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Recipe ideas to cater for varied diets and fussy eaters

6 replies

LizzyBennett · 06/08/2020 12:59

Has anyone any ideas for family friendly meals for fussy eaters with differing diets? I'm stuck a bit. Both DC have ASD so overcoming any food dislikes is a challenge to say the least.

I'm an omnivore. Will pretty much eat anything - I don't buy meat anymore but have it if we eat out/get a takeaway. I don't enjoy meat subs like quorn but will eat them. I'd rather eat fresh veg etc

DS - vegetarian who won't eat dairy for ethical reasons. Does not like onions, butternut squash, sweet potato, beans of any kind except baked in tomato sauce, cabbage, kale, mushrooms, began cheese, aubergine, salad of any kind, carrots, cauliflower, barley, cous cous or nuts. He also does not eat any kind of sweet and savoury together (no caramelised anything) and no hot and cold at the same meal so no side salads. On top of this, he doesn't like sauces - he can handle a meal where the sauce is integral, like a curry or bolognaise, but cannot cope with any kind of added sauce at all. Nothing too hot either.

DD - pescetarian. No mushrooms or chick peas or peppers for her. Loves shellfish, rich creamy sauces and cheese. Also doesn't like butternut squash or cabbage. Hates tofu.

Some meals I've tried lately with varying success are:

Falafel burgers and sweet potato wedges - DS ate the burger but not the wedges. DD ate the wedges but not the burger

Lentil bolognaise - DS ate it but hated it and says he'll never eat it again. DD had two spoonfuls and refused any more.

Veg Curry - both ate it but both said it wasn't very nice. Would eat again if pushed.

Veg risotto - DD missed the creaminess of cheese and DS didn't like the tarragon. I made a tomato risotto last week and neither enjoyed it.

I'm a single mum who works long hours outside of the house. I'm just tired of trying to think of what we can all eat. Until recently DS was pescetarian too and ate dairy and things were much easier. We all enjoyed mealtimes and it was a chance to sit down, relax and catch up. Now it's as fraught as when they were food refusing toddlers.

Has anyone any nice suggestions for meals?

(Please be kind about my DC - they are teenagers with ASD. Some of their avoidances, esp DS are sensory issues and not choices. Both have emotional issues and I want to avoid mealtimes turning into a battleground)

OP posts:
Augustseemsbetter · 06/08/2020 13:11

Phew that is difficult!

If it's sensory would a mushroom and cashew sauce be acceptable?

I'd be asking them to make something

I made a "creamy" mushroom soup with soaked and blitzed cashews that I thought was pretty nice combination.

I blend a lot of sauces and soups to increase acceptance here.

Wraps with various bits / leftovers is another easier meal.

Augustseemsbetter · 06/08/2020 13:14

I mixed up that last post sorry.

For the family all round the table I do put out quite a bit of pick and mix again these days rather than any recognisably coherent meal! 😉

LizzyBennett · 06/08/2020 13:20

Thanks @Augustseemsbetter - I never thought of soups, but they are a great idea! It's how I introduced new veg when they were little because they always ate them. Don't know how I forgot - as long as they were smooth, they enjoyed them.

Sauces are out unfortunately. DS just cannot cope

OP posts:
LizzyBennett · 06/08/2020 13:22

Sorry - didn't finish there. DS can't cope unless it's one that I can use like a pesto and it covers pasta. Would your mushroom and cashew sauce work like that because it sounds great

OP posts:
LizzyBennett · 06/08/2020 13:26

For the family all round the table I do put out quite a bit of pick and mix again these days rather than any recognisably coherent meal!

I might try to go back to basics like that for a while. Just keep offering things and not getting stressed if they don't get eaten.

OP posts:
Augustseemsbetter · 06/08/2020 14:13

The blitzed cashew cream was something I'd tried for a rest from dairy. I found I liked it after trying it with banana in a pudding but then just added it in some savoury things and thought it went well with mushroom. We had it as a thinned soup but left thick it would coat pasta. I don't think it would satisfy my lot as a pasta coating though. They would rather have carbonara!

A big pan of soup once a week even in the summer works quite well here as the leftovers get eaten up as snacks. We aren't in a warm area though!

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