http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd?format=rss Tribe.net. Local Connections http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#ee372509-e191-4fa5-a2a4-6ed369f76708 OMG they ate carrots they might grow long big ears next! Hehe I can so sympathize with your struggle. We would have other kids over and their parents could never believe what they were willing to eat at our house. In fact they would come over with requests. I understand the struggle. Just make sure when you are preparing meals its a fun, non stressful activity. If the kids begin to feel calm and happy after your meals and urg after the other meals in time they will change. There were times I let my boys pig out on junk foods and then be mommy as they recovered. In time they learned. Wed, 26 Nov 2008 04:32:26 GMT http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#ee372509-e191-4fa5-a2a4-6ed369f76708 Felecia 2008-11-26T04:32:26Z http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#657cd271-b348-4692-bc32-c4262980f85c I do know this, and have implemented some of it....I think my partner is so keen to keep them happy and really I guess I'm sayoing it would work if he wasn't always there to 'give in' to the slightest rebellion! They ate raw carrot tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sat, 22 Nov 2008 22:06:19 GMT http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#657cd271-b348-4692-bc32-c4262980f85c Mandy 2008-11-22T22:06:19Z http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#e7eea2c0-1728-432b-890f-d896ba7c3a3d Never too late to cahnge eating habits. My hubby has changed his habits since we got married. Some of the things I found to help... DIps: yougurt with fruit sticks, hummis with veggies etc. introduce it with a movie night or a game night when everyone is eating while watching /playing. You don't make a fuss on who is eating what but things will be eaten. Canned veggies, not heated up. My kids would munch on green french fries (whole green beans) while we did chores and got dinner ready Having them help with the cooking and them looking though the recipies of magazines to try (pictues really sell new foods). as well as helping with the shopping. Peer pressure, seeing other kids eating the food really helps also don't make a fuss. Kids will not starve themselves. They will eat when they get hungry and if you refuse to make a big deal they see they can't get into a power play with you. If you take away the negative part of the food part and just act normal and positive they will stop resisting. It will take time. How do I know: my son sare now 24 & 25 they cook and eat well they generally follow good nutrition and make sure wife/girl friend eat well also. Hubby after 27 years is still working on it but is doing a good job. Sat, 22 Nov 2008 21:18:14 GMT http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#e7eea2c0-1728-432b-890f-d896ba7c3a3d Felecia 2008-11-22T21:18:14Z http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#bbf42b4b-904b-476b-9dcd-fc8ea0ad9090 And thank you Amy! I so agree with not having it in the house.....the last thing I want is to allow him to keep bringing their food into my house, which has been suggested! My kids are old enough now to know what's healthy, but I still think it's unfair! I think gradual weaning is the answer! Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:11:56 GMT http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#bbf42b4b-904b-476b-9dcd-fc8ea0ad9090 Mandy 2008-11-21T18:11:56Z http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#933dc106-9a9d-4334-9074-d2d1be756be6 Thank you! Ihave replied to you personally about this x Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:08:29 GMT http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#933dc106-9a9d-4334-9074-d2d1be756be6 Mandy 2008-11-21T18:08:29Z http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#052e1365-fdda-40b8-9651-ec6819c9046e The puree is a great idea. For some kids its the unfamiliar texture that throws them off. I had the same trouble and here's a couple of coping strategies I used. No food was "taboo" but if I didn't want them to eat it, I didn't have it in the house. I slowly weaned them off the really bad stuff by providing progressively healthier stuff. So may Sunchips are a baby step away from Doritos, but I saw it as a process. Every time I introduced something new, I combined it in a meal with things I know they like. So once they like mac n cheese, serve some steamed broccoli with a little cheese melted over the top. Then slowly decrease the cheese until they don't need it. Once they like pasta, make a pasta salad with lots of veggies, or chop up veggies into the spaghetti. I'm sorry you're having trouble, but there have been many great solutions in this thread. We'll say a prayer for ya'. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:49:46 GMT http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#052e1365-fdda-40b8-9651-ec6819c9046e yadda yadda 2008-11-21T14:49:46Z http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#76c236ca-99bf-42e8-a9fa-1bfeb1a86fbc I'm a grandma who's had screaming picky eaters at the table quite a few times. Sounds like the problem is not just eating habits. The kids are manipulating your partner. A lot of children of divorce do that. And it's partially due to the low blood sugar from eating so much junk. First it raises too high then they crash and become cranky. Be sneaky. Make some really yummy aromatic food, like spaghetti, for yourself. And sit at the table eating it. Alone. I bet within a week the kids will be asking to taste some. Use some reverse psychology. ( Well I don't know.... this taste's pretty good... maybe I don't want to share) And only give them a taste. But don't force it on them. Wait until they ask. And only give them a bite unless they beg for more. Over time they will come around. But you have to be patient and not take their rejecting your cooking personally. Also if you make something like spaghetti puree the vegetables in the blender so it's smooth. My brother won't touch an onion, tomato or pepper to this day. But he loves my spaghetti sauce that's loaded with the puree'd veggies. Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:42:30 GMT http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#76c236ca-99bf-42e8-a9fa-1bfeb1a86fbc Blue 2008-11-21T08:42:30Z http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#a5000968-3d4b-4f53-92a5-4e71b9882271 sorry i don't have a link for you but i have seen some groups on livejournal that discuss and show pics of really cute non traditional "bento boxes" filled with healthy food for lunches and snacks. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:08:13 GMT http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#a5000968-3d4b-4f53-92a5-4e71b9882271 Amber 2008-11-20T03:08:13Z http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#950fada9-c5de-4ffc-af9e-2a1a57d9f77e This is a longshot, but sounds like you are willing to try anything here. If there are kids who eat healthy around them, the peer group might make it fun to try something new and different. I was surprised as hell when my kids didn't blink in eating sashimi because we were with some Japanese friends and their kids chowed on the stuff. I look over and there are MY kids loving it too. Both my husband and I were floored...but tried to play it off cool. Since then my kids love sushi and sashimi...but I am not sure without the other kids eating it if they would have tried it. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:43:16 GMT http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#950fada9-c5de-4ffc-af9e-2a1a57d9f77e BratCat 2008-11-19T21:43:16Z http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#519ef3f7-319e-46c3-b9e8-351358e405f9 mmmmmm!! thanks ...that looks delicious! (maybe one day they will try something new!) that's just the sort of thing I was looking for, making food look good. Thank you ! Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:37:10 GMT http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#519ef3f7-319e-46c3-b9e8-351358e405f9 Mandy 2008-11-19T20:37:10Z http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#bb5bc487-a88b-42a0-9120-eb92a0b1b9b5 http://veganlunchbox.blogspot.com/ has some great ideas on how to get kids to eat healthy stuff. i'm not saying you should try to turn 'em vegan, but the recommendations are great - dips for fruit slices and carrot sticks, making food cute, etc. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:33:34 GMT http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#bb5bc487-a88b-42a0-9120-eb92a0b1b9b5 Mammut 2008-11-19T20:33:34Z http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#922033cb-5aa8-45c8-8d47-db58388dbeb3 I know where you are coming from with the packed lunches, as I was a lunch supervisor in a primary school. Unfortunately they eat rubbish in those too...cheese strings, croissants etc.... They hate yogurt which is unheard of in our house! I'm trying to persuade my partner that once the first couple of tantrums are through they'll soon get the message, but it's proving to be so hard to get him to bend in the wind! Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:25:47 GMT http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#922033cb-5aa8-45c8-8d47-db58388dbeb3 Mandy 2008-11-19T20:25:47Z http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#d6977a93-cb36-461e-8275-264fa6befe61 Hopefully! ...you have a point there, I do try and explain it all too them ...thanks I was beginning to think it was me being too stubborn. I just feel they are not taking it seriously enough! Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:18:16 GMT http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#d6977a93-cb36-461e-8275-264fa6befe61 Mandy 2008-11-19T20:18:16Z http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#55c47a4c-25e1-4f60-8883-44a6f0d9085c Exactly!!!! can you see how frustrating it is for me! ? I find it so hard to sit back and watch them moaning every mealtime, it's making things hard between us! (maybe I should just keep quiet?) Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:15:19 GMT http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#55c47a4c-25e1-4f60-8883-44a6f0d9085c Mandy 2008-11-19T20:15:19Z http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#3114a86b-a2c6-4a44-9b69-a899c46f51aa Honestly, if they eat healthier when they visit him, they will start feeling better than normal during or just after a visit. Then they WILL want to come over. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:13:35 GMT http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#3114a86b-a2c6-4a44-9b69-a899c46f51aa DuckAmuck 2008-11-19T20:13:35Z http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#80b1fcfd-117e-443b-b9ea-29ffbcbdb626 Seriously. EVERY kid loves mac n cheese... Try suggesting it to you guy as a SLOW transition since hes worried about them NOT wanting to come over. Like, same old dinner, but instead of apples as pie, maybe apple wedges with peanut butter for dipping. Then as they expand to healthier things slowly, replace more and more of the 'standard' with the new healthy stuff. I agree with the idea about artichokes, with either a lemonny dip or b. vinegar, olive oil, and salt and pepper or something. Sparkling flavored water instead of soda could be good too. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:32:01 GMT http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#80b1fcfd-117e-443b-b9ea-29ffbcbdb626 *T* 2008-11-19T19:32:01Z http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#6b1a0a4d-c16d-4265-a77a-8d85cd9f7109 Go shopping with your man and make have him not stock the cupboards with junk. Growing up we never had junk food and if I was hungry I had to cook. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:12:49 GMT http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#6b1a0a4d-c16d-4265-a77a-8d85cd9f7109 Tri 2008-11-19T19:12:49Z http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#a48e0e04-2afd-479f-9a64-12e8727855c4 What kind of kids don't eat macaroni and cheese? Sorry, but ????!! Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:07:47 GMT http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#a48e0e04-2afd-479f-9a64-12e8727855c4 DuckAmuck 2008-11-19T19:07:47Z http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#05451b32-063a-40f5-9710-5d4a62f35577 That would be fine if they ate macoroni cheese!!!! or pot roasts for that matter! Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:55:53 GMT http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#05451b32-063a-40f5-9710-5d4a62f35577 Mandy 2008-11-19T18:55:53Z http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#e31871ce-23bd-4490-86dc-c19a2eee378f I have done this and already they are changing slightly . I don't see them every day, and their mother gives in as she works all the time.Partner trying his best but confesses it's because he doesn't want them to not want to go to his house! One of them has helped me cook, but since he is ten, cannot exert any self control if their cupboards are stacked with junk! Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:54:37 GMT http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#e31871ce-23bd-4490-86dc-c19a2eee378f Mandy 2008-11-19T18:54:37Z http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#3189ffc7-04d4-4250-9874-e2edbd951d4d There's always the "hidden treasures" approach to fruits and veggies. I have to use this with my husband on occasion. Macaroni & Cheese (plus broccoli, cut small enough to barely be seen) Casserole (plus finely shredded white cabbage that won't add enough flavor to be noticed) You can come up with your own, based on what the kids DO eat. Or you can replace regular hot dogs with veggie dogs, and the like. Pot roasts and stews were a great way to get me to eat veggies when I was little. Because it's already all cooked together… it's not like the roast "never touched" the carrots… Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:42:02 GMT http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#3189ffc7-04d4-4250-9874-e2edbd951d4d DuckAmuck 2008-11-19T16:42:02Z http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#0146a8af-eecc-458f-8307-c8ccfcbb9edd good answer Bratcat I think key is getting your partner to participate in healthy eating. There may be some easy substitutes which you can do. Using sea salt instead of regular. Using organic yogurt with organic peaches or apples.. mo reflavor contrast. A try it you migh tliek it appproach certainly instead of a you must change attitude. Also unfortunately if the kid seat school lunches they are filled with poorly planned and massproduced food and its nto very good unless they are in a provate school which has a certain emphasis. Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:23:56 GMT http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#0146a8af-eecc-458f-8307-c8ccfcbb9edd yogamoon 2008-11-19T16:23:56Z http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#74ccc7f5-e7ea-4716-97b5-cad153e1bf33 What ages? That can be a big factor in pickiness if they haven't been exposed to most healthy foods. If it has been too set, that will be hard corner to turn. My suggestions: 1. Modelling...obviously you are eating well. Is your partner? Since they are his kids....the change will have to begin with not just his approval but his endorsement. 2. Let them participate in the cooking in any way they can. For my daughter (4yo) all she does is put the veggies I chop into the salad and she feels like she made it too. My 6yo is further along and actually researches recipes now. 3. Make healthy food interesting to eat. My kids LOVE artichokes because they can dip in the lemon sauce and toss the leaves in the big bowl in the middle of the table. Dips are usually a hit with kids. I know what you mean with this...my brother's kids think chicken only comes in nuggets and apples are for pie. Whenever my kids stay at their place I have to bring the veggies (and how to cook them). Their kids didn't know what broccoli or asparagus was until they saw my kids eat it! But the only way the change will come is from the parents so what are you going to do? Good luck! Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:03:42 GMT http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#74ccc7f5-e7ea-4716-97b5-cad153e1bf33 BratCat 2008-11-19T15:03:42Z http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#2806e6f0-765d-449e-aaf2-8a491df1d591 Going out of my mind trying to persuade my partner to feed his kids healthy food! they have been given whatever they like to eat and now I fear it's too late! one is under weight and another is over...All they eat is junk and all but one, point blank refuses anything other than what they are used too. They don't even know the names of most veg, let alone attempt to eat it! help!! Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:59:44 GMT http://healthylazy.tribe.net/thread/a5e574cd-a81f-4e68-86b7-8f83a70526cd#2806e6f0-765d-449e-aaf2-8a491df1d591 Mandy 2008-11-19T07:59:44Z