Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 12:05     Subject: Ex won’t make food our daughter will eat

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I find the responses saying some people see providing food for your kid as an act of care and love and some just don't as...kind of crazy making! Not EVERY bite has to be lovingly prepared and served hot and to a kid's tastes. People who eat cold breakfasts and quick lunches themselves aren't less caring parents. They just don't see every meal as a big event.

I sometimes make veggie muffins for them to eat in the mornings, or help them pour a bowl of cereal. I don't love them any less because I don't make them pancakes, eggs, and bacon DAILY. They get cold sandwiches for school lunches. Hot breakfasts and lunches are squarely a weekend treat in my book, I was raised that way and never thought it meant my SAHM didn't love me. I was also fixing my own breakfasts by high school.

I also think OP is letting her daughter be way too precious about dinners. She thinks vegetable based meals are "disgusting," really? The dad is making what sound like home cooked and healthy meals and instead of being scolded for calling them disgusting, the dad is at fault? My kids would also love to eat pasta, pizza, and meat for dinner every night! But guess what, we often cook Asian food involving mainly tofu and vegetables, or occasionally fish. They often won't eat it, one kid won't even eat plain rice. They can have plain bread, yogurt, and fruit to keep from going hungry, or if they're lucky they can have a bowl of microwaved leftovers if there's something in the fridge, but I'm absolutely not cooking chicken because they won't eat tofu, or allowing "vegetables are disgusting" to keep us from serving vegetables. Being an athlete isn't an excuse, she's not being starved, she's just picky!

Why would you purposely cook a dinner your children won’t eat? This is bizarre.


Recurrent exposure to food is the way to build acceptance and approval of that food. I assume you don't still feed your kids pureed carrots? How did you get them to eat other stuff? You continually offered new things to them. It doesn't stop at 18 months.

+1

My now 21 yr old hated onions of any kind, even grilled. Now DC loves them in burgers and such.

They also hated Ethiopian food when we had them try it when they were 13, and they absolutely hated it. Recently, they had it twice, once with their s/o at DC's suggestion, and again with us later.

I hated mushrooms growing up; now I love them.

Taste buds (should) mature. You just have to keep trying.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 11:58     Subject: Re:Ex won’t make food our daughter will eat

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My daughter is 17, a junior in high school, so very busy. I make her breakfast every morning—sometimes hot, sometimes cold. If it's cold, I still get everything ready for her: toast the bread, spread the butter, pour the cereal, etc. Yes, she's an only child.

For lunch, sometimes she just wants a snack, so I put that together for her. Other days she wants a hot lunch, and I make it and have it ready when she leaves. She eats dinner with the family, and I make sure she's fed every night. I also don't purposely make foods I know she doesn't like.

If she's hungry during the day, I'll get a snack ready for her, and I usually have one waiting when she gets home. I also pack extra things for her when needed. I don't see any problem with this. She's a child, and I'm her mother. Taking care of her doesn't mean she "needs to grow up." She doesn't. And before anyone assumes I'm a SAHM, I'm not—though there's absolutely nothing wrong with being one.

People truly need to stop judging.


Why? What you do sounds truly insane to me. I'm judging you pretty hard.


Me too. And I also have a busy 17 year old. This is total insanity.

Only a bored SAHM would do this shit.


+1 The "buttering the bread" part makes me think it has to be parody. She's parenting her teen like a 3 year-old. Does this high schooler tie her own shoes??
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 11:54     Subject: Re:Ex won’t make food our daughter will eat

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My daughter is 17, a junior in high school, so very busy. I make her breakfast every morning—sometimes hot, sometimes cold. If it's cold, I still get everything ready for her: toast the bread, spread the butter, pour the cereal, etc. Yes, she's an only child.

For lunch, sometimes she just wants a snack, so I put that together for her. Other days she wants a hot lunch, and I make it and have it ready when she leaves. She eats dinner with the family, and I make sure she's fed every night. I also don't purposely make foods I know she doesn't like.

If she's hungry during the day, I'll get a snack ready for her, and I usually have one waiting when she gets home. I also pack extra things for her when needed. I don't see any problem with this. She's a child, and I'm her mother. Taking care of her doesn't mean she "needs to grow up." She doesn't. And before anyone assumes I'm a SAHM, I'm not—though there's absolutely nothing wrong with being one.

People truly need to stop judging.


Why? What you do sounds truly insane to me. I'm judging you pretty hard.


Me too. And I also have a busy 17 year old. This is total insanity.

Only a bored SAHM would do this shit.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 11:53     Subject: Ex won’t make food our daughter will eat

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I find the responses saying some people see providing food for your kid as an act of care and love and some just don't as...kind of crazy making! Not EVERY bite has to be lovingly prepared and served hot and to a kid's tastes. People who eat cold breakfasts and quick lunches themselves aren't less caring parents. They just don't see every meal as a big event.

I sometimes make veggie muffins for them to eat in the mornings, or help them pour a bowl of cereal. I don't love them any less because I don't make them pancakes, eggs, and bacon DAILY. They get cold sandwiches for school lunches. Hot breakfasts and lunches are squarely a weekend treat in my book, I was raised that way and never thought it meant my SAHM didn't love me. I was also fixing my own breakfasts by high school.

I also think OP is letting her daughter be way too precious about dinners. She thinks vegetable based meals are "disgusting," really? The dad is making what sound like home cooked and healthy meals and instead of being scolded for calling them disgusting, the dad is at fault? My kids would also love to eat pasta, pizza, and meat for dinner every night! But guess what, we often cook Asian food involving mainly tofu and vegetables, or occasionally fish. They often won't eat it, one kid won't even eat plain rice. They can have plain bread, yogurt, and fruit to keep from going hungry, or if they're lucky they can have a bowl of microwaved leftovers if there's something in the fridge, but I'm absolutely not cooking chicken because they won't eat tofu, or allowing "vegetables are disgusting" to keep us from serving vegetables. Being an athlete isn't an excuse, she's not being starved, she's just picky!

Why would you purposely cook a dinner your children won’t eat? This is bizarre.


Recurrent exposure to food is the way to build acceptance and approval of that food. I assume you don't still feed your kids pureed carrots? How did you get them to eat other stuff? You continually offered new things to them. It doesn't stop at 18 months.

My kid is 9 and doesn’t care for eggs. He’s tried them many times and doesn’t like them. I’ve set it aside for now and I’m not going to make quiche for dinner every night lol
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 11:52     Subject: Ex won’t make food our daughter will eat

At her age, it's not unreasonable to say, eat what was cooked or have a sandwich. Granola and a yogurt is not an unreasonable breakfast either.
As long as his home contains simple things she can readily eat like those I mentioned I think she has to adjust, not him.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 11:42     Subject: Re:Ex won’t make food our daughter will eat

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My daughter is 17, a junior in high school, so very busy. I make her breakfast every morning—sometimes hot, sometimes cold. If it's cold, I still get everything ready for her: toast the bread, spread the butter, pour the cereal, etc. Yes, she's an only child.

For lunch, sometimes she just wants a snack, so I put that together for her. Other days she wants a hot lunch, and I make it and have it ready when she leaves. She eats dinner with the family, and I make sure she's fed every night. I also don't purposely make foods I know she doesn't like.

If she's hungry during the day, I'll get a snack ready for her, and I usually have one waiting when she gets home. I also pack extra things for her when needed. I don't see any problem with this. She's a child, and I'm her mother. Taking care of her doesn't mean she "needs to grow up." She doesn't. And before anyone assumes I'm a SAHM, I'm not—though there's absolutely nothing wrong with being one.

People truly need to stop judging.


But you're judging Dad for also providing food, just different food.

You don't get to not get judged for your indulging and Dad gets judged for his boundaries. Not how it works.


Dad’s “boundaries” are being a d bag who purposely makes food his daughter doesn’t like. What a loser.


He is cooking for everyone not just her. She can eat the sides and a sandwich or make something else. She’s not a toddler. Or, mom can send food.


Who is everyone? OP hasn't said. It's a little more understandable if there's other kids involved who eat the gross fish. If it's just dad, and DD is only there half the time, then it's just a jerk move.


Found the adult picky eater.

Fish is a very normal thing to eat and not gross.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 11:37     Subject: Ex won’t make food our daughter will eat

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I find the responses saying some people see providing food for your kid as an act of care and love and some just don't as...kind of crazy making! Not EVERY bite has to be lovingly prepared and served hot and to a kid's tastes. People who eat cold breakfasts and quick lunches themselves aren't less caring parents. They just don't see every meal as a big event.

I sometimes make veggie muffins for them to eat in the mornings, or help them pour a bowl of cereal. I don't love them any less because I don't make them pancakes, eggs, and bacon DAILY. They get cold sandwiches for school lunches. Hot breakfasts and lunches are squarely a weekend treat in my book, I was raised that way and never thought it meant my SAHM didn't love me. I was also fixing my own breakfasts by high school.

I also think OP is letting her daughter be way too precious about dinners. She thinks vegetable based meals are "disgusting," really? The dad is making what sound like home cooked and healthy meals and instead of being scolded for calling them disgusting, the dad is at fault? My kids would also love to eat pasta, pizza, and meat for dinner every night! But guess what, we often cook Asian food involving mainly tofu and vegetables, or occasionally fish. They often won't eat it, one kid won't even eat plain rice. They can have plain bread, yogurt, and fruit to keep from going hungry, or if they're lucky they can have a bowl of microwaved leftovers if there's something in the fridge, but I'm absolutely not cooking chicken because they won't eat tofu, or allowing "vegetables are disgusting" to keep us from serving vegetables. Being an athlete isn't an excuse, she's not being starved, she's just picky!

Why would you purposely cook a dinner your children won’t eat? This is bizarre.


Recurrent exposure to food is the way to build acceptance and approval of that food. I assume you don't still feed your kids pureed carrots? How did you get them to eat other stuff? You continually offered new things to them. It doesn't stop at 18 months.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 11:37     Subject: Re:Ex won’t make food our daughter will eat

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My daughter is 17, a junior in high school, so very busy. I make her breakfast every morning—sometimes hot, sometimes cold. If it's cold, I still get everything ready for her: toast the bread, spread the butter, pour the cereal, etc. Yes, she's an only child.

For lunch, sometimes she just wants a snack, so I put that together for her. Other days she wants a hot lunch, and I make it and have it ready when she leaves. She eats dinner with the family, and I make sure she's fed every night. I also don't purposely make foods I know she doesn't like.

If she's hungry during the day, I'll get a snack ready for her, and I usually have one waiting when she gets home. I also pack extra things for her when needed. I don't see any problem with this. She's a child, and I'm her mother. Taking care of her doesn't mean she "needs to grow up." She doesn't. And before anyone assumes I'm a SAHM, I'm not—though there's absolutely nothing wrong with being one.

People truly need to stop judging.


But you're judging Dad for also providing food, just different food.

You don't get to not get judged for your indulging and Dad gets judged for his boundaries. Not how it works.


Dad’s “boundaries” are being a d bag who purposely makes food his daughter doesn’t like. What a loser.


He is cooking for everyone not just her. She can eat the sides and a sandwich or make something else. She’s not a toddler. Or, mom can send food.


Who is everyone? OP hasn't said. It's a little more understandable if there's other kids involved who eat the gross fish. If it's just dad, and DD is only there half the time, then it's just a jerk move.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 11:35     Subject: Re:Ex won’t make food our daughter will eat

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My daughter is 17, a junior in high school, so very busy. I make her breakfast every morning—sometimes hot, sometimes cold. If it's cold, I still get everything ready for her: toast the bread, spread the butter, pour the cereal, etc. Yes, she's an only child.

For lunch, sometimes she just wants a snack, so I put that together for her. Other days she wants a hot lunch, and I make it and have it ready when she leaves. She eats dinner with the family, and I make sure she's fed every night. I also don't purposely make foods I know she doesn't like.

If she's hungry during the day, I'll get a snack ready for her, and I usually have one waiting when she gets home. I also pack extra things for her when needed. I don't see any problem with this. She's a child, and I'm her mother. Taking care of her doesn't mean she "needs to grow up." She doesn't. And before anyone assumes I'm a SAHM, I'm not—though there's absolutely nothing wrong with being one.

People truly need to stop judging.


Why? What you do sounds truly insane to me. I'm judging you pretty hard.


I mean also someone posting on a public forum badmouthing their ex getting upset when the commenters criticize them instead is just something else.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 11:33     Subject: Re:Ex won’t make food our daughter will eat

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is 17, a junior in high school, so very busy. I make her breakfast every morning—sometimes hot, sometimes cold. If it's cold, I still get everything ready for her: toast the bread, spread the butter, pour the cereal, etc. Yes, she's an only child.

For lunch, sometimes she just wants a snack, so I put that together for her. Other days she wants a hot lunch, and I make it and have it ready when she leaves. She eats dinner with the family, and I make sure she's fed every night. I also don't purposely make foods I know she doesn't like.

If she's hungry during the day, I'll get a snack ready for her, and I usually have one waiting when she gets home. I also pack extra things for her when needed. I don't see any problem with this. She's a child, and I'm her mother. Taking care of her doesn't mean she "needs to grow up." She doesn't. And before anyone assumes I'm a SAHM, I'm not—though there's absolutely nothing wrong with being one.

People truly need to stop judging.


Why? What you do sounds truly insane to me. I'm judging you pretty hard.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 11:05     Subject: Re:Ex won’t make food our daughter will eat

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My daughter is 17, a junior in high school, so very busy. I make her breakfast every morning—sometimes hot, sometimes cold. If it's cold, I still get everything ready for her: toast the bread, spread the butter, pour the cereal, etc. Yes, she's an only child.

For lunch, sometimes she just wants a snack, so I put that together for her. Other days she wants a hot lunch, and I make it and have it ready when she leaves. She eats dinner with the family, and I make sure she's fed every night. I also don't purposely make foods I know she doesn't like.

If she's hungry during the day, I'll get a snack ready for her, and I usually have one waiting when she gets home. I also pack extra things for her when needed. I don't see any problem with this. She's a child, and I'm her mother. Taking care of her doesn't mean she "needs to grow up." She doesn't. And before anyone assumes I'm a SAHM, I'm not—though there's absolutely nothing wrong with being one.

People truly need to stop judging.


You seem to have confused "taking care of her" with coddling her absurdly and ensuring she's high maintenance. This would be absurd even for a SAHM, and no, your daughter isn't so busy she can't do this herself. Laughable.


I literally made fish, potatoes, and veggies for family last night. My 7 year old did a brief bit of grumbling but when we made clear we weren't offering alternatives he his dinner just fine. I told him he could pick dinner tonight this morning and he asked for tofu stir fry, which I'm happy to make. My kids get input on meals, they don't get to order every meal. Being loving to your kids doesn't mean catering immediately to their every whim.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 11:03     Subject: Ex won’t make food our daughter will eat

Anonymous wrote:One thing I wonder about - the divide between people who think a sandwich is an ok meal and those who think a meal has to be "hot" to count as a meal. Is that a cultural thing? I'm an italian american and I'd prefer not to eat a sandwich for every single meal, but I'd certainly count it as a "real" meal.


Most traditional North Europeans eat two cold and one hot meal a day, usually lunch. It's definitely a real meal.

OP's kid just sounds spoiled and OP is nuts.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 11:00     Subject: Re:Ex won’t make food our daughter will eat

Anonymous wrote:My daughter is 17, a junior in high school, so very busy. I make her breakfast every morning—sometimes hot, sometimes cold. If it's cold, I still get everything ready for her: toast the bread, spread the butter, pour the cereal, etc. Yes, she's an only child.

For lunch, sometimes she just wants a snack, so I put that together for her. Other days she wants a hot lunch, and I make it and have it ready when she leaves. She eats dinner with the family, and I make sure she's fed every night. I also don't purposely make foods I know she doesn't like.

If she's hungry during the day, I'll get a snack ready for her, and I usually have one waiting when she gets home. I also pack extra things for her when needed. I don't see any problem with this. She's a child, and I'm her mother. Taking care of her doesn't mean she "needs to grow up." She doesn't. And before anyone assumes I'm a SAHM, I'm not—though there's absolutely nothing wrong with being one.

People truly need to stop judging.


You seem to have confused "taking care of her" with coddling her absurdly and ensuring she's high maintenance. This would be absurd even for a SAHM, and no, your daughter isn't so busy she can't do this herself. Laughable.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 10:59     Subject: Re:Ex won’t make food our daughter will eat

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My daughter is 17, a junior in high school, so very busy. I make her breakfast every morning—sometimes hot, sometimes cold. If it's cold, I still get everything ready for her: toast the bread, spread the butter, pour the cereal, etc. Yes, she's an only child.

For lunch, sometimes she just wants a snack, so I put that together for her. Other days she wants a hot lunch, and I make it and have it ready when she leaves. She eats dinner with the family, and I make sure she's fed every night. I also don't purposely make foods I know she doesn't like.

If she's hungry during the day, I'll get a snack ready for her, and I usually have one waiting when she gets home. I also pack extra things for her when needed. I don't see any problem with this. She's a child, and I'm her mother. Taking care of her doesn't mean she "needs to grow up." She doesn't. And before anyone assumes I'm a SAHM, I'm not—though there's absolutely nothing wrong with being one.

People truly need to stop judging.


But you're judging Dad for also providing food, just different food.

You don't get to not get judged for your indulging and Dad gets judged for his boundaries. Not how it works.


Dad’s “boundaries” are being a d bag who purposely makes food his daughter doesn’t like. What a loser.


He is cooking for everyone not just her. She can eat the sides and a sandwich or make something else. She’s not a toddler. Or, mom can send food.


The advice for toddlers is literally NOT to make alternative meals.
Anonymous
Post 06/02/2026 10:56     Subject: Ex won’t make food our daughter will eat

Anonymous wrote:I find the responses saying some people see providing food for your kid as an act of care and love and some just don't as...kind of crazy making! Not EVERY bite has to be lovingly prepared and served hot and to a kid's tastes. People who eat cold breakfasts and quick lunches themselves aren't less caring parents. They just don't see every meal as a big event.

I sometimes make veggie muffins for them to eat in the mornings, or help them pour a bowl of cereal. I don't love them any less because I don't make them pancakes, eggs, and bacon DAILY. They get cold sandwiches for school lunches. Hot breakfasts and lunches are squarely a weekend treat in my book, I was raised that way and never thought it meant my SAHM didn't love me. I was also fixing my own breakfasts by high school.

I also think OP is letting her daughter be way too precious about dinners. She thinks vegetable based meals are "disgusting," really? The dad is making what sound like home cooked and healthy meals and instead of being scolded for calling them disgusting, the dad is at fault? My kids would also love to eat pasta, pizza, and meat for dinner every night! But guess what, we often cook Asian food involving mainly tofu and vegetables, or occasionally fish. They often won't eat it, one kid won't even eat plain rice. They can have plain bread, yogurt, and fruit to keep from going hungry, or if they're lucky they can have a bowl of microwaved leftovers if there's something in the fridge, but I'm absolutely not cooking chicken because they won't eat tofu, or allowing "vegetables are disgusting" to keep us from serving vegetables. Being an athlete isn't an excuse, she's not being starved, she's just picky!


This is about mm not the daughter.