Kids....and food?

Question

Okay do you guys ever make your kids eat foods they really dont like? Not in a mean way.....but just to get them to try it? Like our boys HATE stews and soups. But we still eat them once in awhile.....Or mushrooms...Yea they hate those! But sometimes we cook with them, half the time they dont even know they are there. So if you hide them, they dont always know....Is that something thats just in their head? Do you make them finish their plates? Or let them tell you when they are full? We make ours finish their plates but we dont put alot on them, they can always have more...Im just curious to know how others do these things:)

Answer 1

my daughter always eats what we eat. we started that when she was old enough for baby food. I NEVER EVER go out of my way to make something seperate for her, unless its a "leftover" night.

I don't make her finish all the food on her plate, but if she's doing a good job at eating, i don't make her finish everything.

Answer 2

I make my kids try foods that I cook. It won't hurt them. I even offer to cover it in ketchup, or whatever they choose to cover it in. My son "hates" onions, but little does he know, he eats them several times a week. He also hates mayo, yet he eats it in egg salad, potato salad, and such, so yes, I hide certain foods. I NEVER make them finish their plates. I was made to do so as a child; as an adult, I can't help but to feel as though I HAVE to finish everything on it, therefore, fighting obesity. I do give them small portions, offering more if they want. I also let them know that this is dinner time (or breakfast or lunch), time to eat all you want for dinner, and there is no more dinner after this. If they get hungry soon afterwards, I tell them that they should have eaten more. I also let them eat every 3 hours or so instead of only 3 meals a day.

Answer 3

Making your kids try food is ok what I would do is don't tell them what it is and if they like it have them eat it and AFTER there done tell them what it was and making your kids eat all there food isn't good no matter how much you put on there it can be harmful just ask them when there full and save there plate for them for latter and yes my mother does that with me she cuts up what I don't like really small so I don't know it's there I think they may not like the tast of something by it's self but togeather with something may help like I don't like mushrooms either but my mother cooks with them and it actaully makes what she cooks tast good I like them IN my food not alone they could be like that

Answer 4

When some of my children were little(and others weren't born) I didn't make them eat anything they didn't like.I used to put the hated food on the table with at least one which they like and I usually ate that food and showed how tasteful it is.My children were curious and tried it sometimes just because I said something like "You can eat anything but I don't let you eat this one.That's for me.If you want some,you have to give me a little food of your favourite".Trust me - that worked!And they tried it only because I told them I forbid it.When all my children were born(now they are seven,ages 15,12,10, 7,5,2 and 2) I wasn't able to cpe with all their favourite foods,so I put on the table 2-3 "dishes"(a lot of which are usually simple ones) and everybody eats what he likes most.If someone doesn't agree with the planned for dinner,I let them make sandwiches(after a few days,they start to hate sandwiches and eat what's on the table).

Answer 5

my rule of thumb is, you have to actually try it before you tell me you don't like it.

sometimes making it differently helps. with broccoli, for example, i will smother it in nacho cheese sauce and my kids love it. my kids love ketchup on their eggs so i let them go at it. they don't like spinach very much but as long as they can manage to eat two mouthfuls of it, i'm fine with that. however my youngest loves spinach dip.
as long as you cover most food groups you should be fine. some kids don't grow into a flavor until they are older. I hated cilantro when i was younger but i love it now. you still won't catch me eating okra or liver. and brussels sprouts are still gross. tomatoes are a no no for my oldest so i don't put any in his salad. it's all about balance.

Answer 6

No no no but you do have to be a bit sneaky if they like milk shakes put oats in it makes it thicker and creamy. Instead of just gravy liquidize some good veg in it. Smoothies can hide a multitude of veg as well as fruit.

Answer 7

Kids usually give the excuse "I don't like it" and the response I give to that is "You haven't even tried it yet."

I say at least make them try it once, and after that let it go. I wouldn't want anyone force feeding me anything.

Answer 8

my son is very picky and I make him try food before he tells me he doesn't like it, and sometimes he doesn't like the food and other times he finds he does like the foods

Answer 9

no clue