Adult picky eater?!
His main problem is that he doesn't like 'bits' or 'surprises' - eg. he doesn't like spaghetti and meatballs, because the meatballs are full of bits of meat, onion, and herbs. He also doesn't like tomato.
He eats most meats, but doesn't like eating right off the bone, so will eat his way around the bone without ever touching it, leaving nearly half of it. Also has a problem with fat (which is fine!) - but will also tend to leave the meat surrounding the fat - this makes even steak a problem!
Veggies: eats potatoes, carrot, parsnip, turnip, pumpkin and apparently celery. Won't touch onion.
Basically, I'm looking for any suggestions to help him eat more veg and broaden his food horizons while still having enjoyable dinners.
Thanks!!!
Answers: My boyfriend is a picky eater - he KNOWS it's unhealthy and has made a New Year's Resolution to change this. However, I also really want him to continue to enjoy his food as it'll be harder to stick to this resolution if dinner every night is a misery.
His main problem is that he doesn't like 'bits' or 'surprises' - eg. he doesn't like spaghetti and meatballs, because the meatballs are full of bits of meat, onion, and herbs. He also doesn't like tomato.
He eats most meats, but doesn't like eating right off the bone, so will eat his way around the bone without ever touching it, leaving nearly half of it. Also has a problem with fat (which is fine!) - but will also tend to leave the meat surrounding the fat - this makes even steak a problem!
Veggies: eats potatoes, carrot, parsnip, turnip, pumpkin and apparently celery. Won't touch onion.
Basically, I'm looking for any suggestions to help him eat more veg and broaden his food horizons while still having enjoyable dinners.
Thanks!!!
I suggest lean boneless cuts of steak. Look for anything with 'LOIN' in the name. The best, in my opinion, is top sirloin. Season it with salt and pepper and cook it in the oven or on the stove top.
As far as chicken goes, buy boneless, skinless breasts without rib meat. This can be pricey. I buy the large pack at Costco because they are beautiful, no fat, and individually wrapped.
heres an idea:
As for the veggies he likes, roast them with olive oil, salt and pepper, and herbs (if he is OK with herbs**parsley is the most mild and delicious). Try adding a different vegetable that he can try along with his favorites. If he doesn't like it, he can still eat the others.
Typically, if you can add a few veggies to his favorite dishes, he may be OK with them. I use to hate veggies, but the more I tried things I didn't like, the more I began developing a taste for them.
Also, if you cannot get him to eat more veggies he should be taking some sort of super green vitamin daily!!! We need the nutrients we get from natural whole foods and greens are all important to our diets.
He might try to cut out processed food for a while, because the sugar and salt in them dull our taste buds. After a cleanse he may appreciate more variety.
Good luck.
I'd tell him to GROW UP and be thankful he has food and a girlfriend who cares enough to cater to his picky-ness
Dump him.
good sounds like a beans on toast guy to me!
I don't know, I'm the same way. My parents always thought I would grow out of it, but I'm 28 years old and still very picky. I can't stand bones, either. Yuck! I won't even eat things that I haev see touching a bone, even though I know most meat was touching bones at one time. Ribs? No way! My brother-in-law in 20 years old and still won't eat onion, so your boyfriend is not alone in this. My suggestion is just to let him eat what he wants, and if he complains too much, make him do the cooking. My daughter and I don't like red meat all that much, but my other daughter and husband do, so I am always cooking half-vegetarian meals at my house. You just have to be creative and flexible to keep everyone happy.
I use recipes from Food Network. There's one by Giada DeLauentiis that's made with wheat linguine. Its healthy and good. I usually serve it with baked boneless skinless chicken breast.
You can also try to get steak and cut off the fat and cut it off the bone and then cook it. You could try pork loin - of course you could cut the fat off of that too. It's a boneless but delicious cut of meat. You just put a little ExtraVirgin Olive Oil in a pan. Season the pork with salt and freshly ground pepper on each side. Then cook on med-high for about 5 minutes (do not move the pork chops during this time). Then lower heat to med. and cook for another 7 minutes or until done. I serve it with green beans. I get fresh green beans (the whole frozen ones work too). I'll give you the link to the recipe I use for them...it gives them flavor so they're not dull. If you use this recipe, you can substitue ExtraVirgin Olive Oil for the butter if you like. They still taste just as good.
Give him "NO THANK YOU" helpings....
You put a Tablespoon of each food on a plate. The rule is that he MUST eat it. Then when he has eaten it... YOU say, "Would you like more?" And he gets to say "NO THANK YOU."
I do this mostly with kids....but also with fussy adults... This way you get him to try the foods and he can decide if he likes it or not......
If he doesn't get enough to eat... tell him to fix himself something he will eat......
I agree with the others who say do NOT cater to him. You'll have a lifetime of misery. Have him do the cooking at least 1/2 the time. You're not his servant.