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Original poster

what sort of thing do french families have for dinner?

57 replies

brimfull · 20/10/2009 11:03

my 17 yr exchange student seems to be v. fussy
doesn't like vegetables or fruit

So far I have served

sausage pasta dish-ate a few mouthfulls
roast beef dinner with roast veg and roast potato -def not keen
green thai curry -refused point blank
chicken casserole-not keen ,ate a bit of meat that's it

she loves chocolate so have stocked up on penguins etc (ds thinks he's died and gone to heaven)

any suggestions for meals, was thinking of spag bol tonight

OP posts:
bibbitybobbityCAT · 20/10/2009 11:06

The french usually eat salad daily, and bread with every meal.

What about something with mediterranean roasted vegetables.

Could you do some fish?

Or pizza? everybody loves pizza.

overmydeadbody · 20/10/2009 11:07

I've heard they like frogg' legs and snails

ZZZenAgain · 20/10/2009 11:08

maybe she is just on a diet, watching her weight.

ZZZenAgain · 20/10/2009 11:08

I thought they all eat steak and chips tbh

Original poster
brimfull · 20/10/2009 11:09

ok thanks will get some bread
salad good idea

have tried roasted peppers and tomatoes with sausages -she ate a bit of sausage but not the veg

pizza -yes will offer thanks

OP posts:
overmydeadbody · 20/10/2009 11:09

What about asking him what he wants and sitting down as a family with him and coming up with a weekly meal plan that includes what he is used to?

rasputin · 20/10/2009 11:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
brimfull · 20/10/2009 11:10

steak and chips -fab idee

she's not on diet -eats chocolate like nobodys business

OP posts:
thatsnotmymonster · 20/10/2009 11:10

Why not just ask her what she would like?

Original poster
brimfull · 20/10/2009 11:11

have asked her-she says anything-then eats nowt

very frustrating

she is going at the weekend

just want her to feel at home-she is lovely and as a host it is hard when they don't eat

OP posts:
Original poster
brimfull · 20/10/2009 11:12

she is too shy to say I think

OP posts:
LilianGish · 20/10/2009 11:13

Bread with every meal - oh and lots of salad.

Original poster
brimfull · 20/10/2009 11:15

so should I just do salad and bread or do a meal with it

OP posts:
MmeLindt · 20/10/2009 11:16

This is the kind of things that the DC get in school dinners:

Steak and chips

Roast chicken

Tartiflette (yummy potato cheese ham gratin)

Fish with rice

ALWAYS served with salad and/or veg.

Have asked DD, she has to think about it.

fishie · 20/10/2009 11:16

ask her to cook

Claire2301 · 20/10/2009 11:17

Definately try fish, we had fish 3/4 times a week when I lived in France, along with shellfish. Bonne chance!

ZZZenAgain · 20/10/2009 11:18

sneaky hijack - ML are you back from Dublin? Get ye over to the German thread for a natter

Original poster
brimfull · 20/10/2009 11:19

ML -did you get parcel?

OP posts:
Original poster
brimfull · 20/10/2009 11:20

right fish salad and bread tonight I think

OP posts:
Ivykaty44 · 20/10/2009 11:21

I had a girl from Paris as a student three years ago - she came back as a guest this summer for a week (she is 18 months older than my dd)

Jeanne eat everything put in front of her and this time she again eat everything put in front of her. we eat pasta and pesto, lasagna, chicken casserole, picnic were ham sandwiches and maderia cake which went down well, she only drank water and wasn't fussed about wine.

fannybanjo · 20/10/2009 11:23

Maybe she is as fussy at home, just because she is at your house doesn't mean it is your food which she doesn't like. She would eat if she was hungry and to be honest, it is slightly rude of her to be so problematic with an enthusiastic host cooking for her. Give her £2 for a Happy Meal! Don't worry about it, serve what you would normally make, she either eats or doesn't.

mankymummymoo · 20/10/2009 11:23

I think maybe she is used to fewer (and less mixed up) things on the plate.

Very often french meals are in several stages, e.g. there would be a course of french beans in garlic after the salad and before the meat course which may have just a small piece of meat and some simple potato dauphinoise (sp?) or such like.

Then small pudding and cheese board.

She might be a bit overwhelmed with the volume and variety all on one plate.

ZZZenAgain · 20/10/2009 11:23

don't worry about it too much ggirl, bet the food is fine. Just serve a baguette with it and if she's hungry, she'll pick about a bit at the food on her plate (this is what my French niece aged 20 does) and then fill herself up with baguette. She seems healthy enough

I think they occasionally eat soup where they get their vitamins etc

ParisFrog · 20/10/2009 11:25

Am not surprised at roast beef not being a success - we usually cook it too long for their tastes. But am surprised at chicken casserole - all my French friends like it!

Maybe do something simple like meat (not steak unless you check with her how much, or little, she likes it cooked & not beefburgers - British ones taste very different to French ones) and potatoes?

Spag bol should be fine, as would lasagne I should imagine.

They are definately big on salad - we usually put a big bowl of it on the table...but don't be surprised if they eat it either before the rest of the meal, or only touch it once the meal is finished.

Pizza sounds a good idea - if you make your own, maybe you could get her to "help" in the kitchen - she can learn the words of the ingredients, whilst making up her own pizza.

Cottage pie works well. Ratatouille (except she doesn't like veggies...)

Having been on various exchanges, it can be really awkward eating, because even if you usually like something, it can taste quite different. I would provide lots of bread and cheese and ham etc. so if she gets hungry in the evening she can make a sandwich. The penguins sound very nice!

Is she eating the rice etc. when you serve casserole? Maybe she just doesn't eat a lot. Does she eat breakfast?

castille · 20/10/2009 11:25

The French have plenty of received ideas about British food - she will prob have expected it to be awful (not saying anything about your cooking, it all sounds lovely to me!).

I'd do plain things and serve separately - eg spag and bol in different dishes on the table so she can help herself to the bits she likes.

Big YES to fish with rice, the French usually eat these together.