Cooking help needed!!

[Rhona]

...or Paella? You could sneak a bit of chorizo in there, or just smoked paprika if not. Just a classic version but no chicken? Get some mussels and squid, and don't skimp on the saffron and it should be lovely!

[beefy]

Bet he eats McD. KFC Burger King etc.
If he does - no excuses make him eat whats set out for him.

[tootles]

You are much kinder than me!!!
My eldest is very picky - but he either eats what is on he table or goes hungry. I treat other children the same way (and vegetarians!) I will cater for allergies but that is it.
It isn't fair on the others really. No. 2 son isn't too keen on fish - but will eat it. If we catered for the pickiest we would have to live off a diet of macaroni cheese. Whatever you make will have to be for everyone - no special menus (my mother always makes chicken drumsticks for no. 1 son when they do a curry - drives me insane!)
How about a fish or veg rissotto, or bbq'd tuna steaks (marinated in lime juice)?

[SarzWix]

Mikey, you're a very nice man If you can manage to make something for the picky ones, without upsetting the main meal too much, then I would go for it!
As a very picky eater, I went through hell in my childhood being forced to eat stuff that literally made me baulk, having it put back in front of me for the next meal & the next meal until I managed to force it down.... I NEVER do that to my children. They all have certain veg which they do like, and if that means I cook 7 types of veg with a roast dinner, then that's what happens. We all eat plenty of the veg we like, and that's fine with me.
Incidentally, it appears that a dislike of strong flavoured foods has been linked to a very sensitive sense of smell, which I definately have.

[di]

Personally I'd probably stick with what you've planned & dish it up for everyone~like a few others have said sometimes a picky eater is less picky when at someone elses house but if you've already made him something different he'll be les likely to try.Sometimes I think the more you pander to a fussy eater the worse they get,not just for the attention but I think if they hear adults constantly saying "ooh he doesn't like this or that" then they're going to end up believing it & never retrying stuff.(mine our constantly changing their minds about what they do & don't like & as long as they always try stuff I don't make an issue~as adults we're allowed to have foods we don't like & noone would expect us to eat them,yet it seems sometimes we resent giving children this same option,Normally if mine say they don't like something I try to respond with"well you didn't like it last time you tasted it but maybe it's worth another try just to make sure"D's never liked pepper untill 2 nights ago~I think she's almost seen her way through a whole one since!)
Anyway straying from original point!!Dish up your original idea for everyone & make sure & have some pasta/tuna &either pesto or mayo in the cupboard so that if he really didn't like the original dish you can rustle up something quick & easy to put your mind at ease that you've not let him go hungry.

[di]

Mikey, you're a very nice man If you can manage to make something for the picky ones, without upsetting the main meal too much, then I would go for it!
As a very picky eater, I went through hell in my childhood being forced to eat stuff that literally made me baulk,
Incidentally, it appears that a dislike of strong flavoured foods has been linked to a very sensitive sense of smell, which I definately have.

One of D's best friends has HMS & also has an extremely sensitive sense of smell~resulting in dislike of a lot of food stuff.Her mum I think has wondered if the 2 could be linked?Having had her girl round for meals I know she's not an attention seeking fussyeater,you can tell it really makes her feel ill just to even have something strong smelling at the same table!

[Alice]

Mikeywells, you worry too much. They are guests in your house. If you are serving a couple of courses for each meal, serve what you like. If they can't find something to eat then they're not hungry.
My Mother taught us, when you are a guest in someones house you eat whatever is put on the table , thank them for it, and say it was lovely.
If they have no manners - that's their problem.
They are eating in your home. You're not running a hotel with a menu.
Relax, do what you do well, and you'll be surprised at what they'll eat.
And if they don't eat it, it will be a long time before they die of starvation.
It will all go well.

[Starchild]

I'm not mean enough to tell them tough, they are kids after all, and its not their home.

Even more reason for them to eat what's in front of them tbh. Politeness in someone elses house.

[Mikey]

Ooh, some of you are hard, I'm not trying to go out of my way to serve them, I'm just trying to make my life easier by making something for everyone that I know they will all like and eat.

A few weeks ago I had my OH's sister, niece and nephew for sunday lunch, we had cooked chicken dinner with carrot and swede mash, kidney beans, minted new potatoes, and proper gravy made from the juices. The two children didn't eat anything, and the food went to waste. Food wastage is a real pet hate for me, and I do not wish to feel as annoyed as I did a couple of weeks ago. In my eyes there is nothing more soul destroying than cooking something that you grew in your own garden, only to have it chucked in the bin.

[HeyWayne]

Dude, I reckon anyone coming to your house would be made to feel welcome - just do what you feel (as I'm sure you will).

I'm the same.

[Mikey]

Dude, I reckon anyone coming to your house would be made to feel welcome - just do what you feel (as I'm sure you will).

I'm the same.

I know blue, its the little things that matter to me, like leaving towels out for guests, and I always have spare cheepo toothbrushes just incase someone forgets theirs. I just want friends and guests to leave happy and not saying, lets call into McD I'm starving. You catch me drift!.

Cheers for the tips, blue, I'm fairly chilled and ready now though the OH is still cleaning I believe, I'm of to get a nice gammon joint lunchtime, which I'll cook tonight, so there isn't too much effort for tomorrow.

[HeyWayne]

I know blue, its the little things that matter to me, like leaving towels out for guests, and I always have spare cheepo toothbrushes just incase someone forgets theirs. I just want friends and guests to leave happy and not saying, lets call into McD I'm starving. You catch me drift!.

Cheers for the tips, blue, I'm fairly chilled and ready now though the OH is still cleaning I believe, I'm of to get a nice gammon joint lunchtime, which I'll cook tonight, so there isn't too much effort for tomorrow.

Exactly the same with us! Bedding gets washed (even if it hasn't been slept in since last guests), towels out on the side - toothpaste/brushes etc in a little basket in the room.

I even endured "Last Choir Standing" when our last guest (LW's best friend) stayed over - she's in a choir see.

ooh gammon!

[Mikey]

Cheers all, everyone really enjoyed and they all ate very well including fussy eaters. My littleun cried when they left she wanted the two boys to stay and live with us, ahh!

[Flummery]

Glad it was a success Mikey. Sounds like it wouldn't have been your fault if it wasn't! The perfect host!

[SarzWix]

Well done Mikey I'm sure the fussy eaters were really grateful to eat well without feeling guilty about upsetting anyone