Help! Very fussy eater DGSs staying

Nannan2 I know I'm overthinking it! The boys do love a menu. Since I'm stuck at home recuperating I have lots of time to think up how to occupy the boys as well as feed them this weekend. It's unfortunate that DH is away competing otherwise we could go out and about. They're on their way...

All kids are different in their preferences, even twins!

My youngest was very underweight & short in height, as born very prem.He had two dieticians, from 2 different hospitals, at same time, and all consultants etc said same thing, to give what he will eat, to gain him weight, as soon as he does he will shoot up in height, which he did, but for a long time he had a very picky diet indeed, and its only expanded a bit more by age 18, & he still won't eat veg, but he's happy with what he eats and not under or overweight.so thats the main thing.

I usually find they are more likely to eat things they have helped make

My granchildren eat whatever meal we are having. Often the parents say 'oh they wouldn't eat that at home'.
A little too much of what do you want I think. Here I get them to put their screeens down and help with meal prep . We sometimes chat about what we might have and shop for the ingredients or go down the garden and pick something. I know not everyone can and parents are busy with work etc but if memories of times here include prepping and eating great food it's not a bad thing for their little memory banks is it.?

If they like pasta or pizza, make a tomato sauce with lots of veggies added that will be 'hidden' when you blitz the sauce. I have a picky eater 10 year old gs too. As I don't have him here very often, I always ask my daughter for updates on what he will eat. It's a slow process but he's at least eating more than he was and is very active so must be healthy!

oh and those little fromage frais

My youngest used to live off garlic bread at one point and birds eye potato waffles

I now have my little grandson and he can be very picky and I just give him what I know he likes, “ what goes at grandmas stays at grandmas “ ?? my daughter is happy as long as he’s fed and getting the odd few healthy bits

I often used to do what I called a picky lunch with fresh crusty bread, different cheeses, jams, pickles, grapes , sausage rolls, small cocktail sausages and pate and that always went down well when mine were picky eaters. They re all adults now and will generally eat anything but I remember those days well

Just give them any old junk they want-at least they're eating! It's a phase and won't harm despite what the chattering classes say....the thing is to always have the good stuff in the house (your favourites) so if curious they can have a nibble

Don't offer too much choice, that in itself can be overwhelming for some kids, concentrate on the 'fun' part of the visit, boardgames& jigsaws to play/do with you maybe, or if they like popcorn, or some snacks, have a film time where you all choose a movie together, close the curtains, act like you're in a real cinema, or most kids like to look at old photos of their mum/dad when they were young and hear little 'tales' from their childhood, or what THEY did/didn't like, or what they got up to etc..or if weathers nice, set up a picnic in the garden, with a little tent for them to play in..the possibilities are many.Make memories, don't fuss over the food too much.

Aveline- 'drawn up & printed out menus' suggests you're perhaps over thinking this a tad?

Pennykins- 'she used MICE'?????

I have 2 very fussy youngest sons-even at 18 &22- its about the textures of some foods for some kids- id stick to what they already know and love, not bombard with 'new' stuff, it might put them off wanting to come stay again! Certainly ASK them if theres anything they particularly want, or might like to try, but if they just want 'their usual' don't push it- at least you know they won't go hungry if they eat what they do at home.Sadly, staying at granny's doesn't make kids miraculously adventurous overnight.In our family we also have a few kids with food allergies, thats a whole different problem too- But my fussy sons aren't allergic, just have their own taste/texture choices, youngest now likes smoked salmon, anything chicken, bacon, pepperoni, likes pesto, won't have potatoes unless they're chips.Neither son has gravy or sauces.etc..If they don't want to try any new foods, just stick to what they do want.if you do try the 'snacky plate' idea, don't cajole or berate them if they don't want it.Maybe next visit they will have expanded their own choices.?

My mother tells me I was a terribly fussy eater as a toddler . Apparently I was reluctant to eat anything but jam sandwiches She took me to the doctor who said “take her home, she’s beautiful”.

Obviously I learnt to eat properly.

Katek

Since they were small all my dgc have loved what they call a ‘snacky treaty’ plate. The older ones are 15 and still enjoy it. Just put out on one plate a couple of rolled up slices of ham (or other cold meat), breadsticks or crisps, cheese, grapes (or other cut fruit) box of raisins, small yoghurt and anything else you think they might like and leave them to it. It’s surprising what disappears from the plate!

My DGC have what they call a 'picky tea'. Same things as yours do, that they set out like a picnic but is given to them in lunch boxes, as if on a picnic.
Goes down a treat and lots of different foods get tried this way.

Home made hamburgers usually go down well.

Whatever you decide on, let them help to make it.

At that age cooking your own food is fun and usually results in it being eaten without fuss.

Riverwalk, getting the children to eat is nothing to do with being a “fun” grandmother. They can be totally separated. What works for one family, may not work for another.
If I look back on a fun day or weekend, I judge it on activities, walks, games, conversations etc, not on what happened at meal times!

I've drawn up and printed out menus which cover everything I can think of in the house so whatever they choose is possible. They do love a menu when they're out so I hope they'll like this.
I'm just waiting for them to arrive.
It's a pity I can't take them out (not fully recovered from hip replacement last month) so I think they're in for a boring weekend but I'll do my best.
Thanks all for your interest and suggestions.

Riverwalk

You sound like a fun grandmother Happysexagenarian

Exactly! I'd rather my grandson had happy memories of being at granny's house than going hungry. In fact, he has lived with us for the past 20 months and is anything but a fussy eater. Neither of mine were really fussy eaters either, although my son did go through a fussy stage when he was around 7. We went on holiday to Lanzarote then and he wouldn't eat anything but chips from the hotel buffet. I was stressing out about it, but then decided that eating chips for a week wouldn't kill him and it was better o let him be and enjoy the holiday. He went on to join the army and had to eat whatever was put in front of him - including army ration packs! I'm firmly of the opinion that you should try to make mealtimes enjoyable rather than becoming a battlefield. It's just not worth it.

I saw a programme recently which the lady cooked a 'beany cottage pie'. She used mice, red lentils and she grated the carrots, swede and onions and added a tin of baked beans so that it looks just like mince and baked beans and my GC 3 and 5 loved it and they love broccoli which I steamed and cut up very small. If they eat all their dinner they get a Treat after which can be healthy i.e. frozen bananas with Nutella,

My 3 year old GS is a nightmare to feed as he will hardly eat anything at home but on his 3 days st nursery where he has breakfast, lunch and tea, he eats anything he is given except pasta! It drives his poor mum, our DDL, insane, especially as DS works abroad for 3 month stints so she has no back up. He will eat an omelette occasionally & he absolutely loves fruit of all sorts although he refused to try delicious mulberries off our tree...and of course crisps & biscuits are popular. Thankfully I rarely have to feed him, I'd just get cross as I'm not very patient!

My GS has the reputation of being difficult to feed and does sometimes refuse food. I've found when he visits offering him a choice of about 3 things usually works. He inevitably chooses something the others aren't having. I also think it's useful at his age to discuss what food he needs to eat for his body and health (he's 6). So he knows he needs some protein, and toast and honey isn't enough for lunch, but a boiled egg can be followed by toast and honey. I think some childen need to have reasons given about why you want them to eat things.

You sound like a fun grandmother Happysexagenarian