My daughter, aka Girl, has two friends that come over regularly. I like both of these kids. They’re fun and funny and I enjoy having them over nearly as much as Girl does. BUT (you could see the big BUT coming, couldn’t you?) these kids are driving me crazy on the food front. They don’t eat normal food that I can tell.
One doesn’t eat any fruits or vegtables AT ALL except for apples and no fish. She eats apples, peanut butter, bacon, sausage, chips, mac&cheese, and drinks sodas. Problem is I don’t buy chips or sodas and I don’t keep bacon and sausage on hand.
The other one…well, the only thing I know for certain that she eats is peanut butter mixed with syrup. And chips. And soda. Other than that, I’m pitching strikes. She came over last weekend and I made a homemade chicken pot pie. I make my own sauce, pick off the the chicken, mix in vegtables and top it with a pie crust. It’s incredibly good. Girl says, “Oh, My Friend doesn’t like chicken pot pie.” Yesterday I made breakfast, the friend assured me she liked scrambled eggs, grits, and toast. One bite of everything and the rest in the garbage. (And hey, I’m a darn good cook) Later I offered to grill them hamburgers. Girl says, “My Friend doesn’t like hamburgers.”
What the heck do these kids eat? My kid eats pretty much anything except she’s never been fond of dried beans and she doesn’t care for rice and she doesn’t do liver (not surprising). Other than that, she’s easy. Eggs florentine, asparagus, sweet pototoes, squash sauteed with onions, banana pancakes, Caesar salads, chicken, fish…you get the picture. Yep, she’s fond of french fries, mac&cheese, hamburgers, and soda, but geeze Louise, she does eat other things.
These kids are guests in my house but I’m not sure how far I’m willing to go to accomodate their very limited palates. There’s a part of me that wants to treat them the same way I’ve treated my daughter since she was little, “This is what we’re having. I’m not a short order cook. Eat it or make yourself a bowl of cereal.” :fryingpan:
They’ll never learn to eat new foods if they don’t try them. Sounds like their mamas have been catering to them too long. If I were you, I’d fix what I normally fix and if they don’t like it, then offer cold cereal and milk. Yeah, they’re guests in your house but they’re not paying guests like at the Hilton.
I never had that problem with my boys — they ate everything and so did their friends. They’d bring home a bunch of friends and afterward it looked like a swarm of locusts had been through my pantry and fridge. Well, we did have one kid who was a vegetarian but all I had to do was fix him mac and cheese or a salad.
Comment by Marilyn — February 12, 2007 @ 9:23 am
I know of lots of kids who only eat chicken nuggets and grilled cheese. I’m not sure where their nutrition comes from.
We exposed AC to a wide range of foods from the very beginning. She now *asks* to have sushi for dinner.
But she won’t eat chicken pot pie either.
I was taught that as a guest in someone’s home, you will eat whatever is in front of you with a large smile and a thank you–even if it makes you gag. The only exception is for allergies. My MIL makes curry everytime I visit. I HATE curry. The smell of it makes me want to barf. Yet I choke it down. DG accidently slipped up and told her recently how much I hate curry. I was horrified.
:oops:
Comment by Kimberly — February 12, 2007 @ 10:08 am
Y’all make me feel better. I’m never sure where to draw the line.
Comment by Jennifer — February 12, 2007 @ 12:03 pm
Kimberly, I was taught the same thing. If I went to someone’s house, it didn’t matter if they served dirt, my mother expected me to eat it and say thank you.
My daughter is more picky than my son–she hates pizza and always has. Guess what most kids have at sleepovers? Pizza. But she eats it and she smiles because she knows she’s going to get it otherwise.
Honestly, my son has never had a friend over who didn’t eat whatever I put in front of him. Daughter, on the other hand, has had several girls stay over who “don’t eat” what I fix. Too bad. Eat it or be hungry. :devil:
Comment by Rhonda — February 12, 2007 @ 1:04 pm
When I was putting together the rehearsal dinner for my son’s wedding, I agonized over the entree selection until my sister reminded me that all these people were getting a free meal and if they had any manners at all they’d eat whatever was put in front of them and say “Thank you.” Duh! That’s the way we were raised too, but I guess I was just wanting that rehearsal dinner to be perfect — which it damn near was.
Love that AC asks for sushi. My kids would ask for “trees” — their word for broccoli. The older one still won’t eat mushrooms and the younger one wouldn’t eat Chinese for a long time but overall, they’d eat just about anything.
You’re right on the mark, Jen. Stand firm! :thumbsup2:
Comment by Marilyn — February 12, 2007 @ 4:28 pm
I feel your pain! I have taken to keeping a small quantity of macaroni and cheese specifically for those guests. :wallbash: and my kids are not allowed to eat it unless friends are over. :fryingpan:
My girls are still picky eaters, but both (9 & 12) will eat sushi, broccoli, cooked spinach, grilled tuna steak, and even pot pie! :thumbsup: Unfortunately, no mushrooms and no meatloaf, among others. I think the eating habits you all describe reflect the parenting styles of today.
I, too, was taught that you eat what was put in front of you, but all my friends were raised on meat, potatoes and vegetables, too.
On a more opportunistic note, we have had success in introducing some of our visitors to ‘oddities’ such as homemade whole wheat pancakes, clementines, beef stew, and even casseroles (ground beef, peas, cream o’chicken and bisquits), but we always keep PB&J as a fall back. :thumbsdown:
I say keep to the high road and accomodate as best you can. Our friends usually come back, so it can’t be that bad… :wave:
Comment by The evening shift - Ellen — February 12, 2007 @ 6:29 pm
Okay, I’ll keep mac&cheese on-hand and pbj and outside of that, they’ll just have to “make do” with what we have.
And btw, Ellen, I never turn down a meal at your house. :cooldance:
Comment by Jennifer — February 13, 2007 @ 2:09 am
I was a pretty picky eater as a kid, but it was typical kid stuff - onions, olives, mushrooms, etc. Holds true to this day. :oops: I did eat normal food like pizza, hamburgers, fruit, etc. And my mom taught me to suck it up. If somebody’s mom was nice enough to feed me, I’d eat it. I was allowed to pick out certain undesirables with my fork, but the bulk of it would have to be eaten. Good manners, I say.
No wonder kids are overweight these days…all they want to eat are potato chips, coke and bacon. Weirdos.
Comment by Andrea — February 13, 2007 @ 8:53 am
I am on of 7 kids. As a teenager, when I would come home from HS, I would pray that there would be biscuits & gravy or cornbread & butter beans on the table. Never complained about the free lunches at school - too grateful to get them. Let these picky eaters go a few days without meals, I do believe that will change their minds real quick.
Comment by Ginger — February 13, 2007 @ 9:24 am
I didn’t come from a large family but we weren’t rich (at least not monetarily). We ate a lot of navy beans and pinto beans. I ate them now cause that’s what we had. I don’t eat them now cause I don’t have to. But should our economic circumstances change, I’d go back to eating beans and enjoy every bite.
Comment by Marilyn — February 13, 2007 @ 11:32 am
Oh this one, definitely touch one of my buttons.:twisted:
My daughter is been a picky eater since she was born. She suffers from hypoglycemia so we have to make sure that she eats. If she doesn’t put the food on her mouth, we have to feed her. Grrr. All she cares is for meat, fish or chicken that’s all; she needs vegetables and carbohydrates too. Well that’s not part on a meal on her mind.:fryingpan:
She is now 7 years old. I was told that this should get better. My question when is this situation going to get better or is it ever going to get better?
Comment by Barbara — February 13, 2007 @ 12:08 pm
Andrea, I never think it’s strange when a kids doesn’t like onions or mushrooms. I think that’s pretty typical. I don’t care for olives. I don’t mind them in foods, but I would never pluck one up and eat it.
Ginger and Marilyn, I can really relate. I grew up…I hesitate to say poor but if we weren’t poor we were definitely lower middle class socioeconomically…we could never afford Girl Scouts or anything that was an added expense and I wore hand-me-downs from my rich cousin. There was always food on the table, but you darn sure didn’t waste it. If it was on your plate, you ate it, and we always thanked my mother for preparing it. I wonder sometimes if it’s not that we simply have too many choices today.
Barbara, that’s a tough one, especially because you don’t want to make food a battleground. I’m sending you a hug on that one.
Comment by Jennifer — February 14, 2007 @ 8:22 am