Do you make alternative dinners for your kids if they don't like what you made?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. I don't want to have one of those losers who grow up only able to eat grilled cheese. Picky eaters in general are just sad.

So- they eat what we eat. And they really love it all

+10000

[Anonymous]

To those who say they were 'forced' to eat everything as kids: there's a middle ground between that and pbj every night. We make a protein, a carb and a vegetable every night -- if one out of those doesn't appeal to a kid then they have a medical condition. And yes, on the nights we are having white fish I will get a salmon filet for my son who doesn't like all fish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. I don't want to have one of those losers who grow up only able to eat grilled cheese. Picky eaters in general are just sad.

So- they eat what we eat. And they really love it all

I'm a picky eater and was forced to eat whatever my parents made for dinner. This alone does not prevent someone from being a picky eater.

Maybe it's an innate deficiency then.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/why-are-you-picky-eater-blame-genes-brains-and-breast-milk-180953456/

Educate yourself. There is a significant genetic component to picky eating. Scientists have even identified specific genes, and there is an evolutionary purpose.

[Anonymous]

I am so glad that my parents had a "you'll eat what we give you" attitude growing up. I think he first time I had a Provencal stew with olives, tomatoes, and seafood- I about threw up. But now, of course- I love it.

If they hadn't pushed me, i'm sure I would be a bore who likes to stick to white bread and plain cheese.

Thanks, parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. I don't want to have one of those losers who grow up only able to eat grilled cheese. Picky eaters in general are just sad.

So- they eat what we eat. And they really love it all

I seriously hate this attitude. I have two kids. One will eat anything. One really has specific tastes. When I have attempted this approach she will just not eat (and complain she is hungry). She is tiny and underweight for her age so she needs to eat. She eats more than just grilled cheese, but I'm not about to make some fancy meal and expect/insist she eat it. I may insist she try, but sometimes she really makes a disgusted face after trying. Sometimes she tries things and likes them and asks for more. But no, not everyone likes all foods. DH eats everything. I certainly don't! There are foods that I truly do not like the last of and have trouble eating. Why cannot that be the case for a kid? I'm not saying they should eat pizza every meal, but I generally make things I think everyone will eat, or if I want the rest of us to eat something else that she won't she gets a simple separate meal.

So you are a sad picky eater and you've passed that on to your kid. Congratulations? How very unsophisticated.

[Anonymous]

No. I don't want to have one of those losers who grow up only able to eat grilled cheese. Picky eaters in general are just sad.

So- they eat what we eat. And they really love it all

NP here. My, aren't you the obnoxious household tyrant. My kids are very adventurous eaters and will eat quite a lot including a lot of non-kid foods. But sometimes they're just not in the mood for something. If I talk to them before I cook, they can let me know and I can make some changes with the same ingredients for them. If they don't catch me early, they they have the option of peanut butter or lunch meat sandwiches which we always have around. But I won't make them eat something they don't feel like eating unless we are out. If we are out, then they have to eat from what's available or they can wait until the next meal. And we don't fill in after a meal they chose not to eat with snacks except fresh fruit or veggies which is always available in our house any time.

[Anonymous]

I am a picky water. I grew up eating in a family where everyone had different tastes and lots of times there will be multiple separate dishes cooked (and more if grandparents visit).
It's the same now. Each eats their own dish. Most of the dishes are simple (steak and grilled vegetables for one, grilled shrimp and raw vegetables for another, salad for the third person, etc). Even desserts are different. I don't like brownies without fruit in them, everyone one else hates fruit in the brownies, but some want nuts and some hate nuts. Four separate trays are baked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LOL, no.

DS eats if he's hungry. If not, we always offer a cup of milk before bed, and then he'll eat a big breakfast in the morning.

+1

We only eat what everyone else is eating.

here too. The fruit bowl is always there as an option as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a picky water. I grew up eating in a family where everyone had different tastes and lots of times there will be multiple separate dishes cooked (and more if grandparents visit).
It's the same now. Each eats their own dish. Most of the dishes are simple (steak and grilled vegetables for one, grilled shrimp and raw vegetables for another, salad for the third person, etc). Even desserts are different. I don't like brownies without fruit in them, everyone one else hates fruit in the brownies, but some want nuts and some hate nuts. Four separate trays are baked.

Wow this sounds like so much work. We both work full time so dinner is usually simple like pasta plus salad with fruit or yoghurt for dessert. Or fish with potatoes and steamed veg. We don't make separate meals and we also don't force anyone to eat anything. Our older daughter eats everything but the younger one, for example, doesn't like potatoes or broccoli. So if I make fish plus potatoes plus steamed veggies I make sure that there are some carrots or string beans in the steamed veg for her and she'll just eat fish, carrots and strong beans for dinner.

We're frazzled and just don't have time to short order cook. Also, the younger one would become a picky eater in we catered to her. But we don't and if she doesn't eat, she doesn't eat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

No. I don't want to have one of those losers who grow up only able to eat grilled cheese. Picky eaters in general are just sad.

So- they eat what we eat. And they really love it all

NP here. My, aren't you the obnoxious household tyrant. My kids are very adventurous eaters and will eat quite a lot including a lot of non-kid foods. But sometimes they're just not in the mood for something. If I talk to them before I cook, they can let me know and I can make some changes with the same ingredients for them. If they don't catch me early, they they have the option of peanut butter or lunch meat sandwiches which we always have around. But I won't make them eat something they don't feel like eating unless we are out. If we are out, then they have to eat from what's available or they can wait until the next meal. And we don't fill in after a meal they chose not to eat with snacks except fresh fruit or veggies which is always available in our house any time.

By all means, indulge your kids until they turn into boring losers. No sweat off my back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a picky water. I grew up eating in a family where everyone had different tastes and lots of times there will be multiple separate dishes cooked (and more if grandparents visit).
It's the same now. Each eats their own dish. Most of the dishes are simple (steak and grilled vegetables for one, grilled shrimp and raw vegetables for another, salad for the third person, etc). Even desserts are different. I don't like brownies without fruit in them, everyone one else hates fruit in the brownies, but some want nuts and some hate nuts. Four separate trays are baked.

Wow this sounds like so much work. We both work full time so dinner is usually simple like pasta plus salad with fruit or yoghurt for dessert. Or fish with potatoes and steamed veg. We don't make separate meals and we also don't force anyone to eat anything. Our older daughter eats everything but the younger one, for example, doesn't like potatoes or broccoli. So if I make fish plus potatoes plus steamed veggies I make sure that there are some carrots or string beans in the steamed veg for her and she'll just eat fish, carrots and strong beans for dinner.

We're frazzled and just don't have time to short order cook. Also, the younger one would become a picky eater in we catered to her. But we don't and if she doesn't eat, she doesn't eat.

Cooking and baking is my stress release, maybe that's the secret. My poor co-workers had to eat all the cakes I made when I had problems at home. I literally brought my stress into the office.

[Anonymous]

DS is 4.5. We always serve a food we know he will eat. Sometimes we doctor his food a little (for instance he likes pasta and meatballs without any sauce). DS knows he has to at least try it. 75% of the time he ends up liking it. About 10% of the time he truly does not like it and we make him something easy (he loves hard boiled eggs so we always have those on hand) . The other 15% of the time he is just being difficult and will only eat the food he likes and then say he's "full". And we don't push it. We just remind him that that's all he's getting.

He's become a much better eater in the past year, which is when we rolled out the above.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a picky water. I grew up eating in a family where everyone had different tastes and lots of times there will be multiple separate dishes cooked (and more if grandparents visit).
It's the same now. Each eats their own dish. Most of the dishes are simple (steak and grilled vegetables for one, grilled shrimp and raw vegetables for another, salad for the third person, etc). Even desserts are different. I don't like brownies without fruit in them, everyone one else hates fruit in the brownies, but some want nuts and some hate nuts. Four separate trays are baked.

You make four trays of brownies every time you bake? That's a lot of work!

I think it's good to teach kids to be adaptable, willing to explore new tastes and gracious to someone preparing the meals (i.e., saying thank you, eating what is on the plate that he DOES like) rather than indulge their very specific personal tastes. Obviously you are doing to/for your kids what your parents did, but maybe you would have been less picky growing up if you had branched out more from an early age. Many studies show kids have to try new foods repeatedly to grow to like them.

[Anonymous]

We usually have two options for the main meal at dinner because I don't eat meat and the rest of the family does. (Funny that no child has ever opted for lentil meatballs or mushroom stroganoff!) We usually share the veggies/sides and I'll put out an assortment if I'm trying to clean out the fridge!

That used to be the only option. My two boys would rather starve than eat a few dishes, tho, and they're in that window where they just need to eat. (They play a ton of sports and are crazy hungry and ridiculously skinny.) I've allowed them to warm up leftovers from the fridge on nights when they just can't stomach the main meal. So they get leftover chicken instead of salmon or cold steak from last night instead of tonight's ribs. Taking this option makes them ineligible for dessert, but they think that's fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We usually have two options for the main meal at dinner because I don't eat meat and the rest of the family does. (Funny that no child has ever opted for lentil meatballs or mushroom stroganoff!) We usually share the veggies/sides and I'll put out an assortment if I'm trying to clean out the fridge!

That used to be the only option. My two boys would rather starve than eat a few dishes, tho, and they're in that window where they just need to eat. (They play a ton of sports and are crazy hungry and ridiculously skinny.) I've allowed them to warm up leftovers from the fridge on nights when they just can't stomach the main meal. So they get leftover chicken instead of salmon or cold steak from last night instead of tonight's ribs. Taking this option makes them ineligible for dessert, but they think that's fine.

I meant to add that DD would never, ever give up dessert. She will unhappily eat whatever is served that night as long as there is junk food at the end. She's skinny, too.