Hello!

My step-daughter stays with us three days a week, and although we cook some really great meals (most from Jamie Oliver’s cookbooks) she refuses to eat it. The flavours aren’t too mature, because her sister gobbles it down, but we end up giving her baked beans on toast just so she is fed. Is this just a phase? Is there a way we can encourage her to eat? Thanks


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  • There may not be much you can do about it. I know a young lady who has always been a fussy eater and eaten different meals to the rest of her family.


  • i would ask her mum if she does this at home then you’ll know if its something common or she does it with only you,if its common getting them involved in something she likes to eat,talk about it,make it together.otherwise if its something behavioural then if she won’t eat what your eating send her to bed,she will soon get hungry and decide too eat with you all.


  • I’d offer her a bit of whatever we were having with a small serve of baked beans on the side. Perhaps fruit, cheese or yogurt for dessert and she should be fine for the days she is with you.


  • Start by asking her what she likes to eat. Ask her to help you cook her most favourite. You will soon be sitting down eating something she loves and she will be happy that she got the chance to cook it with you.


  • maybe start by giving her baked beans? its possibly just a power issue, you want to make her feel welcome and comfortable too!


  • there are some good comments here


  • For anyone raising a girl like me – mine is 9 going on 19 – this is the most brilliant book I’ve read.
    Raising Girls, by author Gisela Preuschoff – she is an amazing writer and has helped me great deal.
    She has a chapter on this very topic here.


  • Maybe ask her what she would like for dinner?


  • It’s finitely a phase… Just go with it. Do what you have to just to get her through.


  • My son lived on 2 minute noodle from the age of 2 until he was 5 would not eat anything else for dinner, he is 18 now and I can’t keep up with him he eats anything and everything .


  • You dont say how old she is but as its only 3 days a week perhaps you should ask her what she does like to eat and then you can work out menus where at least 2 out of 3 meals are things she knows hes likes and the other one she can at least try and if she doesnt like it then she can have some fruit. I wouldnt be making special meals just for her and everyone else has something else.


  • Bake beans are good and most children like plain food like mash and peas if you are lucky. Keep it simple, you could try a platter with carrot sticks , cheese, baby tomatoes, strawberries, grapes etc


  • Let her eat beans , better than biscuits and sweet stuff.


  • I have a constant battle with trying to come up with ideas for healthy meals my children will eat. I recently started a blog where I think you might find a couple of ideas for trying with your step-daughter. One being a vegetarian Sausage roll, that even the keenest meat eaters love and it is packed with rice, vegetables and general goodness. Another being Homemade Sage and Parmesan Chicken Nuggets, as I hate buying pre-packaged foods for my children. Have a look and see what you think. My next recipe will be one for Cauliflower and feta fritters. I love the idea of feeding my children sneaky vegetables in food they love. Hope this can help you. http://www.staceysgourmetkitchen.com


  • Remember every child is different. The stage she is going through atm the food tastes might not be to her liking and it also depends what she is getting at the other parents house. I would talk to the other parent and see what she is eating and come up with a plan. On another note Margot Fontaine a very famous Ballerina only ate Baked Beans all her life.


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