Foods kids will eat

[andi]

I love Cooking Light and all the healthy, yummy recipies. As I try to improve the way I eat, I'd be ever so grateful if my children (ages 8 and 6) would follow suit and not moan (ewww!!! Are those BEANS????) every time I set a healthy meal on the table. Their menu of "edible" food includes hot dogs, mac & cheese, chicken nuggets and linguini with white clam sauce (go figure). Any one out there have some tried and true healthy recipies that their kids have cheered about??? I'll try any and all!
Thanks!

[sneezles]

I have made many meals and gotten the same sort of response or more often, "I'm not very hungry tonight" but since they've gotten older they have been a bit more adventerous...though some things still makes their noses curl up!! The youngest who is now 13 still doesn't eat fruits or vegetables (except peas, corn & carrots) but our deal is he has to try one new food a week usually less than a teaspoon! I have found that he loves any chicken dish that is marinated and then grilled and has finally managed to get down one salad, I'm talking in total not at one meal!He's strickly a meat and potatoes kind-a-guy!

[cookgirl]

I think pasta is a good in. Look for recipes including peanut butter or weird ingredients. They end up quite tasty and healthy, but your kids are preoccupied with how funny or weird the ingredients/names are.

Also...Why not re-title things that you already like. Ask your kids to rename a dish and make it their own. An example would be "dirt cups" instead of oreo pudding.
A pasta dish could be "crazy mac" etc...

[RunnerKim]

No kids of my own yet, but recently had my young neice and nephews visiting (under 5). The one thing that went over was home-made pizza. I know pizza is almost always a kid favorite - but if you make your own it can be a very healthy meal and you might be able to sneak in a few things they wouldn't ordinarily eat.

Also, I was just at a potluck this weekend where hot dogs had been made for the kids and chicken on skewers for the adults - well guess who wanted the chicken - all of the kids, I'm sure because it looked kind of neat. So along Cookgirl's line - maybe try to be creative about presentation (name) and you might get more luck.

Kim

[jmkenad]

Hi Andi - I have 3 of my own - same problem. My answer is to make a variety, I try to offer 2-3 vegetables/fruits along with the meal. (I figure this way they won't starve too).

From my own experience my parents were gourmet cooks. We never ate what other kids were eating (I never had Mac n cheese out of the box etc..) My parents asked that we at least try some of the meal being served. I'm trying (with some resistance) to reintroduce this kind of eating with my kids. (If things were up to them they would eat chicken nuggets every meal.) But I think slowly they are deciding that they actually like some of the vegetables and dishes that they once turned their noses up at. Maybe persistance is the key?

[Ed]

Hi,

I know kids are pretty set in their ways in what they like to eat. Kids like to experiment, but not with the eating very well.

Here's a thing I do with my two youngest grandsons, I have them help me do some of the cooking. You know measure some of the ingredients, add ingredients when needed, talk to them, ask their opinion on how they think it's going, do they think that ingredient will help the dish taste a bit better, and how it will turn out. (I try not to ask questions that can be answered yes or no, I want to have a conversation with them while they help)

Well anyway I found when they help prepare it they eat it. Even with Onions, Green Pepper and other "ickey" stuff in it.

Also naming the dish is a good idea, like Mom's favorite ________, or Grandma or Grandpa's special ____________something. BTW these 2 youngest Grands of mine are 4 & 7.

I also have Grands that are teen agers, and and even though teen agers are different, they're very much the same as the rest of us, it's my opinion that when kids, and adults, have some ownership in the project, or process, they like the outcome better.

Well just my 2 cents worth.

Ed

[Gail]

I don't think there are any sure-fire recipes that'll work on all kids. Invariably, what one kid finds great, another considers icky. Heck, this can vary from day to day with your own child-- I'm sure you've seen that as well. I am a definite believer in asking my kid to taste everything we eat. (Of couse he will tell me it's disgusting.) But, I with repeated exposure, many of those yucky foods end up being favorites. (Take it from a formerly picky eater who knows.)

Because I just can't see your kids being into my 10-year-old's favorites (my kid eats squid, okay?) I'm opting instead for a couple of web sites you might check out: http://www.epicurious.com/e_eating/e02_kids/kidmain.html and http://starchefs.com/Kids/menu.html
for recipes and some thoughts from professional chefs.

Good luck!




[This message has been edited by Gail (edited 09-13-2000).]

[CL Fan]

Another thing to try is adding veggies to old standbys. Try burgers with red peppers in it, meatballs with carrots, peppers, zucchini (CL has great recipes for meat & veggie meatballs), celery, eggplant, etc. in mashed potatos, zucchini in tomato sauce, etc.

I use the food processor to chop the veggies very fine, which may help avoid the "ew" factor.

[lorilei]

Alright, I don't have kids. But I've done my share of fighting with other people's children to get them to eat. My two suggestions are as follows:

1) Yes, persistence is key. Often by the third or fourth try (not necessarily in one day), a child learns to enjoy a food. Keep in mind that making the food in a variety of ways will also help.

2) Set a good example. If you verbalize disgust at a food, your child will assume similar attitudes. If your child sees you experimenting and being adventurous, he/she will too.

I think all too often we try to deceive our children into eating things, rather than letting them come to an appreciation on their own. Remember -- food aversions are acquired psychological conditions, not innate genetic ones...

Just a bit of advice from the peanut gallery.

[This message has been edited by lorilei (edited 09-14-2000).]

[sage]

Just an FYI---

I almost missed this as I usually just head straight to the bb when I get into the CL site - but they have a feature thingee on "health kids". If you kinda scroll down a little on the main page - you'll see this picture of a little boy and a logo for the "health kids challenge" or something like that - if you click on it - it goes to the feature and there are some "kid friendly" recipes in there. Might be worth checking out.

S. Sage.

[andi]

Thanks guys for all the great ideas!!! Could you all just come live at my house for the next few years?
I've not had much time to touch the computer recently but am eager to check out the web site you suggested Gail.
I'll also try your suggestion Sage and check out the CL site.
I tried my favorite lentil dish tonight-I ask my kids to take a "thank-you" bite as an "appreciation" of my hard
work- my six year old took her bite, proceeded to gag and ran to the bathroom. Guess we'll keep trying...I'll keep
you all posted as I try all your ideas! Thanks!

[Lauren]

I have trouble with my two kids (7 and 9) eating well, also. Funny, but they eat some unique things (calamari,they call squid onion rings, and fresh artichokes) but then won't eat more common things, like lasagne.

In our house we have "thank you" portions, too. All I want is for them to try something new.

I agree that they need to keep bing exposed to different foods. My mom and my mother-in-law are both great cooks, and as kids my husband and I were exposed to great cooking and not so common dishes. I think this is why we both really enjoy food today and are willing to try new things. So, maybe as these kids grow up they'll be willing to be adventurous!