inspiring meals for kids
Discussion
Evening all. I'm looking for a bit of guidance on nutricious yet tasty meals for my 6 year old girl.
Like most kids veggies are the work of the devil but she does like greens. She loves steak and red meat in general but I'm running out of ideas and she's getting bored.
Want to avoid the usual beans, fish fingers, chicken things.
So, what do you feed your hatchlings?
D.
Like most kids veggies are the work of the devil but she does like greens. She loves steak and red meat in general but I'm running out of ideas and she's getting bored.
Want to avoid the usual beans, fish fingers, chicken things.
So, what do you feed your hatchlings?
D.
From a very early age I got both on mine onto "adult food", ie. they ate either exactly or a variation on what I was making for me and my wife. So, curries, chili, stir frys etc Lots of rice and noodle dishes, fish and then your usual lasagne etc etc And from 3 upwards they ate in restaurants with us, normally just a smaller version of an adult dish with maybe less spice or salt.
They are now 16 & 13 and both eat literally everything you can think of except (I am proud to say) fast food. By choice neither would touch any burgers, fried chicken etc unless it was home made. In particular they will only eat sausages you can "see the meat" in and prefer a home made pizza to supermarket or takeaway.
I think because they have grown up in a house of proper home cooked food and never eaten a "kids meal" in a restaurant they are only used to real food.
Have to admit though, having set myself up for this, eating out is expensive with them when a 13 year old orders the monkfish and the other a fillet with Bordelaise sauce.
Personally I would start moving her onto your style of food, at 3 my daughter was onto blue duck breast and now at 16 she is a pretty competent cook herself!
They are now 16 & 13 and both eat literally everything you can think of except (I am proud to say) fast food. By choice neither would touch any burgers, fried chicken etc unless it was home made. In particular they will only eat sausages you can "see the meat" in and prefer a home made pizza to supermarket or takeaway.
I think because they have grown up in a house of proper home cooked food and never eaten a "kids meal" in a restaurant they are only used to real food.
Have to admit though, having set myself up for this, eating out is expensive with them when a 13 year old orders the monkfish and the other a fillet with Bordelaise sauce.
Personally I would start moving her onto your style of food, at 3 my daughter was onto blue duck breast and now at 16 she is a pretty competent cook herself!
Sorry should have made it clearer that she does pretty much ear what we eat but I was looking for something to answer those " I don't know" moments and I guess some inspiration to do something different. She gets very little fast food but I'm ashamed to say she likes chicken nuggets. Turns my stomach but I'm working on that.
Surprisingly she doesn't like pizza or cheese but does like fish and seafood.
She has some pretty left wing requests too. An example would be Yorkshire puddings with turkey and gravy. Go figure.
D.
Surprisingly she doesn't like pizza or cheese but does like fish and seafood.
She has some pretty left wing requests too. An example would be Yorkshire puddings with turkey and gravy. Go figure.
D.
I have one word which might revolutionise your dinner times, I am sure your children will also love, whilst at the same time getting some really good nutrition into them.
Kimchi.
It is a national dish in Korea, with many different varieties and ways to prepare. It can be as hot and spicy as you want, but in any guise, it is lovely. Koreans apparrently go to great lengths to take it with them when they go on holiday, such is the tasty nature of it and how much they miss it.
Have a Google round for Kimchi, and get some prepared. I do it quite often, and I guarantee you won't be disappointed!
Kimchi.
It is a national dish in Korea, with many different varieties and ways to prepare. It can be as hot and spicy as you want, but in any guise, it is lovely. Koreans apparrently go to great lengths to take it with them when they go on holiday, such is the tasty nature of it and how much they miss it.
Have a Google round for Kimchi, and get some prepared. I do it quite often, and I guarantee you won't be disappointed!
My 7 month old is really getting to grips with adult food due to his diet being based on non-processed, batch cooked meals that we freeze in to portions and reheat as required.
So far he's enjoyed:
Lightly spiced dhal with freshly scrambled egg added when served.
Ragu from shin beef
Shepherds pie made with shoulder rather than mince
Roast chicken dinner
Tagines
Moussaka
Quinoa and cous cous with a tomato based sauce cooked in a very light stock
He has yet to turn down anything and seems to enjoy each meal.
Although your daughter is a lot older I'm sure she's enjoy most of them
If you haven't already tried them. Lots of recipes online.
And Tony - I hope he eats as well as your children!
So far he's enjoyed:
Lightly spiced dhal with freshly scrambled egg added when served.
Ragu from shin beef
Shepherds pie made with shoulder rather than mince
Roast chicken dinner
Tagines
Moussaka
Quinoa and cous cous with a tomato based sauce cooked in a very light stock
He has yet to turn down anything and seems to enjoy each meal.
Although your daughter is a lot older I'm sure she's enjoy most of them
If you haven't already tried them. Lots of recipes online.
And Tony - I hope he eats as well as your children!
Davie_GLA said:
She has some pretty left wing requests too. An example would be Yorkshire puddings with turkey and gravy.
I think you mean "left field", rather than "left wing" (unless she's a Communist?) 
As for the Yorkshire puddings, I know people who have them with just about every meal. Yes, they are nice, but I think if I had that every day they would lose their "special treat" status rather quickly...
Just had a look at kimchi. Fermented cabbage!!
http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-cabbage-kimch...
I make spag bol, chilli and lasagne often and she enjoys that.
And no communism here!
Thanks so far. Food for the though.. Fnarr!
http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-cabbage-kimch...
I make spag bol, chilli and lasagne often and she enjoys that.
And no communism here!
Thanks so far. Food for the though.. Fnarr!
Davie_GLA said:
Sorry should have made it clearer that she does pretty much ear what we eat but I was looking for something to answer those " I don't know" moments and I guess some inspiration to do something different. She gets very little fast food but I'm ashamed to say she likes chicken nuggets. Turns my stomach but I'm working on that.
Surprisingly she doesn't like pizza or cheese but does like fish and seafood.
She has some pretty left wing requests too. An example would be Yorkshire puddings with turkey and gravy. Go figure.
D.
if she likes nuggets - get her to help make 'chicken bang bang' - http://damndelicious.net/2014/06/06/bang-bang-chic... recipe is a bit over the top but gives the general ideaSurprisingly she doesn't like pizza or cheese but does like fish and seafood.
She has some pretty left wing requests too. An example would be Yorkshire puddings with turkey and gravy. Go figure.
D.
Often the helping makes them more likely to eat it (certainly worked with my sisters kids and so far with my daughter)
Davie_GLA said:
Hmm. Spicy might be an issue as she seems to have quite a plain taste. She doesn't like pepper! Think I need to sort out a DNA test.
Will look at this for me though.
She is influenced from school mind you and her pals. The usual spaghetti hoops, fish fingers, hit dogs etc.
D.
When I say spiced I mean balanced flavour. Not spicy. Just rounded. Will look at this for me though.
She is influenced from school mind you and her pals. The usual spaghetti hoops, fish fingers, hit dogs etc.
D.
Don't make a big deal out of spicy food. She will react to you, not the food. If she knows pepper is in there, she'll reject it. If she doesn't, she'll eat it as a balanced part of the meal subconsciously.
They pick up on more than people realise. It's a shame she is influenced by her friends. Isn't there a creative way around that that you can think of?
My wife's siblings all have huge food prejudices caused for the most part by her mother who prevented them from eating a rounded diet, choosing instead to feed them largely dairy-based sandwiches and ready-meals. Thankfully my wife has embraced a great diet and now loves food and cooking many cuisines. Her 25 year old sister still refuses to eat vegetables and will not sit at the dining table at Christmas because she "can't" eat a Christmas dinner.
She continues to be allowed to behave like this.
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
Have a Google round for Kimchi, and get some prepared. I do it quite often, and I guarantee you won't be disappointed!
You ferment it yourself? Do you have a recipe?I was tempted to try making it a while ago as I don't know anywhere to buy it from, but my son tried while at uni and said he ended up with a stinky mess that went in the bin, though that may be a result of student hygiene levels.
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
I have one word which might revolutionise your dinner times, I am sure your children will also love, whilst at the same time getting some really good nutrition into them.
Kimchi.
It is a national dish in Korea, with many different varieties and ways to prepare. It can be as hot and spicy as you want, but in any guise, it is lovely. Koreans apparrently go to great lengths to take it with them when they go on holiday, such is the tasty nature of it and how much they miss it.
Have a Google round for Kimchi, and get some prepared. I do it quite often, and I guarantee you won't be disappointed!
The Korean marmite - I loath the stuff, that and the desire to put some kind of seafood in almost everything. The sausage on a stick with chips glued to the sides are hilarious (Seoul street vendors).Kimchi.
It is a national dish in Korea, with many different varieties and ways to prepare. It can be as hot and spicy as you want, but in any guise, it is lovely. Koreans apparrently go to great lengths to take it with them when they go on holiday, such is the tasty nature of it and how much they miss it.
Have a Google round for Kimchi, and get some prepared. I do it quite often, and I guarantee you won't be disappointed!
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