A Day Without Leftovers Would Be A Day In Heaven
Help! We need moms with advice to share on picky eaters! With four boys in the house, there’s always one who is going through a picky eater phase. Rare is the night that I can come up with a family meal that pleases each and every one of the boys – so I improvise. My pediatrician says, “don’t push.” They’ll eat when they’re hungry. So, I come just short of preparing separate meals for everyone (a definite no-no), but I do try to accommodate everyone’s tastes be creating a “de-constructed” dinner. For example. If we’re having pasta, I set the pasta out in a bowl with nothing but salt and a bit of Parmesan cheese. Beside of that bowl is the bowl with the sauce, and the third dish includes the meat. In this way, the kids who “don’t want their food to touch,” can have their food separated, while my ravenous teenager can pile up his plate with as much sauce and meat as he wants.
This solution works great for meals like pasta or build-your-own burritos — but how can you de-construct a yummy meal like lasagna? Meatloaf? Or an omelet? Sometimes with kids, it’s more about the texture of a food rather than the taste. The slimy cooked onion in a soup, or a cellulose piece of celery is enough to turn some kids off for years. To account for these limitations, whenever I serve soup I’m counting on all of the vitamins from the vegetables permeating the broth and noodles. So, I give kids one of three options when they eat soup: 1. Soup straight with crackers. 2. Broth only. (A hand-held strainer is invaluable.) 3. Veggies only, no broth.
I am only dreaming of the day when I can finally put a meal on the table and the boys have appetites big enough that they are actually fighting over the food—and there are no leftovers (I’ll donate all of my Tupperware containers to charity at that point. I’ll have no use for them.)
For great tips from moms just like us, sharing experiences, ideas and advice on how to get kids to eat better, visit Chef Boyardee’s Club Mum. Club Mum is the perfect resource for moms to learn helpful hints on a variety of topics, which can be applied to their own family. Club Mum is also on Facebook with daily tips, recipes, articles, questions and a terrific and active community! Club Mum is an online community by moms, for moms.
Share your own best-kept parenting secrets, learn from other moms and connect with some of our great mom bloggers! Please list your meal-saving strategies for picky eaters in the comments below. Everyone who comments will be entered in a BlogHer giveaway for a $200 Visa gift card. There are more chances to win here: BlogHer.com exclusive offers page. Rules: No duplicate comments. You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods: a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post d) Visit the official rules for additional forms of entry. This giveaway is open to US Residents aged 18 and older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected. The Official Rules are available here. Sweepstakes ends 5 PM PST, December 23, 2010.
1. Make small side dishes that you and your family can enjoy together. A 67 cent can of beans here, some fermented kimchee there (it’s possible to make it and save big bucks— we make about 13 huge 1 foot by 8 inches jars at a time and it lasts our kimchee loving family about 2 months) and your children can just pick a bit of what they want.
2. Have cereal readily available. If they dont want too much of the main dishes, then they can have a bit of healthy cereal such as kashi
I often hide veggies and other disgusting- but-good-for-you things in foods the kids like burgers. I make hamburgers with lean ground turkey and Bob’s Red Mill TVP (1:1 ratio)- adds protein and fiber and has no taste of its own. They choose the fixings and are none the wiser. I use that same turkey protein combo for taco fillings and anywhere I would usually use ground meat.
I also make a nice cheesey potato casserole by mashing regular potatoes mixed with a sweet potato, cauliflower and any veggie I can throw in. Cover in enough cheese and everyone’s happy and I can rest assured that the kids are getting their fiber and vitamins.
I also hide food that they don’t usually eat in other foods that they will eat like spaghetti.
I also let them go groceries shopping and help me with whatever they can in preparing the meal.
Tweet link:
http://twitter.com/5teapea/status/13518537255559168
I was lucky, 3 children, and none of them picky eaters. I rember they loved Chef Boyardee, all kinds so feeding them was easy. In fact at one time I thought they would eat me out of house and home. lololo
marybug2@yahoo.com
I tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/marybug2/status/13557129562554368
marybug2 at yahoo.com
I have to say that I just don’t cater to the picky eaters and I don’t hide things. It may have helped that from about 6 months on I fed them a huge variety of food and have always presented new foods. I know that a picky eater is not a starving child, so the rule in my house is eat what is served or go without. Amazing what they will try when they know that this is going to be strictly enforced.. Do they hate some things? Sure. If I am trying a new recipe that I think they might have a problem with, I get them to help make it. You can’t imagine the strange things I thought my kids might not like that they loved if they got to help make it.
ape2016(at)aol(dot)com
I never was a picky eater, but my little brother is, he likes everything plain, so we go with the deconstruction method you mentioned. SOmetimes he would venture out and throw something together to try bc buffet-like style is intriguing to him and makes him feel a wee bit of control. Now that he is older he has grown out of the pickiness and has an more open mind to food.
My children are picky eaters but I get them to try new foods instead of just looking at it and saying they don’t want to eat it. I do make them the usual foods they like but I add vegetables to the meal too. I also put meats and vegetables in foods they like, like macaroni and cheese.
http://twitter.com/susan1215/status/13623152714194945
I AM ALSO A PICKY EATER. HAVE YOUR KIDS CIRCLE WHAT THEY WOULD LIKE YOU TO BUY FOR GROCERIES OUT OF THE WEEKLY FLYERS. WORKS FOR ME! kytah00@yahoo.com
2ND ENTRY TWEET twitter.com/#!/kytah00/status/13694686627627009 kytah00@yahoo.com
We try to start at an early age on eating homemade foods., even down to homemade baby food. It seems to really teach the children to enjoy eating non commercial food and textures right from the start.
Did you know that spinach will hide in almost anything? It is pretty distinct on it’s own, but you can puree that stuff up and hide it in…anything. Especially brownies.
You want more (spinach) brownies for dinner? Sure! lol 
My kids loved anything by Chef Boyardee and I would add in the veggies in small amounts.
gmissycat at yahoo dot com
Tweeted here too
http://twitter.com/gmissycat/status/13734782097690624
gmissycat at yahoo dot com
Have one picky eater. He’ll eat pasta, burgers, and hot dogs. So we have different sides all around.
I think my kids, who are very picky, are more likely to try raw vegetables like carrots and broccoli, than cooked. They also will try something if they can dip it in some kind of sauce. They’ve never had a problem eating pasta, though! My older son loves Chef Boyardee!
tweeted-http://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/13749011232071680
If you puree “yucky” foods, they don’t always notice them!
thanks!
kmassmanATgmailDOTcom
We are going to start giving our kids lots of new homemade foods right from the very beginning to get them used to new flavors and textures
gina.m.maddox (at) gmail.com
http://twitter.com/#!/CrazyItalian0/status/13920860117147648
gina.m.maddox (at) gmail.com
I think you need to start really early introducing fruits and veges and limiting the sweet stuff–especially with the childhood obesity rates. Try raw veges with a low fat ranch dip, or apples with a yogurt dip–my grandson loves to dip foods–sneak in veges like broccoli with some cheese.
http://twitter.com/#!/fostertam/status/13957545869705216
I’m glad my child wasn’t a picky eater! Chef Boyardee Mini ravioli was always a sure thing !
i tweeted today!
http://twitter.com/bellows22/statuses/13967026200514561
I sometimes operate on the “when I was a kid, we had too eat …’ but that’s not working
, I usually let them pick dessert once a week after dinner if its something they don’t like to eat, but if its healthy I usually remind them that its good for them and I usually get fun healthy meals or sides like broccoli with cheese and they love it
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
tweet
http://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/14187235167440897
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
My daughter was a very picky eater. Thankfully she thought fruit was dessert and she liked a handful orf veggies so I always felt her meals were fairly nutritious. I didn’t keep sweets (except fruit) r any kind of junk food in the house except on special occasions like Halloween and Christmas. That way she never ruined her appetite on junk/sweets and if she was hungry she’d sometimes try something new.
Funny thing is – as an adult she loves to cook and tries many new things! Although she still doesn’t like her food to touch
I was a picky eater as a child. Basically my mom kept meals simple and fairly plain and it was fine since mostly I hated certain textures and really hated food all mixed up together. If mom made something I didn’t like/wouldn’t try there was always a can of chicken noodle soup in the cupboard for me
I usually make my kids eat whatever I make – maybe that’s a mean strategy:) But, I’ll have a few different side dishes with it, so they usually like at least one thing we are having.
what worked great when my daughter was younger, was pretending she wasn’t allowed to eat what was on my plate. then she begged for it!
Not too much pickiness with my kids, but I make them eat what I’m serving. Usually there is at least a part of the meal or side dish they like and I don’t end up being a short order cook
[...] strategies for picky eaters and enter enter in a a BlogHer giveaway for a $200 Visa gift card, here. Related Posts:Spidery Feathery-WreathSnow Day InsuranceFreaky Things On My PatioEmpty HandedFor [...]
I hide foods into smoothies or baking goods. DDs don’t like carrots and beans, so I mixed them into fruit smoothies and chocolate chips cookies.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
tweet. http://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/14548834730385409
I am thankful I only had 2 boys – because I do remember the days of making each a separate meal. In our house tho, there was the meal or the alternative, which was Chef Boy Ar Dee or another type food they both liked (ie mac & cheese). However we did get to the point where we all were willing to eat the same things — just I had to discover which foods were “common denominators” and then just use those. I was lucky in that both my boys loved vegetables (cauliflower, broccolli, spinach, potatoes, brussel sprouts, carrots, etc)… made it a bit easier.
OH>>> and I made alot of cheese dips and let them dip their raw veggies in the dips. The dipping seem to get them to eat easier.
I have two strategies for picky eaters…I let them be part of the process. Each meal ends with a vote — “do over” or not. It’s amazing how just getting to “vote” makes one feel included. Plus, you have to try everything to be eligible to vote. The second strategy is choice — I give my kids one day a week where they get to pick the menu.
The picky eaters in my family like string cheese and chicken fingers and mac & cheese. I usually try to keep these items on hand so that they will be able to eat something if the fact is that they do not eat what I have made for dinner.
I try to not over cook…too much food. I try to make sure I cook “enough” and then I usually use bread, or a veggie as a filler.
It makes clean up easier too!
I would make several dishes (meat and veggie) to pair with rice. Everyone would at least like one dish of the several.
My kids aren’t picky, but it took quite a bit of work to get them there. We have a 3 bite policy in our home (you have to take at least 3 bites before saying you don’t like something). I use to hide veggies in some of my recipes, until the kids found out what they had been eating, and then – EUREKA – realized that the food still tasted good even when they knew what was in it!
I really think that a lot of kids are picky because they can be… We’ve had a lot of the kids’ friends over, all of whom seem to be notorious picky-eaters, and they all leave happy and well fed (even the boy who I was warned about, that apparently would only eat McDonalds, ate up every bite of the oatmeal for breakfast, the turkey sandwiches for lunch, and the spaghetti for dinner… WITH SALAD! His dad couldn’t believe it.).
Add some spices or herbs to liven up veggies.
We have become masters of hiding things in other foods! With 8 boys we have to deal with alot of pickyness! In chili put some corn! In Hamburger helper how about some carrots? Small sliced mushrooms can not be seen at all in spaghetti sauce!!! Besides, they also make vege pasta, and it’s on the cheaper side.
Share advice with other moms sweepstakes!
Please be encouraged friend!
Picky eaters do grow into very healthy big people someday.
I’ve raised a few. They eat strange and weird stuff….but eventually they turn out normal.
Feed them stuff you know they’ll eat and forget about trying to MAKE them eat what you like.
Every palate is different. Just don’t give in to an all sugar diet. That’s not good.
i make them eat at least one bite and half the time they will decide its not so bad!
My biggest meal trick is to put cheese on it & the kids will eat it!! They learned to eat veggies that they didn’t like with cheese!!! grammypenny@frontier.com
I take food and try to present in a cool way. Making food into little bites and like appetizers seems to work for my friends children.
Are you kidding? no tricks needed. My kids, now my grandkids eat the whole plate and want more. BUT no snacks, no junk food meals on a schedule and eat now or don’t complain.
http://twitter.com/#!/sodahoney/status/15538317281988608
We will puree vegetebles in to mac n cheese, they never know.
My kids are very picky eaters and I have to be creative if I’m going to get them to eat certain items. With veggies, I’ll melt a little bit of american cheese on them and the kids will then eat them. I also add a little bit of veggies to spagetti sauce or in lasagna. As long as they are covered up, the kids will eat them.
Thanks so much for this great giveaway.
rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com
I tweeted:
http://twitter.com/peg42/status/15553675904688128
Thanks
rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com
fruit topped with peanut butter cheese added to veggies-always works
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When all else fails, I make yogurt shakes. They have yogurt and lots of fruit in them so if I can’t get them to eat anything else, I feel they are getting something healthy.
My kids like alot of veggies and fruits, but will never eat it unless it’s easy (already cut up and ready to munch!) I always have a bowl of something available for after school treats!
include them in looking for recipes, shopping and making- they are more willing to try
I hide veggies in sauces (tomato) and give veggies cute names – like carrots aand celery are crunchies
tvollowitz at aol dot com
I like to hide everything in mac and cheese…often, it works. topgun34er(at)hotmail(dot)com
http://twitter.com/#!/Superfrugalette/status/15632705861451777 topgun34er(at)hotmail(dot)com
I have twin toddlers and one will eat everything and one insists on only eating hot dogs and peanut butter and jelly. So I am a terrible mom and make a “shake” with veggies and fruit and all sorts of stuff like that in it. He thinks it is a treat and does not realize I have made him eat “yucky” food.
I always made my kids sit at the table until they ate at least half their plate. They also knew that they wouldn’t get dessert and so rarely was it a problem.
I have a picky 33 year old (the hubby) as well as a picky 10 year old. I often hide the veggies in foods I know they will eat…Like substituting spaghetti squash for part of the noodles in pasta, or using bean (or other veggie) purees in sauces. Out of sight, out of mind, and they are getting their veggies!! I know…I’m sneaky!
Adding additions to the meal. Ketchup, or honey or cheese is enough to get a picky eater to eat something…..Obviously you don’t go overboard, but it’s one tool in the arsenal!
I tweeted:
http://twitter.com/#!/benny8484/status/15669220046012416
6 kids and I don’t have a clue every day is new.
My best parenting secret is don’t make things taboo. It will only make them want it more.
We all agree to try one new food each week and then are honest with our thoughts. When everyone feels they have a say they tend to be more receptive.
START YOUR CHILDREN OFF EARLY….IF YOU EAT IT AND LIKE IT….THEY GENERALLY WILL EAT AND LIKE IT…I WILL ADMIT THERE IS USUALLY ONE FOOD THAT THEY CANNOT GET USED TO….FIND OUT WHAT THAT IS AND DO NOT MAKE THEM EAT IT
Like you we sort of deconstruct our meals. The only rule is that everyone has to put some veggies on their plate, but other than that they can mix and match.
I always teased my children a bit. When I introduced a new food, I would always tell them “it’s too good for kids”, which had them begging to try it. It even worked on liver and onions!
smchester at gmail dot com
We are expecting #1 next year but my husband refuses to eat a meal that doesn’t have meat in it. So I’ll either throw in a leaner meat or put enough protein in there he doesn’t miss it!
I feed my daughter the item she’s least likely to want FIRST as an “appetizer” while I’m getting ready. At that point she’s really hungry so will eat just about anything.
I add extra veggies to soups and stews.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net
My kids love Mac & Cheese. To fortify it, I add beans to it. Take a can of great white northern bean, drain and wash then grind them into a paste in your food processer adding just a bit of water (or milk), salt and pepper. Freeze in 2-3 tablespoon helpings and add the frozen beans to just about anything ~ Works well in Stouffers Mac & Cheese as well as Kraft.
My daughter was a great eater – hungry, not picky! I always gave her big portions (like double portions) of veggies and smaller portions of meat. Variety was always great. So was having her help to prepare the meal.
Kids will eat lots of veggies with dip. I make hummus and eggplant dips which are healthier alternative to creamy fat laden dips.
Tweet:
$200 Visa gift card. http://www.susiej.com/reviews/index.php/a-day-without-leftovers-would-be-a-day-in-heaven/comment-page-1/#comment-1609
Tweet:
http://twitter.com/clc408/status/16150961261125632
(please disregard previous comment – error with copy and paste (sorry)
make lots of side dishes so everyone has options
I have 5 kids and 4 were boys and they all were pretty good eaters.My 1 daughter was a little picky. It’s almost impossible to please them all but my one rule was that they had to at least try a bite of something if they said they didn’t want it. Most of the time after a bite, they’d realize it tasted much better than they thought and they’d eat the rest. Myy one son would eat anything if I let him put ketchup on it, so I did..lol and he’s now 23 years old and still uses lots of ketchup on his food.
Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/miss_moneymaker/status/16167592855085056
sarahjd766 at yahoo dot com
The best thing to do is to tell someone they have to TRY the food and see if they like it. Only after they’ve declared one way or the other do you tell them what’s in it. Just find the right combination/cooking method for ingredients that someone doesn’t like!
I always make sure to have something in the house that my son will eat if he refuses to eat what my husband and I want to eat. I won’t cook him a special meal if he doesn’t want what we want, so he knows how to operate the microwave to cook something. He is 11, so it is a bit easier now. When he was younger, we always had soup, veggies, or other canned foods for him to eat if he didn’t want what we were eating.
I was lucky not to have a picky eater! My daughter pretty much ate whatever i fixed! Loved reading some of the tips from other readers though!
i tweeted about this post
http://twitter.com/bellows22/statuses/16269271965368320
My granddaughter is not really a picky eater. She loves spaghetti and lasagna, so I make sauce with onions, tomatoes, and peppers. Her absolute favorite is veggie lasagna full of broccoli and carrots.
Tweet.
http://twitter.com/#!/mgoss123/status/16284768551305216
By introducing a wide variety of foods at an early age, I think kids are less picky eaters. Things like steamed broccoli dipped in peanut sauce are healthy and fun for kids to eat.
I use my imagination. Like I tell my daughter chicken is dragon meat to get her to eat it. It works!
Jeanette Huston
jeanette_huston@yahoo.com
my son is super picky so i have started hiding healthy food in the food/junk he eats
i buy the juice with veg in it..make brownies with black beans and add pureed veg into mac and cheese
nannypanpan at sbcglobal.net
I love using a blender for vegetables my grand children will not eat. These are easily mixed in with favorite dishes such as mac & cheese, spaghetti or even meat loaf. I know they are getting a better balanced meal. There are no arguing or complaining at meal times.
Healthy snacks and homework go hand-in-hand in my home. Since the bedroom has many distractions, snacks and homework are set-up in the family room:-)
Hide the veggies in fruit flavored juice!
Merry Xmas! Thanks!
Janna Johnson
jannajanna@hotmail.com
janna@feedyourpigblog.com
http://www.feedyourpigblog.com
My best tip is to have kids take 2 bites of a new food before deciding if they like it. Over the years I have found that my kids almost always dislike the first taste of a new food but once they have the second bite, they often like it.
Hiding veggies in speghetti and other foods they like helps. Also putting water in a bottle they picked out helps to get them to drink it.
My best advice is “hide” the good stuff. If your making Pasta, make the sauce with some added pureed veggies instead of whole veggies like Peppers or Spinach. If you are making Brownies add some pureed squash, it doesn’t change the taste all that much, but gets the veggies into your kids without them even realizing it.
I tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/eyzofblu63/status/16610129092812800
let them help pick the sides so they are more likely to eat them if they’re involved in planning!
http://twitter.com/#!/DesMoinesDealin/status/16701036647415809
I was really lucky. My one and only daughter was always an adventurous eater. I served a wide variety of food from the time she ate solids and she was always willing to try a bite or two. She’s 30 now and the picture of a healthy eater!
ceriehl at gmail dot com
Tweet
http://twitter.com/norcalgal52/status/16705549794025472
ceriehl at gmail dot com
offer only healthy foods
I think you have to start them eating right when they are young and make eating healthfully a positive experience. Too many people make eating well seem like a punishment or assume the kid won’t like it.
I started them eating all types of fruit and veggies right away. When I am serving them meals, I serve the fruit/veggie first, and take my time preparing and serving the rest of the meal. That way, they have already eaten most of their fruit or veggie before they even begin on the rest!
Every once in a while, I will make a veggie soup, with all kinds of veggies my daughter says she “hates.” She eats the soup, and its the best soup in the world.
itsjustme62613 at gmail.com
tweet
http://twitter.com/MistySunrise/status/16873114726043648
itsjustme62613 at gmail.com
Tweeted contest http://twitter.com/#!/pizzalogger/status/16879787427504128
chichibeans at aol
I have a boy too and they are soooo picky. But I tried all kinds of veggies and fruits and found the ones he likes and use those. Also I purchase foods with hidden vegetable servings like the Chef Boyardee products that add to his daily servings.
chichibeans at aol
I cook chicken a lot of various ways. As I cook something I set aside some small portions for “tasting”..my grandkids taste each new item and either adds it to their favorites or not. I freeze individual portions of the various favorites so I always have something on hand when the grandkids come to visit.
We were just talking about this the other night. My mother always made chili with carrots…I can’t eat chili if it doesn’t have carrots in it now and that’s the way I make it for my family. It was my mother’s way of sneaking more veggies into our diet and it worked.
I always have a veggie with every meal, even if it’s only a green lettuce salad. I never forced my kids to eat everything on their plates but they did have to try one bite of anything new.
There are no “picky” eaters in my house, so no advice. We started our kids out early with a wide variety of different foods & haven’t had any eating problems.
tweet, tweet
http://twitter.com/pixie13sweeps/status/16928543833325568
I try to hide healthy ingredients in whatever meals I make. My boyfriend claims he HATES anything green, but when I made him a spinach pizza with whole wheat dough, low fat mozzerella cheese, chunky tomatoes, and broccoli, he feel in love. Added bonus: he had no idea he was eating a well balanced meal!
paigewiley16 AT gmail DOT com
We feed our girls almost completely bento style these days. Little bits of lots of food! We never make them eat anything, or barter. We always make sure there are at least a couple of choices on the table they will be happy with, and we enjoy our meals now! It was life changing for us to stop fighting over it!
http://twitter.com/Heather_KS/status/16953507189891072
No picky eaters here, we just have to push ourselves to open up the recipe range a little bit more rather than sticking with the tried and true all the time.
My meal saving strategy is to combine a bag or can of vegetables with spaghetti and red source. It doesn’t change the taste and they eat their veggies.
THANKS for the AWESOME GIVEAWAY!!!
Scott Martin
spmartin122@gmail.com
hide veggies in homemade sauce
hiding veggies in pasta sauce is a really good idea
put sliced up home made baked potatoes in a mcdonalds container to make them think they’re eating unhealthy french fries which they love, but it’s actually healthy baked home made french fries!
instead of coating chicken in bread crumbs, try crumbling up dried veggies and using that as breading. . . they get more vitamins and minerals this way
cutting veggies/fruits into fun shapes – hearts, flowers, animals etc (cucumbers, cheese, melons, pineapple, zuccini etc)
What we have to eat, we eat!
Fortunately, my kids eat well-rounded meals for the most part. If we run into a trouble spot, I think I’d set up small “rewards” for eating small amounts of fruit or vegetables (e.g., ten peas, two slices of cling peaches). I definitely think we should steer away from The Clean Plate Club, but encouraging a balanced diet should be an everyday goal.
Thanks for a generous giveaway!
Tweeted you!
http://twitter.com/Ida_Sessions/status/17044121709449216
Tweeted! http://twitter.com/vivalameaganx3/status/17045848730894337
I get them to eat veggies by offering some ranch dip with it! And with fruit, like apples, I offer peanut butter!
Choose your battles. From food, to hairstyles, to clothing choices, just remember–this too will pass!!!
we make deals to get my kids to try different foods. they’ll try the new item but often still not like it
My best practice is to make something my kids like to eat and mix in with other ingredients what are good for them. Make it fun and colorful, if possible, get them involved in the cooking or preping process. They love to get in the kitchen with me!
vegetables lamb stew & corn bread with fresh corn sprinkled into the batter is a big hit in our home.
My meal saving strategy is to make sure there is something on the table you know your kids will eat with out a fight. For years we always had apple sauce with dinner, because I knew my daughter would at least eat that, so she wouldn’t go hungry.
To get my picky eaters to eat veggies I hide pureed veggies in various foods — spaghetti is great to hide squash, peas, green beans, broccoli!
chlorinebrain at sbcglobal dot net
I try not to let my son see meat before it’s cooked. I’m thinking he may turn out to be a vegetarian in the end, because he refuses to eat it if he sees it before it’s cooked. Hmmph!
Thanks to the cookbook “Deceptively Delicious” I now puree veggies to include in things like pasta sauce, meatballs and burgers. I love it because I sneak in veggie for my picky husband and get to freeze small portions of pureed veggies for my little one.
We like putting chopped-up vegetables in our dishes. Extra spinach, onions, or zucchini can go in a lot of different foods. My family enjoys trying new recipes, and everything always seems delicious–even the vegetables.
I serve everyone the same meal. If they don’t like it (which is measured by the two bite rule) they may get themselves a peanut butter sandwich on whole wheat bread. This ensures that they have to take responsibility for their pickiness and allows ONE other choice, not a short order diner, a known other choice.
I don’t remember going through a picky eating stage, so I can’t really remember how my mom got me to eat my veggies! I’m guessing there was a lot of “just one more bite!”
It’s all in the presentation when it comes to my kids. If I can make the meal look like something fun, cut it into shapes or serve it on toothpicks, they’ll almost always eat it. I also tell them crazy ingredients when they turn theirs noses up and say, “What’s this?!?!” Now, we have “dragon shoulders” and “eyeballs” on a weekly basis.
Awesome blog and thanks for the giveaway!
Would love, love, LOVE to win this!
Happy holidays!
=]
Reverse psychology worked rather well for me when my son was young. I just told him that certain foods were for big kids and/or grown ups. He’d instantly want to try said foods!
My husband is a picky eater in that he doesn’t feel full if he doesn’t eat tortillas (after having eaten them every day of his childhood) so I end up heating tortillas for him for dishes that don’t necessarily lend themselves to it. Tonight, I made white bean, leek, and chicken soup and ate it with bread. I gave him lime to squeeze, red pepper flakes to shake, and tortillas to scoop and he ate it all plus some!
wolverina401 at gmail dot com
Convince your picky eaters to try one new thing each week…it’s a slow way of getting some variety.
My secret is puree-it and hide-it. I like a spaghetti sauce with the taste of onions and peppers in it, but chunks of veggies in the sauce causes mutiny at the table. I use a stick blender and puree any chunky spaghetti sauce until the chunks are gone. The taste is there, hidden from the mutineers and they just think the sauce tastes good and I never tell what’s in there. I do have to destroy the labels, though.
dchrisg3 @ gmail . com
Tweeted
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dchrisg3 @ gmail . com
I have a granddaughter with texture issues, so the best we can do is have her help with the choosing and cooking to see she eats well.
Having my granddaughter choose and help cook assures she eats better.
I hide veggies in other foods.
My daughter is very picky but at the age of 6 she understand that even though she dosent like it, she has to eat it because its good for her. sometimes she protests but mostly just eats what is on her plate. I have always made her try everything even if she said just by looking at it she didn’t like it. She is a good kid (most the time)
-misty
mommy2skie@yahoo.com
I found that if you allow them to assist you, often they will want to eat their masterpiece.
evrywoman@yahoo.com
Never was one for veggis but you can get what you need in other things! I was a pricky eater still am find something their love and add extras to it! Great giveaway thank you!
tishajean@ charter.net
Tweeted too
http://twitter.com/#!/latishajean/status/17654698454552577
tishajean@ charter.net
Luckily my kids aren’t too picky with their food. If they don’t want it I make them try one bite & then decide.
I have made a few recipes from the Deceptively Delicious cookbook and using purees seems to be a way my kids will get things in them. I’m also a huge fan of Yo Baby Yogurt with the vegetable and fruit purees in them.
It’s pretty easy to hide grated zucchini or carrots in meatballs or soup.
My household loves to eat and we love the chef. Leftovers never go to waste here. We find ways of putting it in the next days meal.
I was a picky eater when I was little…I hated vegetables with a passion! There was absolutely nothing my parents could have done to make me like them. The only thing that got me through eating veggies every night for dinner was washing them down with milk (at least I got a lot of calcium that way!)
My best tip is get them involved from planning to purchasing to prep- even gardening/growing if possible.
http://twitter.com/dddiva/status/17702289770815488
We are a family of 5 and four of us are ‘picky’ eaters.. My best advise is to have your kids help you plan meals.
My three are teens and my daughter HATES tomatoes. SHe won’t even put ketchup on her hot dog or hamburger.
Also, if you don’t have a Publix food store in your area, go to their web site and check out their apron receipes. They are amazing and I have gotten my kids to eat vegies from them more than once! I don’t work for Publix but I adore that store!!!
buddhistmom at gmail dot com
Cheese. We eat lots of cheese. My kids love it. It provides protein and calcium. I try to make meals that are pretty palatable to them and when I make new stuff, they are required to eat at least a small portion. Often, what gets my oldest daughter in trouble is that I know she eats certain foods and meals with my mom and yet refuses them at home…I totally “get”her on that–and she can’t refuse!
I add pureed carrots and/or sweet potatoes to a lot of things. It’s undetectable in meatloaf, spaghetti sauce, chili, mac & cheese and more. I’ve tried other veggies but you can taste them.
I think the key is introducing them to a wide variety of new foods, and trying foods that are similar-but-different to the ones they don’t like.
This didn’t directly involve us (because we had tried many other ways and failed), but our 4-yr old suddenly became MUCH more interested in trying new foods after starting preschool in August. When he saw other kids eating carrots or different fruits with their lunch, he came home asking to try some! He hasn’t liked everything, but he has greatly expanded his menu, and we keep encouraging him to try new things. One by one, we’re getting there!
For my meal saving strategy for picky eaters, we don’t have any junk food in the house. I always have fresh fruits and veggies cut up for quick easy snacks with a yogurt dip, which they seem to love. When there isn’t sugar or salty snacks around, they will eat the healthy stuff.
start a small vegetable garden, and let your kids help grow and pick. let kids help choose what to cook and then help cook the meals. Kids will eat what they help to fix
sneak finely chopped veggies into their favorite mac and cheese or Chef Boyardee’s product and hopefull they eat some
tweet latest: http://www.susiej.com/reviews/index.php/a-day-without-leftovers-would-be-a-day-in-heaven/ less than 5 seconds ago
If you use leftovers in another dish entirely (say, mashed potatoes into potato soup) then those who are against leftovers will never know! Last night’s grilled chicken can be made into today’s chicken salad. Yesterday’s steamed vegetables will go nicely in an alfredo sauce with pasta.
I have a picky eater that is hard to cook for. He loves chicken and will eat it in any form, thank goodness. Now getting him to eat veggies is next to impossible. I have to sneak them into his diet any way I can.
Thanks for the giveaway!
eswright18 at gmail dot com
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Sorry please delete previous comment.
I find that if I have the kids help me cook they eat more of the meal and are more willing to try new things.
I do the bad mommy thing and let my daughter eat whatever she wants for dinner. She hardly ever like anything the rest of us eats so she eats peanut butter sandwhiches, soup, crackers or waffles. She only eats a handful of things. Thanks for the giveaway!
For the most part, the kids don’t put up a fuss about veggies. They were taught from an early age that this is part of a balanced meal, and if they want seconds on any other part of the meal, they had better have already finished their veggies without being asked by a parent.
luckydoll_13@hotmail.com
we have a 1 bite rule, you have to taste it, and its funny when the kids are like…wow i like it!!
My tip is to find favorite foods and sneak in what’s lacking. i.e. cut up chicken in tiny pieces and add it in a quesadilla or grilled cheese.
tweet http://twitter.com/#!/LuckyJinxy/status/17825901592977408
My tip is to give them lots of what they like and try not to worry.
Thanks for the contest.
Mix the good stuff in and don’t tell them.
blogged: http://slehan.blogspot.com/2010/12/win-200-visa-gift-card-club-mum-and.html
I can’t criticize the picky eaters, because I am one, but here’s my suggestion: Try serving the healthy stuff in different ways. Like, when I was very little, my mom used to give me canned green beans straight out of the can, cold. We were traveling a lot and didn’t have much money to stop and and eat at a restaurant. Now, I don’t like green beans if they’re “cooked.” I’ll eat them cold out of the can though. I don’t like hummus Mediterranean-style with olives and stuff in it, but if it’s very plain, I like it. To this day, when my mom makes something with onions, she’ll add the onions last, and that way she can scoop some out so I can eat it without onions. All it means is one extra dirty dish.
My son’s not a very picky eater, but if I put cheese on it he’ll eat just about anything.
tweet-http://twitter.com/jillyrh/status/17840308460978177
Thanks
My son is a very picky eater, so we attempt to keep healthy snacks where he is able to get to them himself. We pack snack crackers, fruit and etc in little baggies and let him munch on them at dinner time. He has to eat at least a portion of his meal in order to be able eat a snack bag. This way, he still trying new foods, but also getting enough nutrients from foods he enjoys eating.
hazel
uniquecritiques@gmail.com
Always know who your children’s friends are and where they are going or are at and let them know you are the Boss and they are to obey you.(Parents know Best, just like Father knows best). Be firm but kind in delivering this message to them in their life
emmaspeel(at)gmail.com
I think the best way to get picky eaters to enjoy your meals is to make the food ‘attractive’. When my son was little I served everything with a toothpick in it and he would eat it all! Now I make sure to have little finger-food sized meals, they seem to really like it more if it’s kid friendly
There were very few things my children wouldn’t eat. They learned early they had to take at least a couple of bites of anything that was served. They became adventurous eaters and very good cooks.
I serve things with cheese on top an my kids love them
Everything seems to taste better with cheese. That is how my mom used to get my sister and I to eat some of our vegetables.
I involve my little man in every decision that way he doesnt feel like he’s being dictated to
jdmimi at gmail dot com
For the kids who don’t like cooked veggies, we serve them raw and they love them! For the ones who don’t like them raw, we steam them, and they love them! We play up the differences in opinion just so they feel the need to choose a side. I’d rather prepare the veggies two ways for every meal than not have the kids eating them at all, and once your mind is set on doing it, it’s really not a big deal to take the extra bit of time required to do it.
Tweet
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i dont have picky eaters here..we dont have much $$ so we take eating seriously. what comes in and is cooked is what u get. im glad for that. ive heard horror stories.
=)
zippy573 AT netscape DOT net
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zippy573 AT netscape DOT net
Cooked veggies, tossed in the food processor, are easily added to casseroles, burgers, chili, other dishes.
cjwallace43 at gmail dot com
http://twitter.com/cjwallace43/status/17954622404562945
cjwallace43 at gmail dot com
I don’t hide things..or anything..we have one rule: you have to try everything on your plate by giving it 2 bites..then you can tell me it’s ‘disgusting’…it works because they find they like things a lot.
I let my son choose one of the two veggies for dinner. Kellyeandjosh@aol.com
I make it a rule you have to try every vegetable.I have found that if it is one they do not like I chop them up and put in spaghetti sauce.They eat them every time this way.I also learned a long time ago to not sweat the small stuff with my kids.Thanks!
lstanziani(at)yahoo(dot)com
I use the 1 bite for eat year of age that the child is. 2 years old-2 bites.
bepoia(at)hotmail(dot)com
Make smaller portions to begin with – less leftovers. If you do have leftovers, use them up quickly by adding to soups or salads.
I have been blessed with non-picky eaters! Thankfully so!
I just hide veggies in meatballs and things like that. I don’t buy junk food and insisit on taking a small amount of veggies-just a taste with dinner. LIke salad an olive oil and vinegar-take a few leaves! LOL
I tweeted : http://twitter.com/dresdenrain/status/17982530011533312
While not a parent, I am a picky eater and have tricks my mom used on me and my dad! LOL Knowing exactly what veggies I would eat, she would make sure they were always in my meals thru the day. She would also give me lots of fruit to make up for the fact that I didn’t like many veggies.
I tweeted here: http://twitter.com/#!/FotoMacro/status/17983420621651968
My parents always taught me manners and to respect their directions. I was made to finish what was on my plate (not large portions or anything like that) and to try everything at least once. They did not force me to eat things I hated, but they would not allow me to just turn up my nose and not even try things. I also had to try 1 thing a month that I thought I hated again, to see if my tastes had changed. I do this to this day and have widened my palate considerably over the years.
my tweet http://twitter.com/#!/RePurrPussed/status/17998065549971456
I was always lucky my son was never a picky eater so I never had to come up with any strategies. But I have seen where if the parents are picky or refuse to try things, the kids follow suit.
I guess you could make the “fun” by forming into shapes or making faces on them
With 5 kids I don’t have time for picky eaters. Our rule on food is if you’re hungry then you eat what is in front of you or go hungry. I usually have an awesome (and cheap!) dessert to follow and they must eat all on their plates in order to get it. Works like a charm!
Tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/mrssquigg/status/18010126728298496
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if the kids are being real crazy about veggies,i will make smoothies and sneak some in!
ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com
hi
For my picky eaters, I always have a back up assorted cold cuts and cheeses.
This way I can make one meal and whomever doesn’t want to eat
what is on the menu, can have sandwhiches..
I used to have picky little eaters in the home. I tried everything and finally pikced up the book The Sneaky Chef. It worked!!…lol The kids never noticed their “yucky” food as one of the ingredients. They eat it without thinking twice.
Followed and tweeted mom2autumn
Edited first response liked on Facebook tweeted on Twitter…lol
Parents usually create picky eaters by making them special meals. When I grew up, we had one meal choice, it was either eat what Mom had made, or go hungry that meal, no eating or snacking in between. You eventually start trying things, because you know the consequences of going hungry.
I think keeping meals simple makes it easier for kids to be willing to try new stuff. Rather than put sauces on food, serve them separately- if the kids don’t like the sauce and it’s served to them, they make hate the food it’s served with.
If the child didn’t finish lunch, give those leftover peas or carrots for a snack instead of pretzels or cookies
My kids used to turn up their noses at cooked peas and carrots but they actually love raw carrots and peas. Same healthy food different state of being.
Sometimes you have to be sneaky
We tried to introduce them to healthy foods and veggies at an early age. My youngest son prefers it to candy.
My daughter is extremely picky and these two strategies have worked best for us:
1) She ventured out to try new vegetables after going to a farm camp and tending crops. Seeing the food grow really pushed her to try some new things she had balked at before. Grow food in your garden and your child may surprise you by snacking on peas fresh off the vine!
2) Go to a farmer’s market weekly and let your child pick an ingredient out to try in a new dish. Involve them in the selecting, planning and cooking. They may surprise you.
Thanks! foxsquirrelrabbit at gmail dot com
My kid eat pretty healthy most of the time, but here’s my quickest, easiest and healthiest meal that my kids ask for at least once a week. I get 1 pound packages of ground turkey that’s like 93% fat free. I usually brown it up ahead of time and pop the 1 pound packages in ziplocs into the freezer. When I need a quick meal, I pop the frozen ground meat with some homemade tomato sauce from all the tomatoes I grew in the summer to make a nice meat sauce. Serve it over whole wheat pasta (they don’t know the difference!). Hearty, filling and comforting.
I do what my mom did growing up: “If you don’t like what’s on the table, you can eat cereal.”
I did everything the books said and none of it worked. Since I was forced to eat gross food when I was a kid and I see what a picky eater I am now, I catered to my son’s food likes and dislikes. He’s 20 now and eats everything. So I guess the moral of this story is that it’s not worth stressing over.
I tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/bsw529/status/18104817582870528
When my kids were at home, we always ate vegetables with our meals. I always made sure they had a helping of vegetables on their plate.
I have two picky eaters, we use a variety of ideas to get them to eat what is important. We offer heathy snacks, ask that they try whatever is on their plate before announcing that they don’t like something, try a good variety of new foods, and limit junkfood as much as possible.
Try a selection of seasonings like Mrs. Dash to give foods different flavors and see if that helps them like it more.
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Always calm down before talking to the kids.
Mix vegetables into a meat dish or sauce so they’re not a separate option. cook well.
I finally get it now…Thanks
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