple of different veggies, taters, rice, mac and cheese at each meal. We had a blended family in the summer and one hated onions, one liked catsup on everything, one would not eat green veggies, etc. There was something that everyone liked this way and they could try other things if they chose to.
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February 23, 2014 at 3:41 pm #451410
Gillycakes
I’m pretty much old school “This is whats for dinner”. I’m not evil however 😉 There are always things that I know both my kids will like and I pretty much always cook them. If I am trying something new though they HAVE to eat it.
She eats whatever she wants, quite literally! candy every day blah blah blah. Her grandmother brought me a bag or oranges one day because “Mary won’t eat them because they have seeds” Ugh 🙂
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February 23, 2014 at 3:42 pm #451412
joanneguay
I’ve learned not to make a big deal of it. I try to provide a good variety and in all cases my kids have learned to try new things. Some they’ve decided they like and some not.
It’s amazing how hungry they get with all the fresh air – and they’ve learned to eat almost anything when they are
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February 23, 2014 at 3:47 pm #451414
AndreaGwyn
My fiance is a real picky eater especially when it comes to veggies, he only likes corn, peas, green beans, and carrots, I slip a few other things into meals like lasagna finely cut up as long as he can not taste them as the main flavor he is ok with it. If he won’t eat what I fix I tell him to fix something for himself to eat.
My kids I had one that also was really picky when it came to textures everything had to be creamy, she could eat sour cream like most people eat ice cream, so when I wanted her to try something new, I would put sour cream on it, she learned to love many things as she ate them over and over again I put less and less sour cream on it. You could use ranch, cheese, anything your picky child loves. -
February 23, 2014 at 3:55 pm #451416
mechelle
the two oldest out grew their dislike of veggies except corn and dried beans. the youngest still has this issue. we take our veggies and puree them adding them into sauces and such.
the oddest one of his “issues” is tomatoes. he wont eat anything that has a piece of tomato in it, but he loves tomato based sauces. so spaghetti, chili etc have been taken to where the chunks are now simply sauce.
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February 23, 2014 at 3:56 pm #451417
skinnynerdsgirl
I have six people in my house, Three adults and three teens. Two are picky eaters (one adult and one teen). I do all the shopping, cooking, and cleaning in my house.
So I choose what’s for dinner. A couple times a week I do cook dinners I know everyone like and we eat, and a couple days its all about what I want and like . I do tell everyone in my house if they don’t like it they are welcome to do the shopping, cooking, and cleaning themselves!
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February 23, 2014 at 4:03 pm #451418
MrsGate
From experience, you need to check if that person is a ‘super taster’. There are things I COULD not eat but seeing as no one heard of this condition I was labeled a picky eater. This was accurate to a point because I admit that I did use it to my advantage at times and that is a whole different book for another day.
However it still remains to this day. There are things I simply cannot eat, or drink. I let it go when people call me picky because frankly, I am tired of feeling like I must explain myself to others.
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February 23, 2014 at 4:08 pm #451420
Blurple
I have some very picky eaters. I have had them try different things to see what they will eat. My one child hates green beans, cooked carrots, peas and chicken, but she will eat chicken and dumplings which has all of those things in it.
My other child will not eat chicken at all, but loves hamburgers, so I ground up chicken and made it into a chicken hamburger and he loved it! I try not to force them to eat things because that has backfired in my face way too many times. Instead, I cook things that I know taste good and then they smell how good it is and want to try it.
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February 23, 2014 at 4:10 pm #451421
Doreen1953
I run it past them asking what they think and if they are willing to give it a try. Usually they are willing to give it a try. After making it I want feedback even how to improve the dish.
I like to make from scratch and he usually likes something just to throw in the oven. YUCK!
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February 23, 2014 at 4:34 pm #451422
Delashment
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February 23, 2014 at 4:54 pm #451423
aspiemom
my husband will eat what i put in front of him. thank goodness! my kids are teenagers now, so if they don’t like what i make, they make something for themselves.
when they were small, they had to try it and if they still didn’t like it, they could have cereal or a sandwich. and everytime i made that particular dish, they would have to try it again.
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February 23, 2014 at 4:56 pm #451424
bearhugs
Also If you don’t like what I make buy or make your own.I am not a short order cook.
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February 23, 2014 at 5:10 pm #451426
frugalguy
Change the wrapper!! Way back in the dark ages (1940’s), I decided that I did not like margarine which came in one pound packages similar to butter. I swore (young age swearing) that I could taste the difference.
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February 23, 2014 at 5:22 pm #451428
naynay6886
My husband is wonderful and doesn’t complain about anything I fix but my 14 year old is the picky one. I ask for her opinion & ideas for supper pretty often. she has a lot of good suggestions and that helps her actually want to eat what we’re having.
it also seems to help her not complain so much when i do the choosing! i also occasionally allow her to cook supper.
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February 23, 2014 at 5:23 pm #451429
rmneill
One of the best tricks I have used it hiding them in other foods without them knowing it. Both kids will eat meat and both like my meatloaf. That is where I will grind up carrots, celery and tomatoes and hide them in the meatloaf from their end that is meatloaf and that is how it is made and tastes they have never questioned the ingredients and I believe if I do not get too crazy they never will.
I hide veggies in hamburgers as well and I will also serve them a little fresh fruits and veggies on the side (the ones they like of course). Meatballs using the same method on a bed of rice with some grated cheese and veggies also works. I include a wide variety of foods as well I let them look in cookbooks and pick dinners and we try the recipe out to see if they like it.
I have a whole bookshelf of cookbooks and we try every style and type of food out there! We have discussed going vegetarian once or twice as well… But I do not think that will happen we all love that meatloaf, ham, steak, stew, venison ETC………
So the best way to solve picky eaters in my eyes is to hide the veggies, get them involved and make it fun, when they are having fun they sometimes forget about being picky! And kids love to be involved and usually will try or eat something they helped prepare.
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February 23, 2014 at 5:23 pm #451430
sleepy2654
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February 23, 2014 at 5:46 pm #451432
nannylynne
I quit dealing with my picky eaters. If they don’t want what i cook then I keep plenty of peanut butter and jelly for sandwhiches!
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February 23, 2014 at 6:11 pm #451434
myweekwas
In my family, we have food allergies, supertasters, & a few texture issues; I always respect those, as long as I’m aware of them! I was raised to know that we would try things & be polite about any dislikes, & we were allowed to have three foods that we didn’t have to eat, ever, even if we were company. By teaching us to eat what we were offered, and allowing the few dislikes, my sisters and I grew up to be not picky eaters.
My son did go through a phase in which he appeared “picky,” but after being hospitalized for an allergic reaction to peanuts, I allowed that pickiness while he got over his fear of another reaction.
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February 23, 2014 at 6:15 pm #451435
willowwend
When our kids were little, the “Pickies” tried to run through our home like a wildfire, but we put a stop to that very quickly. My husband and I repurposed foods, renamed a lot of the foods, changed colors of some foods, and just plain out hid a bunch of stuff. One of the biggest changes we made was to let the kids make choices on what we were having.
1. Repurposed Food – Chili Beans, Soups, etc. – We mashed things like green peas and corn and used them as thickeners.
2. Renaming Food- Fried Potatoes & Onions – They became Taters & Os. The onions were finely chopped, and the name resembled one of their favorite breakfast cereals.
place the cut end in the water & place in the refrigerator. not only will this perk up the celery, it will cause the celery to draw in the color. it may take up to 24 hours to see the changes.
If battering veggies for frying, color the batter! Coloring with fruit & veggie juices adds even more nutritional value.
Ex. – Red – Use beet juice, Orange – Use carrot juice.My Chicken Parmesan became a lot more filling and less expensive when I began adding diced eggplant to the mix. Everyone loved the change, but couldn’t figure out what was in it.
5. Making choices – When the kids were younger, their choices involved color. As they got older, they got to choose a favorite dish.
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February 23, 2014 at 7:09 pm #451436
ginlyn39
If you make dessert last and a reward, children tend to do everything they can to get to the goal without having to take the intervening steps like broccoli! Don’t allow food to become a battleground, just make it routine from the beginning. I always presented all of my son’s food to him at one time, including dessert!
He happily ate everything presented to him with no arguments. If he ever asked what a new food was, my answer was always, “That’s asparagus (cauliflower, fish, strawberries, whatever)! Try it, it might be delicious!”
To this day (he’s 24) he prefers broccoli, asparagus, brussell sprouts and cabbage. I delight in the day, when he was 18 months old and I made a big vegetable soup. He pulled out a big piece of broccoli asking me what it was.
I gave my standard answer and he picked out and ate every piece of broccoli then pushed his bowl toward me and said, “More bwokki pwease”! Try this method with your children from the time they are young and you won’t have food problems.
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February 23, 2014 at 7:30 pm #451425
beauti4me
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February 23, 2014 at 7:55 pm #451403
kandycr
Great ideas my oldest hated goulash until my sisters husband made firemans goulash he still likes it to this day
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February 23, 2014 at 8:10 pm #451438
TSuzy
I sneak the food in small amounts to acclimate the palate to the new food and then gradually increase the amount over a long period of time. Have taught my picky husband to expand his food preferences. Currently, trying to make basil and cilantro acceptable.
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February 23, 2014 at 8:14 pm #451439
jrodgers
When my children were small we lived on a farm with very little income and most of the acreage sharecropped out. When we moved there we had a dilapidated house that made the house on
the vintage show “Green Acres” look upscale. That first year we got by on $6,000 income.
When we arrived in our UHaul moving van, mustard greens grew in every field, and we used our income tax refund to buy a goat, (and a wood stove), so I made mustard green and cream cheese sandwiches…I got the bread because I baked bread for an organic foods store. My children are past 30 now and they still ask for mustard green and cream cheese sandwiches. Since we grew our own garden and the children helped they were always interested in having their vegetables and fruits in the meal.
We encountered picky eaters when our children were grown and we were foster parents. We served a variety of fruits and vegetables at meals and the kids played the color game. We took a deck of cards and put a different color (roygbiv + brown and white) on the cards.
They drew 4 cards and had to eat at least a heaping tablespoon of food from the colors they selected. They actually asked to play the color game.
Ten staff members and six teen boys ate meals at the house (we shopped for 10 people at every meal except breakfast and after school snacks when there were eight people), we had to make everything nutritious and cheap. Our budget was $215/week. I spent it down to the last penny every week and our boys grew like weeds and kept their weight in the average range, even though many were on ADD meds.
After a few months, there were no picky eaters, but I noticed that the cooking oil was being depleted fast – a couple of staff were frying everything so then we added cards for fried, baked, steamed, stir-fried, boiled and grilled and the kids and staff helped come up with cooking ideas. Budget problem solved and still no picky eaters re-emerged. I think by letting them be creative it made a difference.
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February 23, 2014 at 8:56 pm #451445
ebeeeneazer1
I always tyed to have at least one thing everyone would like, also had to try everything, even if they thought they did not like it.
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February 23, 2014 at 8:58 pm #451446
jenn1165
There is a yummy yummy desert and when you eat all the food on your plate, you can have all you want… this works great on the grandkids, age 7 and 4…
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February 23, 2014 at 9:17 pm #451448
SusieH47
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February 23, 2014 at 9:37 pm #451449
mos
I have no tolerance for picky eaters and I think everyone on this site knows it from numerous posts that I’ve made about this! lol! however, i do know that not everyone’s taste buds are the same.
i came to this realization because there is only one food on the planet that i will not eat unless prepared a certain way. scallops! unless they are pan-seared in butter and garlic, they have a metallic taste for me.
when trying that behavior at home, i was told that if i didn’t eat all of my food (portions were child-size), i could go to bed after dinner without dessert. my dm was the queen of making desserts (dd had a sweet tooth [hmmm…maybe that’s why my daughter is a master baker…maybe it’s genetic!]) and going to bed without one of her fabulous cakes, pies, puddings, etc. was enough to change my mind!
my own daughter never had a problem eating anything! if she hesitated on anything new to her, we did use the one bite rule and she always ended up eating what was on her plate. it wasn’t until she was old enough to sleep over at friends’ homes that we encountered her not wanting to eat something that we knew that she had eaten before and enjoyed.
when some of her friends would stay over, we would go with the one-bite rule if they didn’t want to eat something. if the visiting child had a least one bite, they could still have dessert. most of the time, they cleaned their plate.
years later, my father developed a different tactic.he was always doing things with the kids in the neighborhood — mainly having them do tasks around his yard or garage — i think that it was his way of keeping kids (and himself) busy in a positive way after my mother died. he’d invite them for dinner and if there was anything that they didn’t want to eat, he’d pull out his ‘majick sauce’
it was ranch dressing!
after the kids went home, he would contact the parents and share his majick sauce idea. the parents were grateful for two reasons…the time that he spent with their children and to help them eat better. so i guess you could say that the best idea for picky eaters did not come from me, but from my father…whose wisdom i miss every day…
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February 23, 2014 at 10:08 pm #451453
annaana
I have one really picky eater. I cook and he can decide what he wants to eat or not. If he doesn’t like it he does without, makes himself a PBJ or goes and buys what he wants.
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February 23, 2014 at 10:16 pm #451457
fosterfamily5
don’t like it, make yourself something else, but you have to try it first
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February 23, 2014 at 10:19 pm #451460
annaana
We are a family of 5 with 2 teens and one in early 20’s. Everyone is “picky” to some degree. They almost always prefer fresh to boxed or frozen and mostly it is a texture thing.
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February 23, 2014 at 10:48 pm #451462
PurpleButtons
This issue is handled pretty much the same by everyone in my family: :food:
I try to be acomodating if I know ahead of time about allergies, however, ppl who are just picky are met with the attitude of “This is what there is,eat and be happy or go away!” :eatpopcorn:
We have a guideline in our house that pretty much covers it… Life is about choices, choices have consequences, you choose your consequences in life by the choices you make….So every one pretty well knows what to expect
Thats not to say I don’t try to cook for all involved, but I’m not going to go out of my way to cook separate meals -
February 23, 2014 at 11:10 pm #451464
Disneyfriend
I do not have a picky husband, he is a garbage disposal!!
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February 23, 2014 at 11:29 pm #451466
Pamela900
I don’t make a big deal about it but whenever possible I encourage them to try something they haven’t had before. However, what is presented at the meal is what is available (except for allergies or other special considerations). It is important to me to offer foods that I know my family/guests like because I enjoy making mealtime a happy, healthy experience.
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February 23, 2014 at 11:53 pm #451471
BevFrank
I had an aunt who invited my family for Sunday dinner. She had fixed a large moose roast. Then she went on and on about MOOSE, and that onion soup mix took out the wild taste. My kids weren’t usually picky, but even my husband and myself were getting a bit nauseated listening to her go on about moose.
To top it off. she gave the rest of it to me to take home!
The next evening I ground up the ‘roast’, put bar-b-Que sauce,[my own recipe,] on it and didn’t tell anyone. To top it off, we had friends drop in just before supper and their kids were very picky.
Moral: grind it up, slather it in bar-b-Que and keep your mouth shut! [My kids knew what they were eating, but our friends didn’t.] -
February 24, 2014 at 12:09 am #451472
Hoofmaiden
Skip the casseroles. Usually a picky eater will eat some but not all of a casserole so serve main ingredients separately. Let the picky eater help cook.
Give everyone some input into menu planning.
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February 24, 2014 at 12:10 am #451473
meme3
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February 24, 2014 at 12:18 am #451474
Disneyfriend
My husband is not a picky eater, in fact, he is a garbage disposal!!! I do not have any children at home anymore but this is a trick my niece used when her children were young. They never wanted to eat vegetables so she found and made up recipes that you included veggies in without the children evern knowing they were in there.
They ate the food!! They did figure it out when they got older and they eat veggies just fine now. 🙂
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February 24, 2014 at 12:29 am #451475
Loreena
If its bran muffins instead of the cake muffins or something I’ve baked for snack and they say they don’t like them, I just give them toast.
Another thing that helps them change their attitudes slowly is that I’ll give them their leftovers, but at the same time, make a dinner that everyone loves. My guys are always raving about my cooking and not shy to say if it was mouth watering or just awesome. If my picky eater is just attention seeking or a trying to have a power struggle, they will eventually get curious and try it.
But, I have seen where those dislikes turn out to be allergies or stomach issues, so I just don’t force anyone to eat what they don’t like, and I am careful about what I hide in the meatballs. -
February 24, 2014 at 12:37 am #451476
kytublue
I don’t. I’m not a short order cook. You will eat what I prepare, fix your own or go hungry.
However, you can have a say in what’s prepared in the first place, most of the time anyway. People do like different things and taste buds change over time. I see a lot of food wasted because everyone’s eating something different.
One bite, that’s all you have to try.
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February 24, 2014 at 12:51 am #451477
nygeo213
As a mom of three children I always found it hard to please my picky eaters, until one day I decided to give them a choice of one item per meal. My oldest would go first, he would get a choice of three food items per meat, grain or vegetable group. For instance if he picked the vegetable group he would have a choice of carrots, broccoli, or spinach and whatever he picked that was our vegetable for that night and the next child would pick either the grain or meat.
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February 24, 2014 at 1:02 am #451443
CLARUE
We have a household rule: you must eat 1 serving spoonful of everything on the table. It is only respectful to the person who cooked. And everyone gets an opportunity to cook.
Even children can pick a meal and assist in cooking.
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February 24, 2014 at 1:15 am #451203
vlozano
I gave them an amount of money to spend and they had to plan a healthy meal. I was quite surprised when after they seen what goes into planning and preparing, they were much more open to new foods. Come to find out, that it was simply the parent who was not exposing her children to new things.
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February 24, 2014 at 1:18 am #451444
Vegan54
I start them young. My 2 year old & 7 month old grandsons have tried asparagus, different beans, quinoa and anything I make for them. When making puree, I sometimes add in organic non-gmo corn to make the other veggies taste sweeter.
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February 24, 2014 at 1:23 am #451479
Skykai
If my child does not want to eat what is presented she can eat a PBJ sandwich or a bowl of cereal instead. She is 5. She has to get the items needed for her sandwich and attempt to make it herself.
If it’s just a portion of the meal she will not eat, I encourage her to at least try it. I present different foods when I can and encourage her to try at least one bite. If it is a food she has tried before and does not like, I will encourage her to try it again.
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February 24, 2014 at 2:00 am #451485
crobbins
The variety helps. With my picky eater, anything not eaten was put back in the fridge or box. I never scolded, but talked about the things she did eat.
“You like those carrots? They are crunchy.” She is 21 and still remembers surprise lunch with a lot of fondness.
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February 24, 2014 at 3:03 am #451494
Dcee63
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February 24, 2014 at 3:08 am #451496
nymama6153
Don’t tell them what is in the food.
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February 24, 2014 at 3:15 am #451497
Dcee63
Great idea with the colors
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February 24, 2014 at 3:16 am #451498
Holleyberry
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February 24, 2014 at 3:22 am #451500
mattsusanrobt
I wait till they are really hungry. I delay dinner time then ask them to join me in the kitchen to help with preparing the meal. Since they want to eat and eat now, they follow me to the kitchen where I make two suggestions and they usually are happy to pick one.
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February 24, 2014 at 3:39 am #451503
tinalorenzo
Make them at least one bite if they dont like then dont eat it i also try to cut stuff up smaller so they will not even see it so they do not know i put it in the food
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February 24, 2014 at 4:54 am #451505
AnitaWade
As far as my daughters are concerned, I try to fix something that each would like at every meal and take turns fixing their favorite every other night. As far as my husband is cconcerned, I try to take into consideration all his dislikes but it is not always possible. He doesn’t like sauces or anything soupy or soups.
I fix our chili really thick and the girls and I add water to ours. He likes meat, beans, pasta, and tomato sauce with no chunks of tomatoes. I like chunks of tomato and onion so I add it in my bowl.
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February 24, 2014 at 5:17 am #451506
Vciki
We only try one thing new at a time so we know they will like the remainder of their meal. We will try again in a month or so with the new item. It is futile to try to force a 3 year old to eat something they don’t want to eat, especially if they have a quick gag reflex.
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February 24, 2014 at 8:57 am #451512
Darbs
Picky eaters should walk the plank. They’ll discover that sharks aren’t as choosy!
Use salad bar buffet self-serving style on more than just salad. Tacos, pastas, soup/sandwich combos, appetizer smorgasborg…the ‘borgier the better. Everyone makes their own choices about which ingredients to include and how to combine them.
Buffet food service for the picky might seem like more work for the cook, and indeed it could be. So the cook must be clever, using pre-packaged ingredients when it’s safe and effective to do so, and treating buffet meal service as the final cooking and prep step that the diner completes herself. Example: The cook could be saved the trouble of adding omelette ingredients; instead, everyone gets plain omelettes that they complete themselves with their favorite toppings.
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February 24, 2014 at 9:55 am #451513
kandycr
I usually let them tell me what they want to eat but to get them to try something new, put a name in front of the item name as firemans goulash
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February 24, 2014 at 9:56 am #451514
Anushree
Mix lot of chillies in the food
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February 24, 2014 at 10:26 am #451516
cathyc19520
I know that may sound arrogant, but if you have “emerging eaters” give them everything–even things you may not like…their young palates will develop tastes for new things better than we think they might. As for older children (and adults), try new cooking methods. Season asparagus with Lawrey’s, or Italian herbs…Make a batch of oven-fried sweet potato wedges…coat zucchini “coins” in egg wash and panko bread crumbs and also oven-fry with a marinara dipping sauce.
Just some hints. These are also healthy snacks and don’t cost very much.
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February 24, 2014 at 11:10 am #451518
Shellc1971
Welcome to our Budget101 Challenge Question!
Recently some of our members and guests have asked, How do I deal with a Picky eater, or a husband who wont eat what I make unless it’s his favorite, etc. So we’re Challenging you to share your best ideas for the situation at hand…
wondering how to play? hit the reply button and answer the challenge question!
(seriously, that’s it)
Learn More about Budget101 Challenges Here!
good luck!i cook what i like and everyone either ears it or they don’t. i’ve never had an issue!
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February 24, 2014 at 11:37 am #451442
Karol99
My crew arent that picky…they usually like what I cook to eat. There are a few things that they say they dont like, but my reply to them is…”All I ask is that you try it one time, if you dont like it after you have tried it the one time, then ok, you do not have to eat it. But you have to at least try it.
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February 24, 2014 at 11:38 am #451519
dixiedoodle8
I’ve raised 3 boys and now the daughter-in-law and grandkids want to be selective in what they will eat. After trying all the “just try it” type approaches…I keep hotdog, peanut butter and jelly and white (yuck) bread in house. Let them eat sandwiches all day long while I finish their shrimp, deer steak, caulie mash, pork butt…somehow the grandkids are beginning to enjoy the strange food (not chicken fingers from an arch) and even love the tree’s (broccoli)
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February 24, 2014 at 11:55 am #451520
dormouser
My husband does not like fresh fruit, period. But if I make him a fruit smoothie with frozen yogurt, he will happily drink it (maybe it reminds him of junk food!).
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February 24, 2014 at 12:56 pm #451522
MsCrawford
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February 24, 2014 at 1:34 pm #451523
Dreamcatcheramy
Well I am fortunate enough to have a really good eater. My daughter eats pretty much anything you put in front of her(with the exception of bell peppers). However I came across a very useful cook book for the kids I babysit.
They are extremely picky eaters! the cookbook is “Deceptively Delicious” by Jessica Seinfeld(the comedians wife). It uses purees hidden in everyday foods.
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February 24, 2014 at 2:44 pm #451525
sburks5555
Let them get REALLY hungry before you offer food. That will work.
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February 24, 2014 at 3:08 pm #451528
Constancemary
Macerate the vegetables
and add them to the sauce.
Choice in fruit and crunchables
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February 24, 2014 at 3:39 pm #451530
MickyDaly
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February 24, 2014 at 4:17 pm #451534
LPaul
I make one meal. They either eat it or make something on their own, or wait till the next meal.
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February 24, 2014 at 4:52 pm #451538
Barmaid
With a 55 year old picky eater, I do the same as the kids. Hide the ingredient in the food. Example: doesn’t like sour cream or cream cheese, but loves my mashed potatoes and twice baked ones and my mac & cheese.
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February 24, 2014 at 5:05 pm #451541
Dawnd1964
I do a few things. If the child has never had the food before they are asked to at least have a taster serving (usually a tablespoonful) the other thing I do is if they do not like what we are having they can make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich as the main part of meal and can have the sides if they so wish.
My son ate so many pb&j sandwiches when he was little he rarely eats them and is not so picky now. 🙂
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February 24, 2014 at 5:44 pm #451552
Jellibean713
I make sure there is something in the meal that everyone will eat, so they have food to eat. The next time I fix it, they have to try it again. If they don’t like it then, they don’t have to eat it at all.
Usually by that time, the new is worn off and they will eat it. My kids have learned to like a lot of things they didn’t think they would.
Good luck finding your method of dealing with picky eaters. It can be very difficult!
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February 24, 2014 at 5:47 pm #451554
Mrsgator
When our son returned home from school he was vegetarian. I just learned to make meals without meat, or to keep it on the side. My husband & I learned that the “fake” meats aren’t so bad, in fact some of what we have tried actually tastes good!
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February 24, 2014 at 5:51 pm #451556
fnhernan
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February 24, 2014 at 5:51 pm #451557
Sharob
The way I deal with a picky eater is to let them eat what they like. If there is something you don’t like just eat more of something else until you get full. As long as it is not junk food it is ok. I don’t believe in forcing someone to eat something they don’t like. (bad childhood memories!)
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February 24, 2014 at 5:54 pm #451559
Ajuarez
Purée veggies and mix them into your meals. Sneaking but heathy!
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February 24, 2014 at 6:30 pm #451539
WENDY1958
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February 24, 2014 at 7:36 pm #451564
ruafoodie
That’s an entire professional seminar. First try involving all in the planning. If that doesn’t work, use a multi-pronged approach that does not turn this into a control issue. Fix what you want, plus sometimes favorites for the others involved, just as you would if they always ate what you fix. If they don’t eat it, your lunch is already made. Don’t enable the behavior. Just don’t play the game. Don’t engage. You can say absolutely nothing, create no waves, no confrontations, no fights. Just don’t play. Fix the meal, set the table and just go about your business, having a family conversation but not reacting to the fact that they aren’t eating. They aren’t going to die if they miss a meal or even a few. Cave once though and you’ve started down the path of food control. Just practice quiet resolve
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February 24, 2014 at 7:42 pm #451565
Tamsue
I just try to make what everyone likes!
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February 24, 2014 at 8:28 pm #451536
smason03
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February 24, 2014 at 9:18 pm #451543
nudnicsmom
I am a household of 1. So my solution is to just fix the foods I like to eat.
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February 24, 2014 at 9:19 pm #451544
JoCormack
It’s really hard to come up with my BEST tip on handling picky eating as I’ve written a book about this so have tips a-plenty!
Be tough and acknowledge your part in the situation. It’s always hard to look in the mirror and say, d’you know what, I have contributed to this problem. But also be kind to yourself and understand that when most parents inadvertently make picky eating worse, it is because they are coming from a place of love and natural anxiety about their child.
Let me explain. It is developmentally normal for children to be picky. If parents respond to this with an emotional reaction (anxiety, anger, guilt….) children subconsciously pick this up and repeat the behaviours, and before you know it, mealtimes are being used as an arena for power play and boundary testing.
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February 24, 2014 at 9:35 pm #451529
fsly00
I wish I could say I have a magic potion but somethings I can hide in smoothies otherwise I have help planning our menu.
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February 24, 2014 at 10:05 pm #451570
csteward
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February 24, 2014 at 10:48 pm #451575
robinchason
For picky eaters in my household ,I grab out the condiments …ketchup , Ranch Dressing , B.B.Q. sauces , mayo , mustard ,…whatever their taste be , oh also if I have shredded cheese on hand cause everything taste better with cheese on it !!
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February 24, 2014 at 11:34 pm #451579
karenmcg
I am not a fan of making someone go hungry. I have always subscribed to what we call the “No-Thank-You” bite. You must at least try it before you turn your nose up. Then if you really don’t like what’s on the table you are on your own and free to fix something else, within reason – Don’t even think of touching that steak that I have designated for Friday night!
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February 24, 2014 at 11:39 pm #451580
rummy2602
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February 24, 2014 at 11:52 pm #451581
jperez24
I make food in fun shapes and name them wacky names.
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February 24, 2014 at 11:59 pm #451583
Drkrys
Picky eaters get to cook/provide for themselves! This usually cures all turned-up noses.
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February 25, 2014 at 12:41 am #451584
Gramshel
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February 25, 2014 at 12:51 am #451585
littlet
I hide veggies when I can in something they know they like. Each time I make it, I add more and remind them that they ate it last time. We stress the importance of healthy food and the good things it does to your body and they’re starting to embrace their veggies (2 and 4 yr old boys).
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February 25, 2014 at 12:58 am #451586
gramvaldez
I too am a picky eater. The only thing I like is what I like. That is my answer you have to make what your picky eater likes.
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February 25, 2014 at 1:52 am #451587
nanadoogie
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February 25, 2014 at 5:38 am #451597
werecat
LOL I have a dad with dementia so what he likes one day, he will hate the next and most days unless something is covered in chocolate it’s a fight to get it down. I have discovered that a nice rich tomato sauce will hide a multitude of ills. I get those 1/2 cup or 1 cup containers and then will steam carrots, broccoli or cauliflower or other veggies and then wazz them up in the food processor till they are almost like baby food. when I am making something with tomatoes in it I can just defrost one and stir it in. Works for spaghetti sauce, chili, tomato soup. Also I sneak “sweet” veggies into his pancakes or waffles. I make up my own pancake mix from scratch, but use powdered milk or buttermilk and then add pureed carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, butternut squash say 1 cup or so per batch and then enough water to get the right batter thickness. As long as I also add pumpkin pie spice, he loves them and normally unless in a super sweet pie he wouldn’t touch any of them.
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February 25, 2014 at 5:49 am #451599
Deanna1122
In my household it is eat what I make or don’t eat. We try to keep plenty of fruits and veggies on hand, fresh, for snacks and those are an optional substitute. However, my house is not a diner. All meals are planned per two week blocks and that is what we stick to.
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February 25, 2014 at 12:01 pm #451612
huntinman87
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February 25, 2014 at 4:40 pm #451632
ThePugLady
Well, since I am the only shopper, cook, researcher AND the most picky eater I have been finding some ways to make myself eat healthier and different things I wouldn’t normally ever consider! Examples:
Flax: has a lot of omegas in it. so I add it to muffin mixes that I make. Also put in my crockpot oatmeal with fruit that I know I like. It doesn’t take much to increase the health benefits of everyday recipes using good quality ground flax seed!
Legumes! The are the ultimate disliked food by me! Mostly because of their texture–ewwww! so I had the idea from another B101 post for instant refried beans to grind the dry beans into a powder. NOW I can add them to dishes like Mac n Cheese, Pasta sauce, meat for tacos. meatloaf, you get the idea. Not only do I not taste them but they actually improve the textures of things I already like. With kids or other picky adults if you do the cooking they don’t even have to know what it is in it because you can’t see it this way. Later when the kids are grown and ask for the recipe THEN you reveal what they have been eating all along!
Have fun with my Sneaky Cooking! Kristine aka ThePugLady (btw I use a hand operated food processer from Pampered Chef. I AM NOT A PC REP NOR DO I KNOW ONE ANY MORE JUST AN IDEA THAT MIGHT HELP YOU. I also use a Ninja for the beans to be turned to powder form. It was actually given to me! Cha Ching!)
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February 25, 2014 at 4:43 pm #452026
mandy1
Or baked chicken legs with corn and squash. I always had to help her in the kitchen and if I got to help make it (she’d have me sprinkle seasonings on the vegetables) , it kind of made me want to eat it afterwards.
My dad would make comments about what a good Cook I was so I would devour whatever was on my plate.
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February 26, 2014 at 12:43 am #451658
barbknowles
In my house you eat what is put on the table. However, i do try to serve food that the family loves.
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February 26, 2014 at 1:44 am #451659
sherry53
If the kids don’t like veggies, let them plant some during the growing season. carrots, spinach, radishes, what ever veggie they choose. The condition is that they tend to it water it, harvest and help cook or prepare it and yes EAT it or at least try it. We always encourage our kids and grand children to try something if they have never had it. My grandson refused to try Green bean Casserole one year during the holidays and I promised him if her would just take one tiny bite to try it, if he didn’t like it then no one would ever make him try it again and he would even be allowed to spit it out on his plate if he didn’t want to swallow it. He tired the tiny bite, tried a bigger bite and then ate the rest of the Green Bean Casserole!! Oh I forgot to mention that now, that is his favorite dish and always ask for it on holidays.
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February 26, 2014 at 3:34 am #451662
Vampixen
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February 26, 2014 at 3:50 am #451663
Urallee
My son who lives with us is a bit picky, but I just fix it and if he wants it he eats, if not he can go and buy something he does like. My dh will at least try most foods–except he is allergic to beef.
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February 26, 2014 at 3:28 pm #451678
babysis20042003
I have always told the ones in my home that are picky, I tell them try a teaspoon full & if you don’t like it then you don’t have to eat it. I have had good luck doing it this way.
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February 27, 2014 at 3:54 pm #451718
adburge
She got sick of Cottage cheese, Peanut butter, fruit, ect. She was not allowed any dessert or chips which did not go over well. And she was only allowed to have these once she tried all of the food on her plate eventually she started eating what I cooked.
I know it sounds harsh but she never went hungry.
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February 27, 2014 at 4:04 pm #451703
rosalinda1
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February 27, 2014 at 6:13 pm #451711
lba619
I agree with everything RosesBistro1234 said! I have 2 grandsons living with me and we follow the same rules. Thanks Roses!!
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February 28, 2014 at 2:10 am #451735
AnitaU
I would tell my children when they were young when they tried something new for the first time that if they didn’t like it they could spit it out. This at least got them to try it, gave them the choice of deciding if they liked it or not, and more importantly it introduced them to new flavors. They couldn’t take “baby” bites as we called them but they didn’t have to load up either; we wanted to see a nice sampling of the new food they were about to eat.
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February 28, 2014 at 4:08 pm #451751
Cuddlyhrt
Most everyone in my house is not picky. But, my teenage daughter has multiple disabilities, including Sensory Disorder, so it’s not just pickiness, some textures and tastes are simply not tolerable, and can cause immediate gagging. I do not have a gall bladder, and have some digestive issues, so hot, spicy foods are off limits to me.
We cook as a family most nights and we try to accommodate her. Last night, for example, we made homemade chicken noodle soup. We made it somewhat mild for all the girls.
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March 1, 2014 at 2:21 am #451778
LadyLavender777
The Challenge Question is : What is your best tip for dealing with picky eaters in your family/household?
my answer… is…
(garrented to work)
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March 1, 2014 at 2:32 am #451779
LadyLavender777
why did you even bother responding?
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March 4, 2014 at 10:17 pm #452005
MsDebbie
Cooking is a show of love for that person and shouldnt be a punishment.I have known people that were forced to something they hated till they threw up and they hate that food for the rest of their lives!!! tastebuds change during your life and what they hate today they may like next year. 🙂
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March 5, 2014 at 12:57 pm #451367
Melissa Burnell
Congratulations to Mandy1, our randomly selected Lucky winner.
What are Budget101 Challenges? Read More Here
How are Challenge Winners Selected? Read More Here
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April 2, 2014 at 11:01 pm #452895
Lindagale
Unfortunately, in our household I am the picky eater. I try to have a main course that everyone likes and then each person gets a side that they like. I will sometimes prepare an entire meal and then pull out something totally different for myself.
One thing that might help for a picky eater that doesn’t like spicy food, like me, is to fix the item and remove a part of it before adding spices. For instance, we all like spaghetti, but I just like a little sauce, whereas the rest of the family like lots of sauce and meat. I take mine out and set in the microwave so that it will stay steamy and finish theirs.
I keep a supply of disposable ones on hand when we have things that might otherwise run together. It helps with clean-up too!
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April 24, 2015 at 1:46 pm #461172
randomname2014
In a way, I guess I’ve always been one of those “mean moms”. I never allowed my kids to be picky, raising them like I was raised. With limited funds, there was no room for pickiness, so what was served is what you get to eat.
If he didn’t eat, his plate would stay on the table so when he came back later claiming to be hungry, all I’d do is point him at his plate. He went to bed hungry a few nights, but quickly learned.
As for the husband… Mine’s not picky by any means, but I know there are some things I make that he’s not particularly fond of (requests from the children). I tell him that he can either eat what I make, or make his own meal.
Now, genuinely not liking something is different than being picky. But, that’d be limited to only a few things, not half of dinner every night. My oldest wouldn’t eat any meat when he was a baby, save for hot chicken wings (weird, I know), even picking the meat out of chili.
He still doesn’t like onions. My youngest doesn’t like brussel sprouts or soft-cooked carrots. If it’s like that, I find a happy medium.
Though, I always encourage my kids to try and re-try things periodically. Tastes change, so one bite is all I ask.
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