Is it too late for me to introduce better eating habits for dc?

[Standingatthedoor]

They are 12 and 7. We have got into a complete rut of eating rubbish meals in front of the TV and they are so fussy I have really limited what I make for them. Ds1 even complained about getting burgers again the other day, especially annoying as he is the fussiest! (He once cried when I made him eat a carrot). I feel I have ruined them, and don't know how to change things around. We don't even eat at a table anymore, except in cafes where they are much better at eating.
Actually, I think I've been providing an a la carte service at home!
We (the adults) are so tired when we get in from work we can't face a big fight over dinner.
But I want things to change, for us to eat together at least some of the time, and for them to try new foods.
Have I left it too late or can I still turn things around?

Don't know if anyone still following but.. completely failed tonight. I made dinner, something they like (quorn sausage roll), something one of them likes (corn on the cob) and a small amount of a super noodle type thing, as it would be good to get them eating noodles not chips. Oh and we sat at the table. Older boy talks about his food for about ten minutes, he's been told he can't say it's disgusting but he found ways to convey a similar feeling! On and on. Dh said very little. Both children wait to eat the disliked or new food until it is stone cold. Eventually dc1 made a comment about how I always pick what I want to eat. This is so far from the truth that I just exploded and have left the house thinking a drive might calm me down! I eat bland shite to please them and then just get agro for doing it. They can just eat crap from now on it's not worth it

We all have set backs.. just remember they are the children who want to return to their diet of beige food.

Try again tomorrow.

I'm sorry you feel that way- honestly though- that's two successes and one fail. So you're still winning. Write today off, and carry on as before.

When mine was a fussy eater the hardest part of tackling it and changing her ways, was ME. I had to remove the emotion from it all. Learning to serve up and grey rock, not take offence or feel stressed etc. That's the hardest bit to tackle. If you can take away the emotional charge of it, you may find they become more open. The expectations and pressure add more trouble than is worth.

Mine now eats a lot more, though is still arguably fussy. But I take the view that she has 5 a day available to her, with variations and included in a healthy balanced diet - it's available and whether she eats it or not, I'm meeting my parenting requirements. Sometimes she still only eats the potato aspect of a meal. More and more often she eats a lot more.

Thank you guys. My exit has given me some perspective, and both dcs have apologised to me. Dh was no way an equal participant in the new plan and I'm really annoyed at him actually - he smiles when they come out with their moaning, it is really unsupportive.