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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think it's not child abuse to make the DC's....

232 replies

BigMomma3 · 22/09/2009 18:07

eat spanish style chickpea stew with wilted spinach . DD has made herself choke to get out of eating it and DS1 has been in tears at the table. I cannot believe the fuss they made! DS2 ate it all after a slap bit of gentle encouragement!!

DD screamed 'why can't we eat normal food like normal families?' When asked to elaborate she said we should eat mashed potatoes, chips, fishfingers and sausages etc (which we do eat as well as my veggie concoctions ).

I have also refused to buy their usual Cocopops and Cheerios and am making organic porridge with dessicated coconut and golden syrup for their breakfast and we were late for school this morning due to the amount of time it took for DS1 to take one spoonful . I am sick of them always wanting to eat crap (although even if I give them pizza or chips they usually don't eat much because they are constantly raiding the fridge). AIBU to take a stand or am I wasting my time??? They are aged between 7 & 12 BTW

OP posts:
EachPeachPearMum · 22/09/2009 21:14

I think mwff is right- you have to give them stuff like this all along for them to like it... but it sounds very healthy, plenty of veg etc, and filling enough.
If your children don't like it though, surely it would make your life easier to make things that they do like, but without being totally junky?

Horton · 22/09/2009 21:16

Was it the Allegra McEvedy recipe? If so, I want to show off as DD loves it.

Mumcentreplus · 22/09/2009 21:17

Very true mwff..i have always given my DDs different textures and tastes from an early age I made home-made baby foods with brocolli,carrots,peas..they actually like veg very much and they are willing to try different things..if they really don't like something I won't force it..they are both not keen on raw tomatoes ...but then neither am I.. maybe it's genetic

mwff · 22/09/2009 21:21

well "making" anybody eat anything is waste of time/unpleasant. "offering" something delicious that people may not have had before is part of life, surely. if you pander to your kids being squeamish about trying new things you're a bit fucked really aren't you?

ReneRusso · 22/09/2009 21:21

Its great to get them to try new things. And not at all unreasonable especially at their age. I sometimes try my DCs with something a bit different but would always serve up something in their comfort zone with it, eg plain rice with the chickpea stew. And I wouldn't make them eat it, just get them to try one mouthful.

HerBeatitude · 22/09/2009 21:23

ROFL you sound mad.

Sorry I'm all for serving good food, but if your DC's aren't used to really adventurous stuff, then spinach and chickpeas aren't a good start.

I think what you can do, is serve them stuff they don't like along with stuff they do. So possibly chickpeas and spinach along with a lamb chop/ burger and rice? Then they can try a bit of the stuff they don't like but still ahve plenty of stuff they do.

My DS picked all the kidney beans out of his chillie pork this evening...

Mumcentreplus · 22/09/2009 21:27

LOL Herbe my DD does that too!..out of her rice..I tell her it gives her strong bones and extra vitamins ..so she nibbles a few..

Original poster
BigMomma3 · 22/09/2009 21:29

Sod it - just been to Tescos and bought them coco pops for breakfast tomorrow to make up for the wilted spinach .

OP posts:
mwff · 22/09/2009 21:31

my dd1 astonished me by happily chowing down on chilli the other day (not a usual for us) including the kidney beans saying "i've had these kind of beans before". i'm sure she has had them before, but i'm sure she refused them then, but - more to the point - i didn't let that refusal put them off the family menu for good. and lo and behold, when offered them regularly enough it turns out she does like them.

mindset plays a huge part imo, dd1 had been becoming increasingly fearful of unfamiliar foods. luckily she has the example of all her family, including little sister, happily gorging on eating a wide range of foods to inspire her to try them. i certainly don't push it with things she expresses a strong preference over (e.g. eggs) but i don't allow her to get into a mindset that says any kind of food is "disgusting" - it's just not to her taste right now.

SixtyFootDoll · 22/09/2009 21:36

WHAT IS WRONG WITH CHEERIOS??!!!
Why can no one answer this?
I eat a bowl every morning, I think they are healthy and low in fat?

HerBeatitude · 22/09/2009 21:37

Yes I jsut serve the stuff and if they don't eat it, they don't eat it.

They're not allowed to do that thing of not having it on the plate at all though. Can't stand that sort of faddiness.

LOL at the cheerios. They'll be demanding chickpeas every night if they get cheerios for breakfast.

Kirstieallsoppsalterego · 22/09/2009 21:39

Wilted spinach sounds okay to me, though I'd have hated it when I was a child. Anyhoo, more to the point is: can't you stop your children grazing from the fridge between meals??

mwff · 22/09/2009 21:40

loads of sugar i'd guess 60ft?

mwff · 22/09/2009 21:41

yep the snacking is a big part of the picture i reckon.

Zoya · 22/09/2009 21:42

Cheerios are low in fat, yes, but also high in sugar - 21.6% sugar, to be precise.

Zoya · 22/09/2009 21:44

btw I think the stew sounds yummy, and my kids (similar ages to yours) are used to that sort of thing. But the fact that so many people on here are all 'yeuch no' about it speaks volumes, no? Even adults are easily 'challenged' by slightly unfamiliar food.

Spidermama · 22/09/2009 21:46

Like headfairy I suffered lunchbox ridicule due to my mum's tofu and alfa alfa sprout salads. I am now visiting similar humiliation on my kids and what's more I appreciate what my mum has done for me. We eat very healthily and all my kids will reluctantly happily chomp through a chick pea and wilted spinach surprise.

Stick to your guns. They don't know what's good for them. You do.

Most parents give in and serve up shite. Imagine if teachers took the same approach to school and said, 'The kids don't like maths so we're watching DVDs and playing on the Wii all day'.

No. Good for you.

mrsruffallo · 22/09/2009 21:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

pixiblue · 22/09/2009 21:46

BigMomma please come and cook for me, I'm fed up eating crap and love veggie concoctions.

cheesesarnie · 22/09/2009 21:46

bigmomma-if i told ds2 he would have his bags packed ready to come to yours to eat!spinach is one of his favorites(or dinosaurs leaves as he calls them).can i come too?

moondog · 22/09/2009 21:48

How bizarre that people think the chickpea stew and spinach sounds vile. It would be deleicious. I make things liek this all the time and my kids eat them quite happily, because if I make dinner, there is noly one choice.

They like shit too obviously bu t don't get it very often because I don't buy it.

Spidermama · 22/09/2009 21:48

My dd tells me a couple of her 'friends' make a point of gathering round her lunchbox to make gagging noises. I think they're tense because they're unable to eat so healthily. I mean, dd never makes gagging noises while they chow down on their Greggs sausage rolls washed down with Fruit Shoots.

mrsruffallo · 22/09/2009 21:50

Add sliced banana to the porridge whilst cooking and you don't need to add sugar

nappyaddict · 22/09/2009 21:51

Never had porridge with golden syrup but I love it with honey and maple syrup so i can't see how it's disgusting. I'm not sure i would like the texture of coconut in it though. What about toast and butter or shredded wheat instead for breakfast?

moondog · 22/09/2009 21:53

I took a tortilla to school once for kids to eat in the playground afterwards.

From the looks and comments of other parents you would have thought I was force feeding them a dog turd.

I really need to join a commune.