I’ve dealt with picky eaters in my house plenty. Over the course of time, I have been able to get the people in my house to widen their tastes. I invited Beth Pollard on today to share with us some of the tactics she’s tried to get the picky eaters in her family to eat a different variety.
Here’s what she has to say-
If you have a fussy eater in your life, you’ll know how frustrating it can be to prepare something they’ll eat, or find a restaurant they’ll like. Whether it’s your significant other or one of your kids, fussy eaters can be impossible to please. But, with a few simple strategies, you can turn this around and tempt even the most finicky person.
Switch It Up
When life is busy, it’s tempting (and sometimes necessary) to fall back on your default meals. These are the options you can make without too much hard work, and that takes no time at all to prepare. Also, it’s tempting to rely on the meals you know they’ll like. But, this can add to the problem. If you don’t expand their horizons, it’s likely they’ll get stuck in a rut and will be reluctant to try something new.
So, alternate the meals you serve and try new things. For example, don’t make breakfasts all about cereal. Throw in a few waffles instead. Access reviews to find the best waffle maker for your needs. If you’ve been serving a lot of potatoes for your main meal, try using rice or pasta as an alternative. If everyone likes broccoli, try cauliflower instead.
Avoid Processed Food
Wherever possible, avoid processed food. Instead, opt for wholesome home-cooked meals. Fussy eaters often get stuck on a few key meals they enjoy, and you don’t want them to get stuck on unhealthy options.
It can be difficult to cook from scratch each night, especially if you have a busy life. However, there are lots of shortcuts you can take. For example, the next time you cook, prepare twice as much. Serve half in the usual way and then freeze the rest. This will ensure you have several quick meals ready to eat for days when you don’t feel like cooking.
Prepare Taster Platters
Have you ever been to a restaurant and you didn’t know what to order and so you opted for a taster platter? This is where the chef prepares a little of everything for you to try and figure out what you like. Try this at home. Start with the ingredients you know everyone enjoys and then add in other ingredients.
Tackling Pre-Conceived Ideas
Sometimes fussy eaters think they won’t like something and so never try it. In other words, they make a snap judgment and stick to it. It can be hard to challenge this thinking. Try making small portions of that food. Most people can tolerate a few small bites but may be reluctant to tackle a big meal.
Mix And Match
Prepare dishes that are a mixture of foods they like and foods they’re not sure of. For example, casseroles, crockpot dishes, and stews lend themselves to a variety of ingredients. Get them used to new foods and tastes.
Get Them Involved
Get fussy adult eaters involved in shopping and preparing food. This may spark their interest and tempt them to try something a little different.
It can be difficult trying to please everyone when it comes to mealtimes, especially if you have a large family. But with a few simple adjustments and strategies up your sleeve, you can tempt everyone’s taste buds.
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