Cooking for picky kids....?

Question

I desperately need suggestions for my three picky eaters, ages 5, 7, and 10. We moved recently and I went from being a way too busy to cook working mom to a stay at home mom ready to cook every night, but my kids are seriously stuck in a rut. I've tried simple recipes with chicken, beef and pork (no way will they even look at fish), and supposedly "kid-friendly" sides with no real success. They'll try new foods without a fuss, but if it's not an instant hit they won't eat more than a bite. And we can't have a casserole of any kind.... all foods must be separate and easily identified. If they had their way we'd have frozen pizza, chicken nuggets and mac & cheese, or spaghetti every night. Any suggestions??

I appreciate those of you who are making actual suggestions. To those of you who wish to criticize me for what you think I lack in parenting skills, keep it to yourself. That's not what I asked for.

I would like to call attention to the phrase "IF they had their way..." meaning they are not actually *getting* their way. I don't keep junk food in the house because I'll be tempted to eat it too, and after-school snacking is minimal. I prepare one of their favorite meals about once a week, but otherwise what I cook is what's for dinner and that's it. They know better than to ask for anything else if they don't eat what's on their plate.

Answer 1

These are a few of my favorites!!

Crock Pot Enchiladas
Serves 6

1 lb Ground Beef, lean
1 (8.5 oz) White Onion, chopped
1 (4 oz can) Chopped Green Chilies (leave these out if you don't want it to be spicy)
1 (14 oz can) Enchilada Sauce
1 (10-3/4 oz can) Golden Mushroom Soup
1 (10-3/4 oz can) Cheddar Cheese Soup
1 (10-3/4 oz can) Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 (10-3/4 oz can) Cream of Celery Soup

Instructions:
Brown hamburger and chopped onion and pour off grease.

Put all ingredients in crock pot. Mix and cook low 4-6 hours.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chicken Parmesan
Serves 6

1/3 Cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 Tsp Italian Seasoning, crushed
6 (4 oz) Chicken Breast, boneless, skinless
1 Tbsp Unsalted Butter
1/2 Cup White Onion, diced
1 Tbsp All-Purpose Flour
1/2 Cup 2% Milk
1 (1 oz packet) Ranch Flavored Salad Dressing Mix
6 Slices Mozzarella Cheese
1/2 (10 oz pkg.) Spinach, frozen, thawed, drained
1 Tbsp Pimiento, chopped

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350ºF

In a small mixing bowl combine cheese, ranch salad dressing mix, and Italian seasoning. Roll chicken pieces in cheese mixture to coat lightly; set remaining cheese mixture aside. Arrange the pieces in an 8x8x2-inch baking dish. In a small saucepan cook onion in hot margarine until tender.

Stir in flour; add milk all at once. Cook and stir till bubbly; stir in drained spinach and pimiento. Place a slice of cheese and spoon the spinach mixture over the chicken; sprinkle with remaining cheese mixture. Bake, uncovered, for 30-35 minutes or until tender.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chicken Pasta Alfredo
Serves 6

6 Qts Water
12 oz Fettuccine Pasta
2 Tbsp Peanut Oil
6 (4 oz) Chicken Breast, boneless, skinless
2 (10-3/4 oz can) Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 (20 oz bag) Frozen Broccoli Florets
3/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese, grated

Instructions:
Heat a large pot of water, over high heat. When water comes to a boil add the pasta and boil for 8-10 minutes. Drain; reserving 2 cups pasta water. Cut the chicken into strips (1/4''x1''); set aside.

In a large frying pan, over medium-high heat, add the oil and chicken pieces stirring frequently until golden brown.

In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, add the chicken pieces, sauce, 1/4 cup reserved pasta water, stirring frequently. Add the remaining pasta water into the saucepan and bring just to a boil, then add the broccoli. Cook for 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat.

Divide the cooked pasta evenly between serving dishes and top with chicken and broccoli mixture.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Spanish Meatloaf
Serves 6

1-1/2 lb Ground Beef, lean
1 (5.5 oz envelope) Wyler's ''Hearty Beef Stew'' Soup Starter
1 (8 oz bag) Mexican Style Cheddar Cheese, shredded
1 (4 oz can) Diced Green Chili Peppers
1 (14-1/2 oz can) Diced Tomatoes, drained
1 Cup BBQ Sauce (recommended: Kraft Carb Well)

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350ºF

In a large bowl add the soup starter, diced green chili peppers, and the diced tomatoes; mix until the liquid is absorbed. Add the ground beef and BBQ sauce and mix thoroughly until well combined.

Place 1/2 of the mixture in a loaf pan, making a well in the meat, top evenly with the cheese and place the remainder of the meat mixture on top to seal.

Bake for 45 minutes; drain any residual fat if necessary.

Place the meatloaf on a warmed serving platter and serve immediately. Serve with mixed vegetables or a salad.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Crab Quiche
Serves 6

1 (8 oz pkg.) Louis Kemp Crab Delights, flaked
3/4 Cup Mexican Style Cheddar Cheese, shredded
1/2 (8 oz pkg.) Cream Cheese, cut into 1/4'' cubes
1/4 Cup Green Onions, sliced
1/2 Tsp Salt
1/2 Tsp Basil
1/2 Cup Heart Healthy Bisquick
1 Cup 1% Milk ''Skim''
1/2 Cup Eggbeaters
3 SecondsNonstick Cooking Spray

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350ºF

Mix the crab delights, shredded cheese, cream cheese, onions, salt, and basil in a medium bowl.

Coat a 9-inch pie plate with nonstick cooking spray and spread the crab mixture into the bottom.

Beat the remaining ingredients until smooth. Pour over the crab mixture and bake for about 40-45 minutes.

Serve immediately.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Strawberry Shake
Serves 2

1 Cup Frozen Strawberries, thawed
2 Tbsp Honey
1 Cup Cold 2%Milk
1 Cup Plain Yogurt
2 Tbsp Sugar Substitute (recommended: Splenda)
2 Whole Strawberries, garnish

Instructions:
Puree the strawberries and honey in a blender or food processor. Add milk, sweetener and yogurt; blend until smooth.

Pour into glasses; garnish each with a whole strawberry

Answer 2

Spaghetti - a lot of times I make it without meat sauce and just put browned butter and cheese on it. Chicken soup. Pot roast with mashed potatoes and gravy. Roasted chicken and potatoes in the oven. Bar-b-que chicken or ribs, or steak with corn or peas. My daughter will eat broccoli raw with ranch dressing, but won't eat it cooked. Baby carrots with ranch dressing. Pretty much any veggie with ranch dressing.

Look in your local library for some kids cookbooks for some other ideas. Also try letting your kids help prepare a meal sometimes. They're usually more enthusiastic about actually eating what they fix.

Answer 3

I know it's not healthy, but most kids like fried chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, corn...
or basically anything bland, and don't put too much on their plate they freak out at the sight of it.
hot dogs, french fries, broccoli and cheese, that's stuff my little sister liked and she usually substituted every meal with mac n cheese or ravioli's
Or you could make sure they are really hungry. Like don't feed them for 6 hours and no snacking, then when they are complaining about being hungry, start cooking, take 30 mins-1 hour to cook it they will smell it and may be more likely to eat. My little sister was spoiled, and chunky.
And we loved taco night.

Answer 4

I have 5 kids. Two of them are picky. The most popular meal is when I make chicken strips. I take boneless chicken breasts and cut them into strips. Soak them in Buttermilk then dredge them in seasoned flour( 1/8 tsp chili powder, 1/8 tsp black pepper, salt to taste and a little garlic salt). Then I saute them briefly in olive oil till lightly brown and bake at 325 for 20-25 minutes. I usually serve it with homemade baked steak fries (tossed in seasoned olive oil and baked at 350 for an hour) and Corn on the Cob. I figure that my chicken strips are a little healthier than McDonald's. I also set out a dish of honey, BBQ sauce and ranch dressing for them to pass around for dipping if they want. They think it is a real treat when I make this. Mostly I do roasts. They fight over the drumsticks when I make roast chicken. I also bribe them by the first one done gets to do the wishbone with me or Dad. Makes for a great motivator.

Answer 5

They seem old enough that you can involve them in the cooking somehow. Kids tend to be less fussy when they have helped. Whether its stiring cleaning, peeling etc. it might help them eat something other than the stuff you mentioned above. Good luck!!!Also, there are ways to make things like spaghetti and pizza healthier ..i.e. add some veggies. If you chop things like onions and celery really small they won't even know they are eating healthy!!

Answer 6

I have a 4 year old great nephew, he likes tomato soup.
He loves to help in the kitchen especially making cake, tea, jello,ramen noodles, mac and cheese.
He likes my spaghetti, I just brown a pound of lean ground beef, add a jar of Prego Garden style and serve it over noodles. Easy and tasty, you can add extra garlic and onion if you prefer.
He also loves oranges and grapes.

Answer 7

I suggest you take back control of your house. You are the mother and the one buying the food. If they don't want to eat what you prepare then they won't eat. Sooner or later they will come around. Did you have any say in what your mother cooked for dinner?
http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/EverydayDinner/

Answer 8

Mom it sounds like they aren't picky they are just tying to get their way! You may have to put your foot down and tell them they eat what you cook or do with out.
Don't even buy junk food, once they find out you are serious that they eat healthy, home cooked food, they will eat!
Just don't let them have their way!
That is what we had to do to my grandson. And he did not starve, and now he knows he has to eat what is on the table!

Answer 9

In my house, we were given 2 choices at mealtimes.


take it , or leave it.


If those were the options you gave your children instead of catering to their every whim, then you wouldn't have a problem with "picky eaters"

Answer 10

i'm in no way criticizing you!!! i ate what was put in front of me or i didn't eat. if they're hungry they'll eat, believe me they wont skip many meals before they wise up. they'll thank you later i promise.................good luck!!!