| The dreaded: Daddy, I dont like that dinner!!!!!!
Posted: 3/24/2008 3:56:30 PM | | Hey, i hear what you are saying. What i do is give the kids a choice. On the days i have the kids, my daughter will choose what she wants one night, my son the next, and me on the third day. It gives them a say in whats for supper. Thing is, they cant choose the same thing twice in a row. They love it. | |
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| The dreaded: Daddy, I dont like that dinner!!!!!!
Posted: 3/24/2008 9:07:13 PM | reminds me of an old Vermont joke. An farmer up in the hill country had 11 kids and a small rock filled farm but the kids all were big strapping lads so the guy at the general store asked him one day" Jeb, how you feed all them sons of yours with such a meager farm?" Jeb replied" I found out what they don't like and feed them lots of it" | |
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| The dreaded: Daddy, I dont like that dinner!!!!!!
Posted: 3/25/2008 5:22:24 AM | Remember that kids' sense of taste is very sensitive for some things and they genuinely don't like the taste, and for many other things they haven't learned to like the taste as adults have. So keep the meals for younger children simple and save your gourmet flair for when you wish to entertain your lady and friends.
Trying to keep that in mind, I tell my kids that this is the meal I've prepared ...they don't have to eat it (I respect they are people and have choices only they can make) ... but neither I'm not doing custom orders. I put the jar of peanut butter and some bread on the table and that is their alternative. They don't have to eat that either and I expect them to stay at the table and learn to be pleasant company (family time). The peanut butter is fairly nutritious. ...I've kept an eye on them and they don't seem to have starved. | |
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| The dreaded: Daddy, I dont like that dinner!!!!!!
Posted: 3/25/2008 7:45:02 AM | Lol... oh no, its not a case of "Do as I say, but not as I do", I'm more than happy to live by the same rules that I hold them to, and if they try it and don't like it, then I'm more than happy to throw something else quick together.
Come to think about it when I did get called on the rule, thats about the same time as the rule changed to the "No Thank You Bite" from what I used to use, which was "How old are you? 3? Then you have to have 3 bites..." | |
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| The dreaded: Daddy, I dont like that dinner!!!!!!
Posted: 3/25/2008 8:15:04 AM | i always found lying through your back teeth to work a treat...
anything she didnt want to try, i would tell her that her fave tv characters/cartoon characters eat it...
like tomato suasages were barbie sausages and thats wat barbie eats..
ravioli was postman pat letters.. lasgne was wat thundercats eat all the time..
she was never the wiser and it got her to at the very least try stuff, if not scoff the lot....
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| The dreaded: Daddy, I dont like that dinner!!!!!!
Posted: 3/25/2008 12:14:14 PM | ^^^^^^^
nopes i dont believe it is on anymore.. but she is 23 now...
she doesnt believe ravioli is postman pats letters anymore now either...
worked at the time though... lol | |
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| The dreaded: Daddy, I dont like that dinner!!!!!!
Posted: 3/25/2008 12:20:33 PM | | thats awful! if she really wants to be a vegetarian and wants to do it in a healthy way, then why are you standing in her way? she's old enough to make that decision for herself. | |
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| The dreaded: Daddy, I dont like that dinner!!!!!!
Posted: 3/26/2008 3:49:55 PM | There are alot of children's cookbooks out there; I recently heard of a "Green Eggs & Ham" cookbook (can't vouch for it, as I haven't actually seen it)--the recipes have silly Seuss-esque names . . . .
I never had the problem; my son was/is a good eater, but he always got a kick out of funny names for foods . . . we had a total gigglefest once over a puu-puu platter . . . . | |
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| The dreaded: Daddy, I dont like that dinner!!!!!!
Posted: 3/26/2008 4:26:23 PM | ohh that sounds so familiar! when my son was younger i would give him the choice between"regular" and "dinosaur or Godzilla" prefixed food(the same food) you bet he chose , for example, dinosaur corn over regular corn every time!
As he got older if he didn't like something i would say it was an "acquired taste" so that to like the food was something he could aspire to.
But overall i don't make a big deal out of eating, kids will ultimately choose a balanced diet if given the chance. I read somewhere that studies have shown a correlation with childhood obesity and families that make it a big deal out of whether a child eats something or not. | |
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| The dreaded: Daddy, I dont like that dinner!!!!!!
Posted: 3/26/2008 5:06:13 PM |
also, it always helps to involve them in the cooking of it, whatever it is (microwave a hot dog?). If they make it themselves, or "help", they will be much more likely to eat it.
I tried this once to my downfall. My oldest son is a very picky eater and once he saw everything that went in stroganoff, something he actually used to enjoy, he was done. I'm to the point when they ask me what I'm making for dinner, I say I'm making "Oh, Yuck" and they can either have that or PB & J. lol | |
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| The dreaded: Daddy, I dont like that dinner!!!!!!
Posted: 3/26/2008 5:18:48 PM |
We have a rule at our house... it's called the "No Thank You Bite"
Thats clever! ~ and cute ~ KIDS! ~
so funny!
All kids can be so different ! ~ Use games and imagination as Durannie seems to do ~ It takes time ~ but quicker in the long run ~ Kids love games and play ~ and little ones love to win! yea!! ~ we can all be winners! dar | |
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| The dreaded: Daddy, I dont like that dinner!!!!!!
Posted: 6/11/2008 2:16:11 PM | we grew up with the no thank-you helping. one giant tablespoon of whatever we didnt want to try.
as for veggies in my house. Auntie always gets the kids to eat at her house. My sister in laws and sister are always asking me how come their kids eat things at my house and wont eat them at theirs..
a. I let them help me cook and decide what we are having for dinner. i usually give them a choice between two or three things. they will eat something if they helped make it
b. I hide veggies in my spaghetti sauce. they wont know if you hit it with an emersion blender for a few seconds.. | |
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| The dreaded: Daddy, I dont like that dinner!!!!!!
Posted: 6/11/2008 2:40:42 PM | I don't have kids but when my mom worked nights my dad would say "AAALLLLright , let's have a COLD dinner". Was bad but it worked.
I remember looking forward to the cold dinners.
Cold wieners, cold pork and beans, fruit, crackers.
He was the worst cook of all time but looking back that was just genius.
Maybe try and make a whole production of it.
Sounds like you could get away with it seeing your kid's ages. | |
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| The dreaded: Daddy, I dont like that dinner!!!!!!
Posted: 6/11/2008 2:58:51 PM | We don't call it a no thank you bite, but he is obligated to try one bite. If he does not like it he does not have to eat it. But I have found one thing that works well for me. I let him help cook it. He is always excited when he is involved with making dinner. it could be asparagus wrapped in anchovies and he will eat it!
Give them a little bit of control. I often let him choose dinner from three or four choices that I lay out for him. "Would, you like to have chicken, fish, or pasta?" And he will happily choose one and feel that he is having what he wanted. He also knows that there will be a treat after dinner. It could be jello or it could be berries, but the treat only comes after he has eaten.
Bets of luck. | |
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| The dreaded: Daddy, I dont like that dinner!!!!!!
Posted: 6/11/2008 2:58:55 PM | | This is where I dont understand parents today at all...WHY does your 4 old decide what you make for him/her for dinner?...If he doesnt want to eat it, he doesnt get any dinner!...Simple as that...Once he sees theres no other food that you will be slaving to make for him, he will be eating the dinner youve made in no time or go hungry...Why do parents run around like slaves with their spoiled brat kids like this?...Uggg...I hate that..Then they turn into self centered adults who think the world revolves around them | |
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| The dreaded: Daddy, I dont like that dinner!!!!!!
Posted: 6/11/2008 3:29:39 PM | Why make it into a power struggle?
Why not make it into a thoughtful discussion about the food, what their observations about it are that lead them to believe they won't like eating it (is it the color, the smell, the texture, stories they've heard, etc.). Why not encourage them to be as articulate as they can be about all the things they dislike about the meal? Then ask them if there's anything at all they do like about it, or what could be done to make the meal into something they might like better as you happily much away.
Make it a learning game and tell them a story about the worst thing you ever ate. Then tell them about the thing you dreaded eating most but found you liked after all. The favorite character idea is just brilliant too!
Then, when they've been thoroughly heard and you've shown that you're way more interested in them than in being "right" or having power over them, you can tell them that it's time to take the "no thank you" bite. And when they react, you can help them enjoy the experience by having a good laugh with them about how yucky it is (or how good it turned out to be after all).
Every "test" is a teaching opportunity, but it is also an opportunity for us as parents to learn more about who our kids really are and help them enjoy being themselves while still being polite and engaging. | |
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| The dreaded: Daddy, I dont like that dinner!!!!!!
Posted: 6/11/2008 3:44:00 PM | There are some great ideas here.
The most impressive thing I witnessed was a colleague and her two children. I always ask about allergies and kiddie preferences for meals, but she said, 'Make whatever you normally make.' I was very impressed that the children [6 and 3] ate everything and even politely asked for more edamame beans. Other than thanking them for their great behaviour, I didn't say anything, but could hardly wait to ask how she did it.
The next day she said the family rule is 'If you don't like what's for supper, leave the table. There will be something different tomorrow.'
Worked like a charm! | |
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| The dreaded: Daddy, I dont like that dinner!!!!!!
Posted: 6/11/2008 6:31:06 PM | My daughter is a picky eater... so if she doesn't like what is on her plate, she has two choices, either eat it (we don't make her eat things she absolutely detests... just things she thinks she'd rather not eat..) or get ready for bed... it's amazing how many times the food gets eaten.
The other thing I quite often do is tell her... Remember you had this a few weeks ago and you LOVED it!?!?!?!?! and she eats it ... it's a small white lie yes... BUT it keeps her eating :) | |
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| The dreaded: Daddy, I dont like that dinner!!!!!!
Posted: 6/12/2008 4:24:23 AM | msg1-OP
you didnt state your typical dishes, or the dishes the kids like...
Kids are creatures of habit...Just think of how many times they can watch The Wiggles.
Focus on the dishes they like, then make them healthier or add something new or healthy to those favorite dishes. i.e. If you serve Sandwich and chips at lunch, cut back on the amount of chips and add carrot and celery sticks with ranch...add a few salad and black olives to the plate.
If ya'll order Pizza, and pepperoni is their fav, order a pizza half pepperoni and half pepperoni and mushroom and black olive...
Salads are the best, you can introduce your kids to so many new flavors with each salad...
Spaghetti and Lasagna are great for hiding veggies...to the sauce add small diced mushrooms, zucchini, carrots, sweet peppers, onions...ect. cook with sauce till veggies become tender...
Most important- dont give up. I remember I hated tomatos when I was a kid, now I couldnt cook without them. | |
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| The dreaded: Daddy, I dont like that dinner!!!!!!
Posted: 6/12/2008 6:11:43 AM | Black olives are BITTER, and therefore usually picked off & chucked by kids & adults alike...lol
And to add Zucchini or Carrots to lasagne should be a hanging offense. Vegetable lasagne is one thing, but my mother would KILL anyone who put zucchini in a regular meat/cheeze lasagne. I would merely kneecap them with a sledgehammer. 
I have yet to see a kid that didn't like carrot sticks after watching a few bugs bunny cartoons...for the 11+, show them the movie "Shoot 'em Up"...
You people have read too much Dr. Spock...if they don't eat it then, send 'em to bed & they eat it for breakfast...they'll come around eventually. The reason so many kids are going to jail & getting into trouble these days is that parents try to be friends instead of PARENTING. Be a hardazz, it lets your kids know that there are consequences for disobeying the Law...which leads them properly into later life...they will either get really nice & obedient, or they'll get really, really devious so they won't get caught. Either way, they'll have LEARNED. As I tell the Monkey-Boy, "I catch you so easily because I was a rotten lil twerp when I was a kid, so I KNOW EXACTLY what you are going to do, how you are gonna do it, and Why...so you haven't got a prayer." It's amazing how well-behaved he can be...at least if he thinks I'll find out about something...lol
If it'a a Choice thing, like choosing to go vegetarian...talk with them about it, that's a more reasonable thing to do but ONLY if they do it RIGHT. A misinformed vegetarian or vegan diet can do horrible things to one's body...much as a high fat & carb (sugar) diet will do horrible things. A good vegan or vegetarian diet can be a wonderful thing. As a carnivore myself, I make sure there is meat with a healthy amount of veggies & breads to allow for proper digestion. | |
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| The dreaded: Daddy, I dont like that dinner!!!!!!
Posted: 6/12/2008 9:28:13 AM | SHUSH and EAT YOUR FOOD!.....
there are starving kids in ___________ (fill in the appropriate country)
worked in the 60s... I think it was Bangladesh back then...come to think of it...might still be.
anyhow.. I do have 1.5 picky eaters and I just try to find basic foods that they like and I build it from there.
The love spagetti and meatsauce....so now I make small meatballs... sometimes beef, lamb or even turkey meat... a small alteration to the original.
I am using different types of pasta, shells, spirals, rotini.... a slight variation again...building to something bigger.......TA DAAAAAAAAAAAAA we are now at their new favourite which I don't make very often so it is now a treat..........LASAGNA.....
You see Lasagna is just a type of Spagetti and Meatsauce and I toss in ricotta cheese, spinach and I might tuck in some tiny pieces of mushroom...lots of cheese on top.
Towards the end of the meal I bring out a nice spring salad with a creamy dressing, and a few small slices of french bread.
Make it simple...that is the key.... Ground Beef with one of those fast Stroganoff packaged dinners. My fav is from Safeway, the Hamburger Helper variety is too spicy for my kids.
A BBQ chicken cut up into bite size pieces, toss in some cooked rice, cooked broccoli and some cheese and maybe a white cheese sauce.  | |
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| The dreaded: Daddy, I dont like that dinner!!!!!!
Posted: 6/16/2008 2:58:24 PM | msg-47
Black olives are BITTER, and therefore usually picked off & chucked by kids & adults alike...lol
And to add Zucchini or Carrots to lasagne should be a hanging offense. Vegetable lasagne is one thing, but my mother would KILL anyone who put zucchini in a regular meat/cheeze lasagne. I would merely kneecap them with a sledgehammer.
Then I thank goodness I was born to my parents, and not to your Knee-capping mom.
My mom loves me, she made us all our favorite dishes...and my siblings and I grew to be normal folk...BTW my mom loves my Lasagne with zucchini and carrots. | |
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| The dreaded: Daddy, I dont like that dinner!!!!!!
Posted: 6/16/2008 3:23:43 PM | I'm a believer in if you don't like it don't eat it and yet my kids grew up to eat all kinds of things I never served them. I've heard countless people say they eat certain things because they were taught to, I think people eat what they like and have their very own sense of what that is. I don't believe in forcing them to eat something they don't like, on the other hand, this is dinner eat it or the part of it you want and you'll probably be really hungry by the next meal. The choice is theirs they aren't being forced and you don't have to cook three or four separate meals. Also it's good to make sure you make them something they like at the meal, it shouldn't all be some weird stuff from the Food Network.  So you want them to try squid make sure you serve the veggies or fruits with it that you know they like.
My mother gave food funny names so you wouldn't know what it was, like liver & onions was Viva-Live-Var from France, so we'd taste it and yep it sucked but at least there was no, What! Liver & Onions!!! Are you crazy, I can't eat that!! But my mother was a horrible cook so maybe the stuff was suppose to be good, I'll never know, luckily for me liver is now considered a horrible thing to eat.  | |
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