Ideas for a picky eater

[Peikko 1,575]

On Saturday night I ate a 16oz piece of rare prime rib. It was so disgusting and so delicious at the same time. I probably won't eat red meat again for at least a month or two.

16oz? I don't think I have ever eaten more than 4 oz of protein in one go - and that's pushing it!

[MissStacey 1]

I do feel your pain. I have been struggling for 2 years with my stepson. When I met this child all he ate was pizza, chicken nuggets and spaghetti O's. My husband was lacking in discipline when it came to him (probably a guilt thing from the divorce) and apparently his mother will not eat a vegetable.

It has been slow and steady progress- he is getting better and there are many healthy things he now enjoys eating. There are still nights he pulls his little tricks- so he gets things like treats, movies and other privileges taken away.

I can't control what he eats at school or with his mom but at least I know here he gets balanced, nutritious meals.

[Amby 490]

On Saturday night I ate a 16oz piece of rare prime rib. It was so disgusting and so delicious at the same time. I probably won't eat red meat again for at least a month or two.

16oz? I don't think I have ever eaten more than 4 oz of protein in one go - and that's pushing it!

That was the most I ate in my entire life. Neil ate some of it but not much. Like I said no more red meat for a long time.

[Peikko 1,575]

Yep, I don't think you need any that should keep you in iron for a while.

Actually, how true is that, that red meat is good in terms of the iron content you derive from it?

[Amby 490]

Yep, I don't think you need any that should keep you in iron for a while.

Actually, how true is that, that red meat is good in terms of the iron content you derive from it?

I don't know. I'll have to research that one tomorrow.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Picky eater? Suck it up. I ate live bugs in Thailand. mmm mmm good.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Well there are tons of vegetarian cooking sites I've been researching this summer that have great ideas. If he likes spaghetti then he'll love momo's which I've become the master at making this summer vegetarian style. I'll have to have you guys over and show you how to make them. I love them and it more fun to make with company! Minestrone soup is always a good veggie sub for me coz for some reason it smells like pizza to me and with the olfactory system connected with taste it's not too far off. Soups will keep you warm during the winter and they're easy to make like salad. How is Andy in the salad department? Tried any lemon zest for the summer salads, or made a pear salad? Those seem to be popular with my foreign friends. I'm also interested in this vegetarian lasagna that a.j. speaks of as well.

[Steve Y Jessica 1]

Or you can make pizza. Just make half with meat and veggies, and the other half with just veggies.

Or stuff for him, chicken breast stuffed with spinach and cheese. This is something I make so my daughter will eat her vegetables. With the cheese, she barely notices that there is also spinach.

And if he insists on continuing eating the way he likes. Make sure he takes vitamins and have him eat fruit and carrots throughout the day.

[Steve Y Jessica 1]

Or you can make pizza. Just make half with meat and veggies, and the other half with just veggies.

Or stuff for him, chicken breast stuffed with spinach and cheese. This is something I make so my daughter will eat her vegetables. With the cheese, she barely notices that there is also spinach.

And if he insists on continuing eating the way he likes. Make sure he takes vitamins and have him eat fruit and carrots throughout the day.

Oh, I forgot about "layering". Before you prepare it, soak the chicken breast in itallian dressing overnight.

And AJ, this would also work with Amby's tasetless turkry breast also. Putting all meats in itallian dressing works very good.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

@ Aubrey. You know the Moscow Co-op sells these freshly made pocket things at the deli stuffed with feta cheese, spinach, and a couple other veggies. They're delicious and they cost like $2.25 a piece.

[Nasturtium 500]

Do you eat cheese, butter, eggs, milk, etc?

Do you have the recipe book: 1000 Vegetarian Recipes? I can't remember the author of mine, and it's at home... I got mine from TJ Maxx a few years ago for like $10. There is a lentil/onion/clove/cumin/leek/carrot/summer squash casarole which takes baout 2hrs (all baking, only like 20 minutes prep) that I add that Light Life gimme lean sausage to in small balls... it really adds the perfect spice and tastes just like breakfast sausage. I add a bit of parmesan to the top.

Also, if you eat cheese, I would suggest getting the smartground crumbles, don't season them (I think they absorb way too much of the taco seasoning and taste disgusting), and just make tacos.

Another thing involving cheese that will make you gain 1000lbs: mushroom cups. I know a mushroom is a fungus and not a vegetable, but sometimes you need to sort of broaden their horizons until you can introduce them to the healthier things! I subsitute some parmesan on top instead of using the goat cheese at the bottom... works better IMO.

A third thing, and this is really what came to mind for me when you said something... also involving parmesan... is to cut up summer squash, potatoes (new red work well), onion, eggplant diced (i leave this out because I didn't like it in there), cherry tomatoes, bell pepper, carrots, and any other kind of vegetable you could want I imagine-- not anythig leafy... then toss in olive oil and "italian seasoning" (in the grocery store spice rack usually) with about 1tsp of fennel seed. Add some salt and pepper as desired. Roast in the oven until tender, maybe 20-30 minutes... then add button mushrooms (although baby portabello work so much better) tossed in the same mixture for the last 15 minutes... then 5 minutes before done cover the top in some parmesan. My husband, who also refuses vegetables, ate this! And asked for more!

He also asked for more of the frozen vegetable mix.. it's in walmart and it called something to the effect of "asparagus stir fry mix" which i fried in a pan with some olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and a bit of the same italian seasoning.

You may consider also looking into if he would like grilled vegetables. My Dh would also eat tehm grilled if they were brushed in olive oil and had salt and pepper on them.. also would eat kabobs like that but insisted on chicken so that's not going to work for you.

Does your SO like soups? If so, maybe a small bowl of soup every few meals would work.. especially if you do something like puree it so it doesn't have noticable vegetables/beans/etc.

[Nasturtium 500]

I have to agree, if you are going to eat meat, eat some of the tasty fatty kind, otherwise, what's the point?

And what is with vegetarians who need to pretend they're eating meat? Tofurkey, #######??

There is so much good vegetarian food out there. Jamaican rotis for example. Or Indian paneer. Or vegetable lasagna!

Not trying to pretend I eat meat. It just provides a few more options in the kitchen, especially when you're with a meat-eater. He has chicken parmesan, I have fake chicken parmesan. He has a hamburger, I have a veggie burger. Get it?

Need more veggies in my man, though! And ideas for dishes we can both eat are running short.

Oh! I didn't get this far yet... so the kabobs would work for you. You can do tofu too if you'd like on them... i make a marinade of olive oil, curry (medium or whatever it is I have, no idea), cinnamon, cumin, etc. I brush that on EVERYTHING.

[Nasturtium 500]

Oh! (sorry for a thousand posts in a row)... Does he do spicy? I made this stirfry for my husband with a habenaro, 1lb asparagus, chicken, 1 bell pepper, 1" cubed ginger, 1 clove garlic... and I think that was it. You cut the ginger (fresh), habenaro, and garlic, cook in about 1-2tbs oil until it's fragrant. Then add the bell pepper for about 5 minutes, then add the asparagus... meanwhile you cube the chicken and cook it. Add it cooked to that mixture until everything is basically steamed up. Ammar would eat that and also wanted more. I have done the same with summer squash instead of asparagus, also have added mushrooms to it. It's pretty flexible and simple. I think the trick it, it's hot enough that they don't taste the vegetable

[Nessa 23]

here I come being controversial. But just a thought, in my case, if Charles were the one that cooked and he was vegetarian, I'd be really mad if he started to cook those yucky fake meat replacement for me.

It's not gonna hurt you to grill a steak or some chicken just for him. Just my $ 0.02

[Marilyn. 340]

here I come being controversial. But just a thought, in my case, if Charles were the one that cooked and he was vegetarian, I'd be really mad if he started to cook those yucky fake meat replacement for me.

It's not gonna hurt you to grill a steak or some chicken just for him. Just my $ 0.02

she already mentioned that she eats the fake meat and he eats real meat..

I have to agree, if you are going to eat meat, eat some of the tasty fatty kind, otherwise, what's the point?

And what is with vegetarians who need to pretend they're eating meat? Tofurkey, #######??

There is so much good vegetarian food out there. Jamaican rotis for example. Or Indian paneer. Or vegetable lasagna!

Not trying to pretend I eat meat. It just provides a few more options in the kitchen, especially when you're with a meat-eater. He has chicken parmesan, I have fake chicken parmesan. He has a hamburger, I have a veggie burger. Get it?

Need more veggies in my man, though! And ideas for dishes we can both eat are running short.

Edited August 1, 2008 by *Marilyn*