tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8814984506642537843.post1764268662190531761..comments2024-03-03T16:03:52.071+11:00Comments on Debt Free, Cashed Up and Laughing - The Cheapskates way to living the good life: Really Easy Menu PlanningCath Armstronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12982092492622482815noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8814984506642537843.post-22682046763257648062015-08-23T11:18:41.594+10:002015-08-23T11:18:41.594+10:00Choose your battles! Try to find out what it is ab...Choose your battles! Try to find out what it is about those foods that he doesn't like - taste, colour, smell, texture - they all play a big part in how we find food appetizing (or not). If it is taste add some seasonings and see how that goes, if it's colour try to find another way of cooking it so the colour is more natural, smell - not much you can do about that, I personally can't stomach asparagus, I find them grey, slimy and they stink to high heaven, and it's the smell that really puts me off - texture, look to find another way to cook that food.<br /><br />In our house the rule was "5". So 5 peas or bits of carrot, teaspoons of casserole etc. I found five was a number even littlies can recognise, they have five fingers so easily counted. After a few days of dishing up five of something I'd just increase it until they were eating a normal serve.<br /><br />But, there are some foods that are just not liked. I can understand that, if they've tried five and still can't eat it after a few tries I let it go and simply didn't dish up that food on their plate. I didn't give them more of other foods or replace it, they just didn't get it.<br /><br />Sometimes fussiness can be the texture of the food rather than the actual taste. We have on family member who simply cannot stand the texture of mashed potato. I just take a few pieces out of the pot before mashing, problem solved. If it is a casserole that isn't liked, it may be the texture the gravy gives it. Try taking the meat and veg out before you add the gravy and see how that goes. If he only likes chicken breast fillets then he only gets meat on the days you have that as a part of your meal plan. Just give him more of the veggies he'll eat and make sure he has a glass of milk with that meal. Or try meatless meals for the whole family, they're cheap, nutritious, quick and easy to prepare and cleaner to prepare too. Cath Armstronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12982092492622482815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8814984506642537843.post-69687369974109886532015-08-22T17:54:04.064+10:002015-08-22T17:54:04.064+10:00It is really easy to fall into the trap of caterin...It is really easy to fall into the trap of catering for fussy eaters but this compounds the problem. Children learn by watching others, and as long as the rest of your family eats the meal and the child sees them enjoying it then eventually they will eat it too. (Often fussy eaters are 'cured' at pre-school or day care where they see everyone else eating it). I was a bit of a tough mum when mine decided to become fussy, and refused to eat certain food types - I would just serve up what we ate, if they didn't eat it and it was safe to put in the frig I would do so then re-heat it when they got hungry later. Eventually they get so hungry they'll try it. (You must not give in on this - it requires strong will power from you). If the you do not consider the food safe to put in the frig and re-heat, then just simply prepare the same meal again, fresh. It wont hurt the rest of the family to eat the same thing twice until the fussy child eats some of it. The battle is so worth winning for the ease of having a child that will eat anything. My rule now (after winning the battle) is that you don't have to like something but you must have a taste of it. If they then choose not to eat it that is fine, but there is no other food available until the next meal time.FionaBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10839310466946155121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8814984506642537843.post-54208785578410267732014-05-09T14:18:17.940+10:002014-05-09T14:18:17.940+10:00Dear Cath,
I honestly don't know how anyone ca...Dear Cath,<br />I honestly don't know how anyone can feed a family without planning a menu. I would wander aimlessly around the supermarket not knowing what to get and always cook the same things. I definitely would spend a lot of money on expensive and processed food. My biggest problem with menu planning and budgeting is that my son (my only child) is EXTREMELY fussy. He won't eat casseroles, curries, stirfrys and a whole range of vegetables. He only likes chicken breast fillets, no other part of the chicken. Sometimes it takes me hours to plan a menu for the week ahead.<br />Michelle Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com