Guest guest Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 My grandfather told me lima beans taste like ice cream. Suffice it to say, that only worked once. My mom just told me I couldn't leave the table if I didn't finish my broccoli. If that didn't work, I had to finish it by such and such a time and the fam would just sit around the kitchen watching me watch the clock and if I didn't eat it I was sequestered in a given room with no tv or desert or anything for a while. *shrug* they don't have to eat if they don't want to. chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 Maybe it would help to give them a CHOICE of food, but it has to be out of a few good things. For example, they get to choose their own vegetable, or what have you. But if they pick it they have to eat it, period. That way they think they picked it instead of you! Dunno if it would work, but it's an idea. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 This may not be what you were looking for but simply ignoring them is quite effective. Serve what you serve and let them complain. Don't attempt to debate or negate their complaining. Many times its just complaining for its own sake. Their complaining does no harm (its horribly annoying) but still no harm. So at least some of the time let 'em whine. Its an excellent opportunity to learn for them on all kinds of levels. I think you're doing great! Also you might try some NT style recipies that they may find awesome. Chocolate Egg Nog, Ice creams, home made soaked flour pizzas with all the toppings, frozen fruit smoothies, pancakes, etc... while it may not be perfect its likely if they're into junk, they're into sweet, so make 'em something that they'll love. Don't tell them what's in it, don't tell them its good for them, just make them something they'll love for no good reason. This will A. demonstrate to them that it can in fact be awesome for you and awesome tasting at the same time and B. that you're goal in life is NOT to make them eat gross food that tastes bad. Think of it like a drug dealer start surprizing them out of the blue with some of these remarkable things that will be good for them yet they'll be begging for more when its gone. If you need to really sweeten them up, don't skimp on the natural sweeteners. Once you get them hooked (and you will) they'll be coming back for more and from there you can begin cutting some of the sweetener if necessary. DMM Ps- Sally and I are in disagreement on Chocolate. I'd recommend using cocoa in the recipies that call for carob. I think carob tastes like s^(%. Sally's carob chip recipie without the chocolate extract and cocoa in place of carob makes an AWESOME crunchy magic shell on ice cream. If your kids don't like this then you must have severely damaged them with too much yoplait. ;-))))) > Any ideas for what to make for kids who complain (and I mean > HORRIBLY complain - like constant, all through the meal, until I > lose my mind & send them to bed complaining!) about anything that > tastes either bitter or sour or pungent? It took a couple weeks of > my INSISTING that my daughter drink the unhomogenized milk whether > she liked or not before she figured out that it tastes okay - I > TOLD her that it takes a while to get used to new things, but that > still didn't quell the crying, or insisting that it was gross and > that she will never like it! I'm exasperated! Soaked oatmeal is > too sour. A nice rich beef or chicken stock " tastes yucky " or isn't > salty enough, or is too salty, when in reality its' only fault i > that it doesn't taste canned. Yogurt is " yucky " if it isn't > yoplait, and heaven forbid if there's a layer of CREAM on top! > > Anyway, any good suggestions for easing my hoarde of picky eaters > into eating a good natural diet? > > I AM making baby steps - we aren't using any hydrogenated anything, > I only buy sprouted bread, I've been using natural sweeteners for a > good long while now....but it's just so difficult to convince kids > who have been growing up on CRAP (yes, I admit it - I fed them > crappy junk for a good long while, because it was " easier " ) that > REAL food is BETTER! HELP! > > Stell > Crunchy mama to 4 ya-hoos ranging in age from 11-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 <Anyway, any good suggestions for easing my hoarde of picky eaters into eating a good natural diet?> Would maybe a reward system help at all? Sounds like just getting them to try anything is difficult, so it probably isn't so much the taste but just the act of changing. And at this point, even if it tastes good kids are stubborn enough they will still throw fits if they think it will work. Maybe like reward points for eating a meal completely without any complaining.......like TV time, computer time, reprive from certain chores, things like that. If you can just get them in the habit for a short period they will probably get over their aversion to the new tastes. Positive reinforcement Course...I have no kids....just furkids, and we still have arguments about food.....hehe...so I am probably not a great one to give advice. My min pin still refuses to eat his liver unless it is blended into his meat patties. <g> _________________________________________________________________ Frustrated with dial-up? Get high-speed for as low as $26.95. https://broadband.msn.com (Prices may vary by service area.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 Point being that anything perceived as " healthy " (my parents were hippies and even made their own granola) was immediately dismissed and disliked. See, that's what has me baffled! I grew up in a home where we did eat REAL FOOD all the time - my folks were hippies, too, and I remember going up the road to get the day's milk, and going out to collect the eggs.....and we never had a choice of foods at meals, either. I only had 3 foods I didn't like as a child - Spanish rice, green beans, and cooked carrots. My kids' lists are a mile long, though! (as was their father's - maybe I should blame HIM! LOL!) I do think there is something to the " being resistant just because it's new " speculation - my kids will decide they don't like something just because the NAME sounds funny! I tell them we're having enchiladas for dinner, the immediate reaction is " I hate enchiladas " , even though they have never once in their life tasted an enchilada. Maybe they just hate my cooking? Or maybe I should invent new names for everything? I got the kids to eat ravioli (yeah, I know, bad stuff - but that's what we were having that day) once after they proclaimed a hatred for ravioli by calling it " pillow spaghetti " . They hate ravioli, but adore pillow spaghetti! I WISH I could remember being so unreasonable - it would be so much easier! -Stell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 I'm having a hardd time with my two younger ones eating green leafy veggies. The youngest one (3 1/2) doesn't eat kale or collards and I feel bad that they don't eat it. I typically braise it in broth. The youngest eats lots of broccoli though (daily) and both eat lots of fermented veggies. The past two nights that's what they ate for vegetables (kimchi) and here I am feeling bad that they don't eat my braised greens. Elainie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 Stell, Can't say that my kids are really picky eaters, although one a little pickier than the other, but thought you might find this interesting. I almost managed to turn my youngest, who has always LOVED oatmeal, completely off of it by soaking it. She also complained that it was sour. Funny, this is from a kid that practically lives on yogurt or kefir. I guess that although she doesn't mind the sour taste in general, that she doesn't think her oatmeal should taste like that. (Can't say I'm crazy about it myself, but if you tell me it's good for me I'll eat it!) I have had to resort to cooking oatmeal the " regular " way, soaking it only in water overnight. I do still make oatmeal pancakes that are soaked overnight in buttermilk and they are a big hit. My oldest is not crazy about dairy products but will eat yogurt or kefir if it is topped with raw honey (I also add freshly ground flaxseed for " sprinkles " . Keep trying! When they get hungry enough they'll eat! Kathy > Any ideas for what to make for kids who complain (and I mean > HORRIBLY complain - like constant, all through the meal, until I > lose my mind & send them to bed complaining!) about anything that > tastes either bitter or sour or pungent? It took a couple weeks of > my INSISTING that my daughter drink the unhomogenized milk whether > she liked or not before she figured out that it tastes okay - I > TOLD her that it takes a while to get used to new things, but that > still didn't quell the crying, or insisting that it was gross and > that she will never like it! I'm exasperated! Soaked oatmeal is > too sour. A nice rich beef or chicken stock " tastes yucky " or isn't > salty enough, or is too salty, when in reality its' only fault i > that it doesn't taste canned. Yogurt is " yucky " if it isn't > yoplait, and heaven forbid if there's a layer of CREAM on top! > > Anyway, any good suggestions for easing my hoarde of picky eaters > into eating a good natural diet? > > I AM making baby steps - we aren't using any hydrogenated anything, > I only buy sprouted bread, I've been using natural sweeteners for a > good long while now....but it's just so difficult to convince kids > who have been growing up on CRAP (yes, I admit it - I fed them > crappy junk for a good long while, because it was " easier " ) that > REAL food is BETTER! HELP! > > Stell > Crunchy mama to 4 ya-hoos ranging in age from 11-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 It takes a long time to change kids eating habits also. I have been changing things for many years and they are just now starting to like real maple syrup. Of course I just had to stop buying the other stuff. My kids have loved most of the cookie and brownie recipes in NT. I made the brownies with carob and I thought they were gross, but the kids ate it. I am more with Dr Mike, carob is gross, but using it half and half with cocoa you can't taste a different. You would only need to do that if you have a huge bag of it like I do. I think their taste buds start to change if they are constantly getting candy and stuff from other places. Michele <Anyway, any good suggestions for easing my hoarde of picky eaters into eating a good natural diet?> Would maybe a reward system help at all? Sounds like just getting them to try anything is difficult, so it probably isn't so much the taste but just the act of changing. And at this point, even if it tastes good kids are stubborn enough they will still throw fits if they think it will work. Maybe like reward points for eating a meal completely without any complaining.......like TV time, computer time, reprive from certain chores, things like that. If you can just get them in the habit for a short period they will probably get over their aversion to the new tastes. Positive reinforcement Course...I have no kids....just furkids, and we still have arguments about food.....hehe...so I am probably not a great one to give advice. My min pin still refuses to eat his liver unless it is blended into his meat patties. <g> _________________________________________________________________ Frustrated with dial-up? Get high-speed for as low as $26.95. https://broadband.msn.com (Prices may vary by service area.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 Here is an absolute kid feeding sin; NEVER give them a substitute for a food they like and try to pass it off as " just as good " . You're obviously not doing the following example but its the best I could come up with. Meat substitutes in vegetarian land. Gimme a break, most of them neither taste good nor taste anything remotely like meat. Its just another food. An NT example would be yoplait vs. real yogurt or Quaker instant oatmeal vs. real oat meal. On these comparisons you got NO SHOT! Instead just introduce them as different or new foods. It may not make them want it any more but it will maintain what little credibility you have left and at least won't set off all their red flags. DMM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 > <Anyway, any good suggestions for easing my hoarde of picky eaters > into eating a good natural diet?> I'm with the good dr, serve what you serve and damn the torpedoes, pretty much. Josie, my oldest, fusses now and again but I tell her until she's old enough to fix her own dinners she gets what she gets. I second the suggestion for things like choco-nog, as we call it. As someone who has struggled with eating disorders I strongly discourage the idea of using a punishment/reward system; the closest we come is " no dessert without at least a little dinner. " Food and eating should be what they are and no more. And may I also suggest the approach given in the book " Feeding the Whole Family. " Its approach is unfortunately vegan (though quite adaptable I'm finding), but its advice is sensible: As you cook, save out bits that younger/fussy children can eat without objection. If you're making, say, shrimp in a sauce to be served over brown rice as we did the other night, save out some plain brown rice and some plain shrimp and veg with no sauce. (Sauce is a big issue with Josie.) Remember that children have more sensitive taste buds than we do; what tastes unbearably bland to us will actually be full of flavor to a child. If the junk isn't in the house, eventually they'll run out of options and find things among the " new regime " that they can stand. Or if they're old enough, they'll learn to cook, get a job and start buying their own junk; when they leave home you can't stop them from eating that way if they want, anyway. But you don't have to pay for it or cook it while they're under your roof. Either way I promise you they won't starve to death. Lynn ----- Lynn Siprelle * Writer, Mother, Programmer, Fiber Artisan The New Homemaker: http://www.newhomemaker.com/ Siprelle & Associates: http://www.siprelle.com/ People-Powered ! http://www.deanforamerica.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 > And may I also suggest the approach given in the book " Feeding the > Whole Family. " Its approach is unfortunately vegan (though quite > adaptable I'm finding), but its advice is sensible: =============Lyn what a great recommendation I want to second your recommendation of this book. It is all about real food and she does a great job in spite of the vegan theme it is in fact very easily adapted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 Greetings Stell, I've got three, from 9 down to 2. My nine year old is a dream, loves most everything. : ) As for my 7 year old, well... We don't reward or punish, and I don't think it's fair to have the only food before a child be something they don't like (something I experienced as a child so I guess I'm sensitive to it). So while my son is not allowed to complain during dinner, and must try at least one bite of every thing that is on the table, I do my best to have at least one thing at the meal that I know he will like. Sometimes that might be just the brown rice. (I found that making something else for him was making the problem worse.) I second the recommendation of pulling some food aside as you cook or something. My husband and I like some dishes much spicier than the two youngest. So if it involves rice, I cook extra rice and one bowl of the rice dish on the table has extra rice stirred into it. That does a lot for lessoning the impact of the spices and gets my 7 year old's approval. He does not like marinara sauces in any form, so I'll pull meat and veggies out before the tomatoes (in any form) are added. But that doesn't mean I do it every time. If there is something else on the table that he does like, I don't treat the other dishes differently. I think exposure to the food is important, even if it's just one bite. (Somewhere I read that it only takes 10 exposures to a food, but my son has proven that wrong on most vegetables. ; ) About the complaining - I use that as a lesson in manners. They are free to not like a food, but they are not free to complain at the meal. When dishes are passed they are expected to put at least one bite of each food on their plate. If they don't like it they keep quiet. (That's the ideal, my 7 year old does get reminders.) When asked if they would like more of something, he has been taught to say, " No thank you " and not " It's disgusting! " ; ) On the oatmeal - have you tried it with whey from yogurt? With lemon juice? Ours doesn't come out all that sour. It's there, but not very strong, and we top it with maple syrup and butter, or I stir Rapadura into it and top with butter or cream, etc. All my kids love the oatmeal, but they expect oatmeal to be sweet and I really don't like serving sugar in any form at the first meal of the day. So we've been eating eggs, eggs, and more eggs. And that's a breakfast that my older two can cook for themselves and for others. We do them scrambled a la NT, over easy on top of toast, or scrambled and cheesy with parmesan thrown on when they are almost done, or with spinach and baked in the oven. My kids love eggs so that works well for us. Which makes me wonder if you might not want to reduce the variety of foods. Eggs, eggs, eggs, for 2 weeks and the oatmeal might just taste really great! : ) Also, if it were me, I think I'd cut out all sweets in any form for several weeks. Let their taste buds have a break from any sweet, and sour might not seem so sour. Just an idea. Maybe you could think of what dishes your kids do like (Salmon cooked in butter? Pot roast? Hamburgers?) and keep a list and try for a balance - serving something they like every other night. I hope something here helped. Wishing you the best, Rhea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 > I'm with the good dr, serve what you serve and damn the torpedoes, > pretty much. Josie, my oldest, fusses now and again but I tell her > until she's old enough to fix her own dinners she gets what she gets. I have to add that Josie's list of what's acceptable and what's not literally changes from meal to meal; it's less that she doesn't like certain foods than that she likes to say " no. " I agree with whoever said you should not consistently confront a child with food he hates. That's just cruel. But Josie will do things like one day say " I hate salad " and not only refuse to touch it but refuse to touch anything else on her plate because there's salad there, and the next, confronted with more or less the same salad, will eat all on her plate and then help you finish off the bowl in front of the tv--and then LICK THE BOWL. So with her it's just cussedness. I have no idea where she gets it. Lynn S. ----- Lynn Siprelle * Writer, Mother, Programmer, Fiber Artisan The New Homemaker: http://www.newhomemaker.com/ Siprelle & Associates: http://www.siprelle.com/ People-Powered ! http://www.deanforamerica.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 >Anyway, any good suggestions for easing my hoarde of picky eaters >into eating a good natural diet? After reading that kids " know " what is best for them, I experimented with my daughter and let her eat whatever she wants (except it can't have wheat, which in my theory skews the appestat: you can read the arguments in the archives ...). Yeah, even junk food and candy, if that's what she wanted. She went through every food imaginable. First it was ONLY milk. Then she hated milk and would only drink cream. Then she hated cream and went to toast with butter and jam. Then peanut butter. She's pretty much stabilized now on jerky, nuts, hamburger, chili, tacos, Thai rice noodles, ice cream, and apples. Through it all she has slimmed down, sprouted up, and looks wonderful. She has piles of candy she hordes, but rarely eats it (and usually doesn't finish a piece if she opens it). She is ravenous one day, and barely eats the next. It drives everyone else crazy, but the kid is NOT malnourished so I just tell her to bring a snack in case she does get hungry. So my answer, for what it is worth -- is to let them pick. If they end up going hungry, then they will want to eat something, sooner or later. Have good food around for dinner that isn't too spicy, if they don't eat it, ask them to come up with an alternative that is easy to make. I don't know if it will work with all kids, though the research seems to be pointing that way. -- Heidi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 As for my 7 year old, well... Rhea, our 7yo's must be twins! You described Amber right on the nose - complete with " hating " something one day, and not being able to get enough of it the next! Thank you to everyone who offered suggestions - it does look like I'm on the right track with what I am doing, and I'm just going to have to suck it up & deal with the whining in the best way I know how. Now to figure out how to best go about this from a WAHM-of-4-who- doesn't-care-for-cooking perspective.....If only I were one of those born organized people.....*sigh* -Stell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 > I found that soaking the oatmeal with kefilli instead of buttermilk helped with the sour distaste they had for the oatmeal. What about using whey instead of buttermilk? That might be less noticeable. I was using yogurt to soak my oatmeal - 2T yogurt for 4c water & 2 c. oatmeal. They ate it for a while, then decided it was too sour out of the blue one day. Coincidentally, it was also the first day that DADDY decided to eat oatmeal with us, and commented on the funny taste. Hmmmm......maybe this is becomeing more of a husband-wife communication issue than anything else, eh? -Stell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 Hey guys, have a heart! I LOVE kefir, but I really cannot stand oatmeal after the oats have been soaked in kefir or whey. Couldn't you just soak the oats overnight in plain water? and the K9's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 17, 2003 Report Share Posted November 17, 2003 picky eaters -- what a good subject! :-) I want to second the idea that whatever food a kid refuses one day may, unexpectedly, be just fine with them on another day. That new day may come much sooner than you expect it to. I have learned to just keep trying to get the good foods into them. I can then be happily surprised when my son announces, for example that " he loves chicken soup " (homemade broth). Previously, getting him to touch soup in any form was next to impossible. I never fully comprehended the meanings of " fickle " , " mercurial " or " ephemeral " until I started trying to feed kids... I also suggest that you not skimp on the " reasons why " info. My kids will now ask me about " what my protein options are " when we're trying to decide what to eat, because I've made a point of explaining that every day they have to have a balance of all three types: carbs, protein and fats. (We home school, so we tend to try to turn *everything* into " lessons " ... :-). They also understand why we don't choose certain foods (they have hydrogenated fats in them, for example), even though they would love to eat them (mac and cheese at a fast food place, for example). My son today turned down his favorite breakfast choice, toast, because he wanted to " spend " his " wheat allowance " today on a spouted wheat pizza for dinner instead. I find that making it not just another " mystery edict from Parent " helps when I'm trying to steer them away from bad and toward good choices. Giving them the basic rules behind good choices helps them make their own informed choices about what to eat -- another idea I strongly support. Another idea that seems to help get kids excited about eating the good stuff is letting them help you prepare it. Mine are not really old enough to do much more than dump the measuring spoons of ingredients into the bowl and " help " me stir it up when we bake, but that they were involved helps raise their enthusiasm for a given food quite bit. Even letting them choose the various flavors helps, so we get odd (but good) things like cocoa-coconut-orange waffles, which they pounce on. Be gently persistent about what you want them to eat. Don't tolerate being " backed into a corner " by their refusals. You are the knowledgeable parent, and whether they want to acknowledge it now or not, you are trying to do your job as well as you can by giving them healthy foods. When they grow up, they won't be able to whine on bboards like this about how poorly they were fed as kids... :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2003 Report Share Posted November 18, 2003 Why not drown the greens in butter? If they don't like that they probably won't like them for awhile. I can't convince my 3yo that spinach is good. We sang the Popeye song to him and he said " that's a stupid song " when we were done. I figure with some things it's not worth wasting the food on them if they don't like it. For example Lo Mein with chicken, broccoli, carrots and hot sauce. They really don't like the hot sauce and I love it so I make them something else that night and I and my husband keep all the lo mein for ourselves. I don't mind making a little steamed spinach with butter and not sharing. More for me, besides I think kids will come around someday if they see mom and dad eating it all the time and liking it. Although I still hate mushrooms and shrimp, clams, etc, even though my mom ate it constantly while I was growing up. Michele Re: Anyone here with picky-eater kids? I'm having a hardd time with my two younger ones eating green leafy veggies. The youngest one (3 1/2) doesn't eat kale or collards and I feel bad that they don't eat it. I typically braise it in broth. The youngest eats lots of broccoli though (daily) and both eat lots of fermented veggies. The past two nights that's what they ate for vegetables (kimchi) and here I am feeling bad that they don't eat my braised greens. Elainie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2003 Report Share Posted November 18, 2003 Chris- >If that didn't work, I had to finish it by such and such a time and the fam >would just sit around the kitchen watching me watch the clock and if I didn't >eat it I was sequestered in a given room with no tv or desert or anything for >a while. I got somewhat more drastic treatment. When I was around two, I refused to eat some peas and hamburger. She put it away, but thereafter it was the only thing she'd put out for me to eat. At one point I vomited some of it up (supposedly out of pure cussed stubbornness), but she just cleaned up the barf and put the peas and hamburger back in front of me, only to see me refuse to eat. This went on for just about two days, at which point I caved in and ate the remaining peas and hamburger. Before that, I'm told, I'd been a very picky eater, refusing most foods. Afterwards I was willing to try just about anything. I suppose that tactic only works on a very young kid, though. <g> - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2003 Report Share Posted November 18, 2003 , >When I was around two, I refused to eat some peas and hamburger. You're lucky it wasn't the tofu burger phase at that time ;-) My nephew pretty much lived on Cheerios and pizza as a kid, as I recall. Now he cooks Japanese food and is living in Japan for a year or maybe two. Aparently they not only have octopus dumplings, but octopus dumpling-flavored snack puffs. Imagine being able to use the phrase " octopus dumpling-flavored " at all! If only you'd had that to choose over peas and hamburger! - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2003 Report Share Posted November 18, 2003 > My nephew pretty much lived on Cheerios and pizza as a kid, as I > recall. > Now he cooks Japanese food and is living in Japan for a year or maybe > two. My sister ate bacon and applesauce for about two years. She's in better shape physically than I am, and cooks a wide range of foods. Bottom line: they grow out of it. Lynn S. ----- Lynn Siprelle * Writer, Mother, Programmer, Fiber Artisan The New Homemaker: http://www.newhomemaker.com/ Siprelle & Associates: http://www.siprelle.com/ People-Powered ! http://www.deanforamerica.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2003 Report Share Posted November 18, 2003 - They not only have octopus dumplings and octopus dumpling-flavored snack puffs, they have octopus-flavored ice cream! >Aparently they not only have octopus dumplings, but octopus >dumpling-flavored snack puffs. Imagine being able to use the phrase > " octopus dumpling-flavored " at all! - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2003 Report Share Posted November 18, 2003 Quoting Idol <Idol@...>: > They not only have octopus dumplings and octopus dumpling-flavored snack > puffs, they have octopus-flavored ice cream! Octopus has flavor? -- Berg bberg@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 18, 2003 Report Share Posted November 18, 2003 Stell, I grew up in a family of 6 kids so meals were prepared for eight. There was no way my father would put up with picky eating, gripping, complaining about food, cooking to accommodate or any of us just " not eating " and food going to waste. If you said you didn't like something, he'd tell you to eat it anyway and develop a taste for it. So we all did. Push it and you would be sent from the table and he'd make sure you didn't raid the ice box later. Come next meal, you ate because you were hungary. You also better not eat snacks before a meal - that ruins appetite. But most of the food on the table was simple, basic and good - he had grown up on a farm and demanded fresh vegatables, fresh fruit and meat and only one starchy food. You ate some of each food group. There was liver once a week, tongue on occassion. He liked things like pickled pigs feet, pate, etc but he didn't force those on us kids. Well when I had my kids, I was not going to be so mean like my father. Let me tell you what I learned the hard way about why kids now are being diagnosed diabetic. I put good stuff out but I caved in to the whining, crying that you are getting. I ended up with a hypoglycemic child. If you allow your kids a choice, they will make it and they most likely will not make the one best for them. They are not old enough, mature enough, or educated enough. This is why they still need their mother. Kids should be learning to eat three nutritious meals a day on routine. There are health reasons for this, nutrients, metabolism etc. We eat to fuel our bodies - not to flatter taste buds. These habits and concepts are set when young. If you let them pick at a meal, chances are the healthiest stuff will be last choice and likely not eaten. They may eat one healthy thing but leave another - porportion is messed up. They will then leave the table and be munching later on. If you have yoplait or any junk in the house or bread, that will satiate their appetite or they'll run next door which very likely will have cookies, candy, chips out on the counter for dinner. Those bad eating habits can lead into all kinds of problems in time as there is no way you can insure they get the daily nutrients in proper porportion that they need. If they are accustomed to junk they are use to sugar. Yoplait has a ton of sugar in it which I bet is why they want it. I bet that underlies a lot of their complaining Carbohydrates become addictive (way insulin works) When reality hit me and I understood about insulin and the value of limiting your carb intake, I cleaned out the kitchen of all junk, all sugar, all high carb foods which included the oatmeal, bread, and rice. Only things left were meat/eggs, fruit, vegatables, cheeses, butter. You would have thought withdrawal was from drugs. But it was short and quick. They started eating the good stuff from lack of choice, taste buds changed, they started feeling better. They associated that to the change in food and now they grip when there is not the healthy food in the house. Now when they eat the junk, they feel like crud. What I did back then was to have nuts, fruit, jerky, deviled eggs, cheeses available for snacks. They had no choice. Breakfast changed to high protein/fat - bacon, eggs, cheese, guacamole. Kids have school work to do - their brains need to be churning full speed and they have to make it to lunch. They need protein and fats to go the distance. I bought bread back in and some of the higher carb foods but they are limited. Oatmeal is a low on my list and I haven't bought it back in yet. (That is what I use to serve for breakfast) I also found a lot of new recipes made with healthy stuff that are high fat that are really good because they are so rich. Try taking that yogurt, mix it with cut up fruit, (like fresh berries) and add unsweetened coconut. [] Anyone here with picky-eater kids? Any ideas for what to make for kids who complain (and I mean HORRIBLY complain - like constant, all through the meal, until I lose my mind & send them to bed complaining!) about anything that tastes either bitter or sour or pungent? It took a couple weeks of my INSISTING that my daughter drink the unhomogenized milk whether she liked or not before she figured out that it tastes okay - I TOLD her that it takes a while to get used to new things, but that still didn't quell the crying, or insisting that it was gross and that she will never like it! I'm exasperated! Soaked oatmeal is too sour. A nice rich beef or chicken stock " tastes yucky " or isn't salty enough, or is too salty, when in reality its' only fault i that it doesn't taste canned. Yogurt is " yucky " if it isn't yoplait, and heaven forbid if there's a layer of CREAM on top! Anyway, any good suggestions for easing my hoarde of picky eaters into eating a good natural diet? I AM making baby steps - we aren't using any hydrogenated anything, I only buy sprouted bread, I've been using natural sweeteners for a good long while now....but it's just so difficult to convince kids who have been growing up on CRAP (yes, I admit it - I fed them crappy junk for a good long while, because it was " easier " ) that REAL food is BETTER! HELP! Stell Crunchy mama to 4 ya-hoos ranging in age from 11-1 [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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