CM Club: so how do you deal with multiple food requirements at lunch and tea time?

[Numberfour]

I have one LO who is non beef and non dairy, another who dislikes potato and cheese and most veg, another who is EXTREMELY specific wrt fussiness, my DS is not much better!!

There are only so many times I can do roast chicken or a pasta dish (and then the pasta is usually plain....)

help! thanks

I have a rule, if a child cant have something because of dietry requirements I cater to that, anything else they get what they are given (within reason, have one child that really does not like beans, so we dont have them when he is here for lunch)

I have one 5 year old that wouldnt eat anything but fish fingers and chips, or cocopops, wouldnt even try anything else when he started with me in July of last year.

I started a pasta jar for him, he put a piece of pasta in for everything he tried, he wasnt offered anything else until the next snack/meal then.

It took about a week of being really tough, but he started to try things (and by try, they have to ahve a proper teaspoon, not just lick things which is what he would do, one lick and say yuk, which was rubbing off on other children)

Anyway the break though was custard, he loves it, and said to me, 'why didnt I like custard!' I explained to him it was because he hadn't even tried it, so he didnt know he liked it!)

He is now sat in front of me eating scrambled eggs on toast! (was on a overnighter last night)!

Thanks, Shoshe. Yes, I remember your pasta jar reward thingy (and it has worked for my DS and wearing his eye patch - occlusion therapy!)

Will try this, too, with the others.

Thanks!

(I know what you mean about a child hating something - DS tried peas and nearly vomited.)

Like Shoshe - I will cater for allergies and cultural restrictions, but not fussy eaters. Peer pressure is great for getting kids to eat . Parents are amazed what their children will eat at my house (just because everyone else is eating it).

(runs off to make a note about pasta jar idea for future use)

I tell them if they don't try something, I can't tell if they like it or not so they'll keep getting it until we find out

I try to make sure there is at least one thing on the plate I already know they like and encourage them not to eat all of that first until they've figured out whether or not they like everything else.

I use a laminated chart to plan the following weeks menus. For younger children, you could make a picture menu to velcro on the plan.

Every child has a chance to suggest lunches, dinners, puddings and snacks and we do a hands up vote where necessary. At the end of the week I just add whatever's necessary to ensure balanced meals and to make sure there's something everyone likes. Then if there are any complaints I can point to the wall chart and remind them when we are having their favourite. If they make a fuss about having to eat someone else's meal, they might find other people do the same for their own favourite.

Thanks, HSMM and Ayla99.

I find that DS eats things at school that he would not have at home so I can see that others would eat here what they might normally not.

I like your suggestion, Ayla99, so will borrow it if I may - like the pasta trick!

Their is no way I would make different meals for different children (unless it was allergy / cultural reasons) otherwise I would spend all day in the kitchen. I have 13 for tea tomorrow it would be a total nightmare.

I'm of the if you don't like it then don't eat it, but you get nothing else brigade. We too have had mindees that wouldn't eat anything but chips, nuggetts (basically junk) etc, they eat what they are given and after a couple of weeks they eat just about everything .

I agree mindees often eat stuff here that they won't at home, as they just get on with it and see the others eating.

I do ask the children what they would like for lunch, tea and add stuff in to make it healthy, but we are often surprised at what they ask for as quite often its fish pie, gammon etc that they claimed to detest, which is now favourites.

I would say persevere and like shoshe don't give snacks or tit bits in between, you may have a week or too thats a bit rough round the edges, but it will eventually work.

I would ask the parents to prepare packed lunches and reduce my fees accordingly. No way would I have the time or the energy to cater for each and every requirement. I spend my life in the kitchen!