Do you make a special dinner for a picky eater in your house?

Nope. Well, unless you actually count me. I don’t eat meat, so i never cook it. Fortunately i don’t have to make anything special for my husband, and if he wants to eat meat dishes, he makes them himself.

Yes, my husband. He is one of the most finicky eaters that I have ever met.

I am the pickiest eater in my house and while I’ll eat just about any kind of food, the way it’s done is what I get fussy with. I’m convinced this is why my mother insists on poisoning me with garlic in all the food.

Sort of. We don’t eat together anymore. Haven’t since I was in primary school. We get home at different times, are hungry at different times, and all have different diets. My mum has to have small portions, my dad is diabetic, my older brother eats big meals, and my younger brother and I are just out-right picky. My mom used to prepare my older brother and I the same dinner and a special one for my younger brother.

I don’t think it’s wrong to prepare a separate meal for you children as long as you can work essential nutrients into their diet and slowly introduce them to new foods. My younger brother started off as the picket toddler on the planet and he gradually became better about eating new things.

No.
They either they eat that cat food or go to bed hungry! ;)

I’m the only one in my house, so yes and no.

But if I had others… I’d probably prepare a side dish that I knew they liked so that they could eat something. I don’t know that I’d prepare a whole lot of food that I knew they didn’t like. I’m not at all a picky eater, I’m very adventurous and have always been, but my parents served food I hated at least 4 nights a week. Every single meal growing up was a chore – including when I was a teen – because they chose the 5 vegetables I didn’t like instead of the 20 I did (and so did my sister as well as both parents… I think they liked making parenting hard on themselves.). I might end up bargaining with them – every time they clear their plate they can have desert.

The only picky eater in my house is my cat, and by gum he eats what comes out of the can or… I open another can.

Yes to a point. What I did find out ultimately is you starve them long enough and they will gladly eat anything. Afternoon snacks if properly managed will have anyone eating everything off their plate even meatloaf.

I do! For example when I make chicken dishes for everyone else I have to make my SO something else because he doesn’t like the taste of chicken.

Why yes I do! I lovingly make for them what my mom used to make for me, its called “You’ll sit at the table until all of your dinner is eaten” . Its a family recipe!

To a certain extent, I make something different for my youngest. He is extremely picky and has been since he was an infant. He is gradually improving, and will at least try new foods. He’ll eat any sort of bread/cheese combo, like pizza, mac and cheese, grilled cheese, cheese and crackers. He eats several kinds of fruit, but no veggies. He likes things like pancakes and waffles, scrambled eggs, banana or zucchini bread. The only meat he will eat is chicken, but it has to be plain roasted dark meat or chicken nuggets. Recently he decided he likes red sauce on his pasta, which is great because I make it myself and “hide” carrots and green peppers in it. :)

Typically, our dinners consist of a main dish, vegetable, and fresh fruit. Sometimes we’ll also have rice or mashed potatoes (two more things the youngest will eat). If the main dish is something other than chicken, I’ll make the youngest grilled cheese or something else quick and easy. He’ll have that with some fresh fruit and yogurt. It’s not that big of a deal, and I find it simpler than having a battle of wills at mealtimes. My other two kids like almost everything else, so they don’t resent the youngest getting something different. They think he’s kind of crazy.

I remember, as a kid, having to sit at the table and choke down things I could not stand, like lima beans or chicken livers. I don’t want to be forced to eat food I don’t like, and I don’t think kids should either. We all have different tastes to some extent, and as long as I know that the majority of what my kids eat is good for them and they get a balanced enough variety, I’m happy.

@Cruiser My two older kids love meatloaf so much, you’d think I’d thrown together a gourmet meal when we have it!

I was a picky eater as a kid and i kinda feel like if you cater to your kids picky-ness it encourages them to be picky… i now wish that i ate more diverse foods as a kid.

As a host and a parent, I do pay attention to the preferences of the people I care about. So we don’t eat fish much any more—only when the kids are away at camp. I try to check with people who will be visiting about their dietary preferences.

I will, at times, make different food for everyone, but that’s only if it’s easy. It’s not something people should expect. Tonight, I decided to make some hash from my grilled pork shoulder. The kids had been complaining about fat, so I figured if it was all ground up, they wouldn’t complain, and they didn’t. My son even liked it.

I remember when I was a picky eater, as a child, and I always go out of my way to make sure everyone has the food they actually want to eat, even if it means preparing different meals.

I am a very picky eater, and when I have plans for a dinner party, I ask if there are any food allergies, if there are, then I avoid that particular food, but if not all is game. I use what I have and if you don’t like it, don’t eat it.
It’s what my parents did to me, but I couldn’t leave the table until everything was finished. So that is why I have the rule don’t like it don’t eat it.

I have 3 kids. None of my kids are picky eaters. They eat anything I put in front of them. Even RED BEETS. They actually fight over it. LOL.

You get what you give. If you give unhealthy foods early in life, you get a picky kid who only eats potatoes, corn, hot dogs, pizza, candy, etc.

Introduce your kids as early as possible to the healthy foods. You also have to eat these healthy foods with them. Make a life change in eating healthy so your kids will too.