AIBU to not give my DS anything else for tea?

[redshoesnoknickers]

He had toast for breakfast, a bag of crisps a milky way and a fairy cake for lunch (birthday party) and I have served up a yummy cowboy stew type thing (tomatoey mince and baked beans) with cous cous and he won't even try it. He is 5. DD has eaten about a quarter of hers.

I am totally fed up with cooking the same few dishes that they will both eat (fish fingers/sausages/shep pie/spag bol/omelette/pizza/tuna fish cakes/filled pasta/lasagna) I want them to eat mild curry, stir fry things, risotto, fish pie, chilli, frittata, kedgeree, casserole etc

I love cooking and the little beasts are ruining my fun!!

YANBU. Our rule is that you have to at least try something and then if you don't like it, fair enough.

Gah. I'm not sure I'd try any cowboy stew either, redshoes

YANBU

Just let him go hungry. Tell him you understand it may not be his favourite meal but if he doesn't eat it he might feel hungry later and that is his choice.

I do this with DS. I just emphasise that he has the choice not to eat it but will be hungry later as a result.

I like cowboy stew.

I'm all for stretching their culinary horizons, but mince and baked beans? In a stew?

YABU. I wouldn't go near it .

YANBU.

I love cooking too, and inflict delight my children with many different things. We often have curries, stir fries, tagines, risotto etc.

Mine are 4, 5 and 7 and they don't always necessarily love anything the first time they have it, especially the younger two, but they realise that it is all they are having, so if they don't eat it they'll be hungry!

In fact I always thought that DS2 (who is 5) was fussy, especially in comparison with DS1, but he is known in school as the child who will try anything and always clears his plate! So it doesn't seem to have done him any harm...

It's yummy! I ate some! I wouldn't expect them to eat anything actually unpleasant!!

Basically it's chilli with a bit of paprika instead of chilli powder and baked beans instead of kidney beans - what's wrong with that

I've made something similar redshoes, it's nice.

Unless it will make DD vomit or die she will be served it.
She doesn't have to eat it, she doesn't even have to touch it and she won't be in any trouble, but there will be nothing else.

A new meal has to be tried, a good forkful and if she hates it (to the point of vomiting, or dying) she can have bread cheese and fruit, and I won't serve it again.

I have no time for food carry on.

Saying that, I'm pretty chilled out.
I cook 6 nights out of 7 from scratch but will serve up all manner of junk that DD enjoys on the 7th time, and for lunch today she had a Greggs sausage roll and Easter bunny biscuit

I am victorious! Once he realised I was serious I got him to try a spoonful and he liked it and ate the lot!!!

Am extremely pleased!

"I love cooking and the little beasts are ruining my fun!"

That's how I feel sometimes!

well done

Your job is to provide them with healthy, nutritious, tasty food. You have done so. If they choose not to eat it it's their look out.

And if he won't taste it then no, he doesn't get anything else.

YANBU, just explain to him he will be hungry and there will be no alternative. I have done this a few times with DS and he is only 3. I would always offer a light supper as I would never send him to bed hungry. So perhaps some cereal or toast & milk later on, but leave a gap so he doesn't associate refusing dinner with being offered something else!

There's a saying in my house that goes something like this:

THIS IS NOT A BLOODY RESTAURANT!

Thanks to this attitude my son loves fish, shellfish, marmite, slightly spicy stuff, fruit, most vege (though fussy about their preparation), milk, water and will try anything once (due to fear of not actually having anything else on offer).

He's 6 btw. His favourite meal is sushi. The earlier you start them on different things the easier it is...

Mince (ground beef?) and beans are yummy, especially with mashed potatoes. I will take your ds's portion if he doesn't want it.

I would make them (my dc) take a bite of it. they can't not like it if they have not tasted it.