Feeding the grandkids. Man cannot live on toast (and cocopops) alone!

What about do it yourself fajitas or wraps or sandwiches? Put out the ingredients for them to help themselves. Maybe a reward for the biggest number of ingredients chosen?

I used to make cooking a meal together a big treat - the youngest chopped mushrooms with a plastic knife, the next one up had a normal table knife to slice peppers, the eldest had a kitchen knife and chopped onions, and one grated carrots. They were all willing to eat food they had prepared themselves, so a stew or lasagne or stew was both a fun thing to do together and a good way to introduce new foods.

If all else failed, I would refuse to give a child something and say ‘you won’t like that - it’s a grown up taste’. That was guaranteed to make them say ‘but Mum, I’m a big boy now. I like broccoli/ sprouts/ olives/ whatever’.

grannylyn65

Tough!! You had your chance

I wouldnt panic too much, my eldest wouldnt eat anything, I was mortified, once he started school dinners it all changed and from then on he ate everything, things like home made chicken nuggets with cucumber, raw carrots on the side worked well for some reason.

One of my GC will eat anything presented to them, not fussy at all. The other GC varies from week to week and day to day sometimes as to what they will eat. I've found that, by telling them that I need them to help me cook the meal, they eat whatever they've cooked. As soon as they're involved in the prepping and cooking, they're much more keen to eat it because they're so proud of what they've achieved.

And peppers

Nothing wrong with fish fingers…seriously, I wouldn’t be concerned, just give the youngest what he wants to eat, 4 is still very young. If he’s not eating his meal I’m not surprised he’s still hungry. Cooking with them is a good idea from NotSpaghetti maybe start with biscuits/cakes, let them choose. My youngest GC only wanted tinned macaroni cheese a couple of years ago, now tries a variety of foods including vegetarian.

I get finger food Veg, Tomatoes, cucumber peeled, calamari olives and beetroot, sometimes eat beetroot, make a funny face on the plate my 3 year old GD loves eating this and says " You are a good cook Nanny"

My 5 yr old gd is the same. I make her vegetable soup which she loves, but it has to be blended and if I deviate from carrots, parsnips and onion , she won’t eat it. She takes the same lunch to school every day - marmite sandwich, yoghurt and apple juice. She will eat a banana occasionally. If they come to us for Sunday dinner, she has a pizza. We don’t make a big thing of it. The hospital says as long as she’s eating something, don’t worry. She used to have lots of milk but dD has cut it down because it fills her up. I long to see her eat a proper dinner. She is tiny but healthy and very active.

It takes 10 tries to accept a new food apparently.
Don't despair!

Do they actually cook with you?
My grandchildren will eat anything they think they have cooked themselves.

One of mine likes looking at the pictures in cookery books and will ask to cook things from it.

Worth a shot!
There are some great children's knife sets on the market by the way now so it doesn't need to be frustrating when chopping.

Mine also universally like a mouli type grater and will happily shred carrots and cheese etc (with help when little).

Yes, MEN can survive on toast. If they want to wat anything else, they can to go to the kitchen and prepare themselves something else

Now, we are talking about children. Regardless of their gender, they are known to be picky eaters.

My pediatrician says that as long as kids eat one normally balanced a day, there is no concern.

Enjoy your time with your gc and dont worry about it.

Their parents and pediatricians have it handled.

I have a nephew who as a child existed entirely on Ryvita and peanut butter. It did him no harm. He's now in his early 50's. A delightful, loving, caring family man. A vegetarian. Eats a wide range of vegetarian dishes. Well educated. Successful career.
I would simply give your 4 year old plenty of what he likes. It's good he eats fruit. I wouldn't comment when putting food in front of him. We never made my nephew feel he was different or difficult, because he wasn't. He liked what he liked. Wishing you happy times when your grandchildren come to visit.

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I'm with you on this one as my 3 grandsons are the same no
matter what I give them, even chips! I eagerly await answers
from those who have overcome this.