Is your child a fussy eater? Read this now! Here is the only thing that I found works after 7 years of trying and failing!
Does your teen say their taste buds change daily? Do they have mutant taste buds that change with their moods?
Then here’s what worked yesterday, after my small victory!
Pretend you are a pro chef – I don’t like aubergine “It’s the texture” she says despite never trying them in her life. Me: I have a tip for you. “Roast them in the oven with honey and let them go crisp, the texture will be sorted.” Completely wing it if you have to. Just come up with something to counteract what they dislike that you can use during the cooking process. Prepare to use all your spice rack, in one meal. Bear in mind it can be complete codswallop what you tell them. So just try your best to keep a straight face.
Comprise a list containing vegetables and meats. They like and dislike. Ask them why they dislike them. Bear in mind half of the reasons will be made up because they actually haven’t tried them. Go along with whatever they say. Pretend they are completely right! If struggling because of the ridiculous reasons they give you. Just nod and agree. If you have wine for cooking take a swig. For patience known also as “Taste testing” to the children. Top tip: Use a bit during cooking, they will love feeling grown and it cooks off anyway.
They make and design a meal – Here’s the deal, they choose a protein, a sauce and a carb they like. Then they choose a vegetable they do like, and 4 they don’t. Boom all 5 a day in one meal. You have it on paper too, so whatever they eat you tick off. My pre-teens list is as long as my arm, so we have months of cooking to do.
They chop and cook everything themselves, obviously you monitor them and guide them. So they don’t slice their fingers off. A trip to A&E is not part of the plan. Let them decide when the vegetables are cooked. Guide only. Let them have all the fun parts of cooking, just clean up after them.
Say you will eat their food with them, and pay them for your meal. Like you would a chef! They love it! Pay whatever you can afford doesn’t have to be much. Just enough to motivate them.
They are to dish out, and make the table! You back off, it’s part of their pay. Let them set the table how they want. They want an ornament from the bathroom that has no business being there. Who cares. Just go with it. Nod at their vision.
Watch them clear their plate. Normally my pre-teen will push food around her plate at this time. That didn’t happen, she was too busy telling me she was a “top chef”. Cleaned her plate in about 2 minutes. Don’t think she even came up for air.
At the next meal time, choose a protein they refuse to try. My pre-teen has never eaten beef. So I opted for mince, and she made her own meatballs. Added Breadcrumbs, seasoning and garlic herself and shaped them into balls. She must have made them on economy mode as they only took 10 minutes to cook.
Result: Didnt have much hope for meatballs after she only put 4 on her plate. After trying one she decided to get the rest of the tray on her plate and ate them all before anything else! I congratulated her that she was now a step away from iron deficiency.
New foods eaten: peppers, onions, courgette, aubergine, beef meatballs.
The kitchen is a mess! But apparently, I’m the porter since she’s the next Nigella.
Victory ✌️
Confessions of a Kinship Carer 