Feeding fussy adults

Feeding fussy adults

Last time we discussed how to deal with fussy children. In this email, we will look at how to deal with fussy adults.

Make Small Changes

Our food tastes, habits and appetites develop when we are young. Some of us eat like birds. Others have a hearty appetite, but for all the wrong foods. Men are commonly associated with meat and potatoes, for example. They also love their barbecue. There was a popular book in the 1980s called “Real Men Don’t Eat Quiche” which referred to masculine stereotypes and food trends. A real man would eat a “bacon and egg” or “ham and egg” pie, but not quiche.

So a lot of food preferences can be what you call what you are serving. Sweet potato casserole versus pie might appeal to one preference or another.

It’s also a question of presentation. Most men love pasta. Put in some peas and carrots for color, and use a cream sauce for pasta primavera. Chances are it will taste so good he won’t even try to pick out the veggies.

Make their restaurant favorites but add different sides. Studies have shown it takes at least seven to ten attempts to introduce a new food to a child, so try the same approach with an adult.

Visual Appeal

Food that looks good will also tempt the appetite and get even the most reluctant eater to try something different. So too will things that look familiar. See what their family eats and try to duplicate, with healthier versions if what they eat is a real diet buster. For example, if they love fried chicken, make your own baked version in the oven. If they love biscuits, serve a healthy chicken casserole made with lots of vegetables and skim milk on a split biscuit so they won’t keep reaching for the bread basket.

Avoid Waste

A lot of people worry about wasting food by trying new things, but there’s really no need. If you have a freezer, just make up your own TV dinners with the leftovers. Label everything for you, or for them, and they can help themselves when you’re not there.

A lot of people also say it is too much hassle to make only one biscuit at a time per person. The secret is to cook in bulk. Make a dozen or two, wait until they cool, and put in the freezer in a zippered storage bag. Take out a couple at a time and reheat in a low oven until they are warmed through.

In the next email, we will be discussing another way to deal with fussy eaters: tasty one-pot meals.

Until next time!