Dinner time issues

[KFN1987]

My step son is 10 years old. I have been living with him for two years now. We have an issue with dinner times. He eats certain foods that contain onions, for example sage and onion stuffing. When I make a dinner than contains onions, he sits there sifting through it and basically refuses to eat most of it. This will be various dinners, spaghetti, cottage pie, chilli, curry, ect. I have tried cutting the onions up really small but the outcome is the same. On some occasions he has just eaten his dinner which contained onions, but most of the time acts up about it. Sometimes when people are looking at him he will start gagging (seems pretend). There are other small children at the table and his eating sets a really bad example to them. No amount of reasoning seems to improve this situation. He received consequences but again this doesn’t make any difference. AIBU to increase consequences?

so you know he isn’t a fan of onion but still keep insisting he eats it? Why not just leave the onion out?

Sage and onion stuffing is not the same as onions in food, different texture etc. Does he eat these things when his parent cooks for him?

There are 5 children and two adults. Everyone likes onion and we all eat the same meals together. Like I say he eats onions in other things so seems to be more of a behavioral thing.

Cut it smaller. He won't notice. It's a non issue. Grate the fecker of necessary

Everyone likes onion

Clearly not everyone does though. I cant imagine continuing to add something to multiple dinners that a family member didn't like

His dad has the same issue

So two of the family don’t like onion but you still insist on using it?

Sounds like he likes onion in some meals and not others then. Why would he complain otherwise?

🤣 I have tried cutting it up really really small, doesn’t make a difference. He will eat an onion ring though!

So they DON'T ALL like onion and yet you persist.....?

If it's a spaghetti bolognese (for example) just make a small amount in another pan that doesn't have onion in? Sorted.

He is the only one who is refusing to eat it. I don’t think I should have to cook separate dinners when he eats onion in other things?

Why bother asking when your so sure your right? Just keep fighting a losing battle!

No his dad likes onion but has the same issue with son when he cooks

You can leave onion out of lots of sauces and dishes, there's garlic, herbs, other flavourings. I had one family member who didn't like it, it's really easy to adapt recipes. I feel for the child who keeps having to eat something he doesn't like, behavioural or not.

Just trying to clarify points

Could I suggest the opposite. Bigger onions and he can pick them out?

I don't like cold tomatoes but I do like warm tomatoes. Sometimes different ways ingredients are cooked make them different.

Sorry, OP but this sounds unreasonable. Would you do the same with chilli?

Blitz it in the food processor. It becomes like a paste and it will be indistinguishable.
im with you OP, he is just being a PITA. If he genuinely didn’t like it I’d never push it, but he eats onion rings? I wouldn’t be pandering to this either. Never pandered to whims and never had fussy kids as a result.

I'd puree the onion or use powdered or granulated onion, if it's not an issue of intolerance or dislike of the flavour.

I have tried that. It’s not always onions, he will sometimes pick out tomatoes and peppers which I know he likes.

My son won't eat onions. I either don't use them or use onion granules. There's nothing to be gained otherwise

Cut it up bigger so he can see it and pick it out

Just leave the onion out? It's not an essential component to most dishes and you're making this a way bigger deal than it needs to be.

I understand being resentful of changing your cooking for your step son but as they grow up your own children will have similar likes and dislikes and you'll be naturally more sympathetic.
If your dss luges with you and he doesn't like onion, don't give him onion.