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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think it’s pointless trying to get my kids to try new food

48 replies

Midlifelights · 15/09/2020 18:14

I had the bright idea of ‘trying something new’ for me kids tea - they are 8 & 12 to get some fresh stuff into them.

Those taco bowls filled with grated carrot, tomato, avo, cucumber, beetroot, houmous and halloumi.

Both are now crying, saying they just want normal food.

Aibu to think what’s the fucking point?!

OP posts:

Bluntness100 · 15/09/2020 18:40

I don’t understand. So they aren’t new foods? Why didn’t they just leave the hummus or you scrape it off?

TheDuchessofMalfy · 15/09/2020 18:44

My ds is quite funny about foods being touching or mixed up (unless it’s a curry ). Maybe it’s that?

Mind you ds is being assessed so maybe don’t listed to me.

TOFO1965 · 15/09/2020 18:44

Cripes, you went all in there! They must have felt overwhelmed at the pulsating healthiness of it all ;) maybe introduce new caper slowly.

UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme · 15/09/2020 18:44

Oh bloody hell OP. I missed those updates while typing my essay about fussy eaters...

You put a strange combination of foods together and your boys massively overreacted with tears.

Are they coming down with something or very tired?

Otherwise all of you are complete drama queens! Talk about storms in teacups!

MaryShelley1818 · 15/09/2020 18:46

I find that a really weird combination tbh and wouldn't touch it either! I really don't like my food mixed though - I eat everything separately.
You could try offering it as deconstructed tacos so they can choose their own fillings and eat other items on the side.

TenDays · 15/09/2020 18:51

The way to make children want new foods is to eat said food in front of them. No comment necessary, except if they ask for some you say 'No, it's grown-up food.'

Worked for my lot! They'd work hard at 'persuading' me to let them try it and I'd 'grudgingly' allow them a small portion.

Teacher12345 · 15/09/2020 19:03

Maybe put the stuff on the table and let them fill it with what they choose?
I am trying to get my kids to eat more veg and it is really hard. I am offering just a mouthful of whatever veg DH and I are having and so far this week they have eaten cabbage and broccoli.
Baby steps!

LadyCatStark · 15/09/2020 19:07

If they usually eat a good range of foods, I’d chalk this one up to experience and not make it again. My DS would eat the chilli version but not the salad version too. He’s not a fan of cold food and certainly not for tea 😂

Leeds2 · 15/09/2020 19:12

If they normally eat all, or most of those foods, I would be a little hacked off at them rejecting dinner like that. I would speak to them about it tomorrow, when everyone has calmed down, and explain that you are trying to widen the variety of foods that they will eat, and that you will be introducing new foods occasionally which you expect them to try. Then, maybe, introduce one new vegetable, alongside one that they already eat and a meal that they are happy with.

I would be less than impressed at an 8 and 12 year old crying over not liking dinner, and I would be focused on taking steps to address that.

Iamonlyme · 15/09/2020 19:12

In our house new meals are introduced maybe 1 or 2 a month alonside a trusted faithful family dinner so there is no pressure. If its a no it becomes an adult lunch if its a yes the family favourite becomes adult lunch. Not everyone likes everything so as long as it is tried i accept that we have different preferences.

HaggisTheGreat · 15/09/2020 19:15

For me, the best thing about taco bowls, wraps etc is that everyone gets to choose what they put in their own one. It can be a good way to try one or two new foods or new combinations - but I would put out all fillings in separate bowls and let everyone make their own.

Barryisland · 15/09/2020 19:16

Sounds lovely — Id eat it ! At 8 &12 they won’t starve if they have to wait for their next meal. Yes they are ungrateful.

Original poster

Midlifelights · 15/09/2020 19:23

I think I definitely should have put the options in bowls and allowed them to do it themselves! I think they are both knackered from school tbh!!!

OP posts:

stargirl1701 · 15/09/2020 19:23

I try to serve everything into the middle of the table and ask DC to help themselves. I don't make up their meal for them.

e.g. Spaghetti Bol: 5 bowls in the middle (ragu, pasta, Parmesan, bread, rocket) with butter and balsamic dressing as condiments. They take what they want and we don't comment. DD1 eats everything separately and DD2 sticks a little of most things on her plate. DH and I 'model' 'normal' eating.

There is no 'other' option though. It's eat the meal cooked or wait till the next meal. DC can get down when finished regardless of how much they have eaten. That might mean a slice of bread but it's their choice.

If they have eaten very little, I make sure they know the leftovers are available in the fridge.

I refuse to turn eating into a battle. DC are 8 (autistic) and 6.

I would always make sure there is a 'safe' food if we are trying something new or if I know a specific meal is not to someone's preference. So DD2 loves ribs and DD1 doesn't like them. I serve them with cheesy baked potatoes (which DD1 loves) and home made coleslaw (in a mixed bowl with dressing for DH and I and in separate wee bowls for DC to pick at).

It's not more work but it does use up a lot of serving bowls. We have a dishwasher 😄

tenlittlecygnets · 15/09/2020 21:55

Blimey, if they are both NT with no eating issues then wtf happened?

Crying because you put lots of nice veg in a taco bowl??? Um.

I'd chat to them when they've calmed down. Ask them to use their words. They're old enough. What was wrong??

Sure, maybe putting the options in separate bowls would work, but how would you know they'd overreact so much??

JovialNickname · 16/09/2020 13:04

Don't bother preparing anything nice or new food-wise for the ungrateful sods in future then! Honestly, I really wouldn't. It'll only make you feel really crap when it's rejected, and if they won't enjoy it (assuming they eat a balanced diet normally) there's no point. (I'm quite shocked at a 12 year old sobbing at the sight of a cheese and salad taco bowl though, do they always act so spoiled?)

Having said that, my mum did frequently try to give us new and exciting foods, which must have been hard as she was on an extremely limited budget. She also occasionally did things like making cheap soup from scratch and giving the money we would otherwise have spent on food to charity. I am ashamed to say that as an ungrateful teenager I stropped and moaned at all these kind efforts to feed me a variety of nice food and make me a less selfish person but now (she has since passed away) these are my fondest memories of her. So I suppose what I'm trying to say is that your kids will come to appreciate these kinds of things, just maybe not yet x

CatsArePeopleToo · 16/09/2020 17:12

I'd also cry (or barf) if I had beetroot on my plate

Soubriquet · 16/09/2020 17:15

Let them serve themselves

Prepare the food, put it in serving bowls and let them pick and choose with what they want in their shells

PlanDeRaccordement · 16/09/2020 17:19

Sorry OP, but all that mixed in a single bowl is nauseating. I would not eat it either.

PlanDeRaccordement · 16/09/2020 17:20

@Soubriquet

Let them serve themselves

Prepare the food, put it in serving bowls and let them pick and choose with what they want in their shells

This idea is best. They should be able to personalise their own bowl. Not everyone can eat beets with hummus for example, myself included.

Abraid2 · 16/09/2020 17:23

My daughter was fussy until she was about 16 and started paying more attention to what her friends ate. Now she eats all kinds of things that were refused for years and years. She was weaned in exactly the same way as her brother, who would always try everything.

I still do a double-take when I see her eating something like AN AUBERGINE.

Susannahmoody · 16/09/2020 17:47

Stick to the basics. Pasta and sausages.

Kpo58 · 16/09/2020 17:56

So you basically you just gave them salad in the taco bowl and then wondered why they weren't happy about it?

I wouldn't be happy either. I would be really hungry afterwards as salad isn't filling.

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