Suggestions for meals for a child you don't know

[DumbledoresGirl]

I have a hang up about cooking for other children, but I have bitten the bullet and invited a friend of dd's round for tea on Friday. I am told he is not fussy, but I am still fretting about what to cook.

I know some of you would say "Just cook whatever you would be eating" but that does not satisfy me. Anyway, I go shopping on Fridays so I have no plans for the meal yet.

So what in your opinion is a good choice of meal? The child is 7 btw, if that makes a difference.

Thanks for suggestions. As I understand it, the boy is not fussy at all, but the funny thing is, every time one of you wrote "I have never known a child not like X", I could think of one of my own children who does not! So I think I am worried because I know my own children, rather than because this boy is likely to be difficult!

TBH, we usually have fish on Friday (fishfingers or homemade fish cakes) but fish can be the one thing children are fussy about. We have had sausages, spag bol, pizza and roast chicken in the last few days! What does that leave? Maybe homemade burgers....

I asked dd to ask friend what he wanted to eat whilst at school tomorrow.

Let me know if you want my recipe for homemade burgers.

I would do:
pasta with pesto
with chopped up sausages (probably) that the child can pick out.
and some garlic bread
tomatoes and cucumber on the side.
personally

oh and I might grate some cheese to sprinkle on

The children I have one day a week (3 age 7 and one age 10) LOVE pitta pizza, and either watch me doing it or make it with me. - Large pitta breads, napoletana sauce or just pissata, grated chedder and dried oregano for those that like it - bung in oven for 10 mins on 180, and fab result with cucmber, raw carrots and tomatoes on side.

Oh sorry gibberish, I have only just logged on and seen this. I have a recipe for what are called hamburger pancakes (a sort of combination of the two) which I always use for burgers, but thanks anyway.

Actually, I cracked when I discovered boy has school dinners and have decided to do pizzas - they can all do their own toppings - as I always think of pizza as a halfway house between tea (for those who have already had a hot meal that day) and dinner (for those, like my children, who have only had sandwiches.)

But thanks again for all your input. Who knows, this might be so successful I invite another little blighter!

you could do homemade wedges with the pizza....

Pasta usually goes down ok. If he isn't fussy then stop fussing!!! If he doesn't eat it then its his mums fault for telling you he isn't fussy. Just standard food that your child likes. Easy veg such as peas and sweetcorn and chicken. Most like potatoes. Even if he leaves it he won't starve for one night.

Shepherds Pie (with carrots in) and Peas gets my vote.

It isn't him I am worrying about! It is a personal thing!

how did it go in the end?

fajitas? Buy some wraps, chicken, spices ( you can buy ready made ones) and some peppers. Have some salsa and yoghurt on the side and let them fill the wraps themselves...yum

shove a chicken in the oven and do a mini-roast .. easy .. do small roasts potatoes, pan of carrots and brocolli and loads left over for you and DH

sausages, potato, carrots and brocolli also go down well

pasta and pesto with veg easy and quick then cheese is optional

just make sure you have something for pud like a chocolate mousse or ice-cream

Thanks for asking popsycal. We did pizzas. I bought bases and got guest and my four to sit around the table and do their own toppings. He didn't eat all of his, but I steeled myself into not caring (despite warnings, he insisted on putting loads of anchovies on and I think he found them a bit too much!) Anyway, he ate my pudding of chocolate brownies and hot chocolate sauce, so I felt better then.

I was a bit nerve-wracked though. i still prefer not to have children round for feeding!

Oh, btw, made a pasta and sausage dish today which we have occasionally and realised it would have been the obvious choice, so I will remember that for next time.

My favourite offering is sausage, mash and veg (whereby I have several veg in and ask child which he likes). I find that things like spag bol etc you run the risk of them picking the onions out etc. That's what I did last night and made carrots, peas and cabbage but didn't give visitor cabbage.