Fussy Eatting Teenager

[princesskimmi]

I need some advice please - My DD - 14 has become a picky eatter.

She thinks I feed her expired food! I tried to explain that if you have frozen it it is not expired but she won't budge. If I remove the labels she'll think I'm totally hiding something. What would you do? I'm not kidding she thinks everything is expired.

[corbinx]

Eventually she'll get hungry and eat, lol. You could find info on the internet showing how long different items last in the freezer and post it on the fridge. Whatever you do, don't cater to her...cooking a separate meal or wasting food that is still fine will only give her reason to believe she is right.

[Natalka]

That's odd... can you find out from here where she 'heard' that information?

I agree with corbinx above, keep preparing meals as you normally do, and don't let he snack a lot or go out and buy fast food.

Maybe something to try is to get her involved in cooking - choosing a recipe, going shopping, and helping you cook a meal.

[MrsSunshine]

umm teach her how to cook?


I think 14 is a great age to learn don't you think. then she can't complain about the foods she's eating.. and if she does. well theres always PB&J's.

[vibrantflame]

I agree with the other suggestions, ask where she heard this from, show her sources that explain how long food lasts in the freezer (and that it is perfectly fine to eat food that is past the "expiry date" as long as it has been frozen before that date), and get her involved in cooking. If she still won't budge on the matter, suggest she start buying her own food with her own money and cooking her own meals That always ended food disputes pretty quickly when I was a teenager lol

[princesskimmi]

Thanks She heard it at school from another kid they decided it during a science or health class - she's on a green tea and apple thing right now (and smuggles junk food) So I'm sure its a phase - I would never make something different for her I have two toddlers as well and a fussy husband and they can go hungry if they don't like what I cook. Kids are strange sometimes with what they come up with.

[Darth Penguin]

I'm with Natalka and MrsSunshine. Get her involved in food prep and if she continues....well she can cook her own meal and save you a job.

My nearly 14yo DD1 eats anything put in front of her...she's a regular vacuum cleaner when it comes to food.

[princesskimmi]

[QUOTE=My nearly 14yo DD1 eats anything put in front of her...she's a regular vacuum cleaner when it comes to food.[/QUOTE]

Lucky you - that sounds like my 2.5 DD. My DS 4 is a broccoli and cauliflower only.

[DianneS]

My son is the same way. He has always been a picky eater. I decided that while I was not a short order cook that I would save the 'battles' in life for bigger issues than food. He is now a very productive, responsible 19 year old university student who has been fending for himself at mealtime for several years. Oh... and last night he pointed out the fact that our milk only had 3hours left until January 31 expiry. We all laughed about it together but I know his sister finished off that carton of milk this morning...not him

[Zonny]

I'm surprised no one has mentioned this one - get her involved in SHOPPING! Show her that you buy something today, put it in the freezer, cook it, whatever, and it's still fine. Try cooking some on day one, and again on day three, compare. Maybe get some books from the library on food safety, about how you can store things in the fridge, freeze them, etc.

And I'm with you on not preparing something different for the picky folks. My DH, if I'm not home and DS says, "I'm not eating that," he will make something else for him.

If Mommy is here, he says that and I say, "Yes, yes you ARE eating that." And of course he eats it. Tonight is a perfect example, we had noodles with tomato sauce and meatballs. He saw it and said he hates noodles and sauce, and really hates meatballs. Think there was anything left by the time we left for his class 20 minutes later?

[princesskimmi]

Thanks you guys so much - Tonight I made lasagna her favorite and I even added the spinach and she didn't even notice and gobbled it up - Hunger is a real motivator I guess.

[Natalka]

Thanks you guys so much - Tonight I made lasagna her favorite and I even added the spinach and she didn't even notice and gobbled it up - Hunger is a real motivator I guess.