holy crap it sucks.
if she could cook i would tell her to do it, but i would get bored very quickly.
as it is it took 2 yrs for me to look at the normal diet and go "blah"
does anyone else have this issue? what do you do to keep things moving along and not cook the same basic thing every night?
i'm trying to find recipies that are simple and won't be "intimidating" to the palate challenged.
I kinda have the same issue. My wife is very indecisive and has an allergy to wheat. This mean we can almost never eat out, but also can never decide what she would like.
We cook a lot of mexican and cuban food at home.
Have you tried interesting dishes? If so what has been her reaction?
I have found that people like that just need to come out of there comfort zone and they will like it.
Take the dishes that she does like and make them better. Example; if she likes spaghetti with a plain marinara sauce or with ground beef. Just kick it up a notch and use some Italian sausage instead of the beef, than through some fresh veggies in the sauce like squash.
What doesn't she like?
Or maybe an easier question is, what does she like?
Quote from: OverCaffeinated on January 29, 2009, 09:06:25 AM
I kinda have the same issue. My wife is very indecisive and has an allergy to wheat. This mean we can almost never eat out, but also can never decide what she would like.
We cook a lot of mexican and cuban food at home.
Have you tried interesting dishes? If so what has been her reaction?
I have found that people like that just need to come out of there comfort zone and they will like it.
Take the dishes that she does like and make them better. Example; if she likes spaghetti with a plain marinara sauce or with ground beef. Just kick it up a notch and use some Italian sausage instead of the beef, than through some fresh veggies in the sauce like squash.
yes i have tried that. it has had very little success. think of trying to feed a 5 yr old.
if i added sausage insterad of ground beef she would see it and either refuse to eat it, or eat plain pasta and i would have a ton of leftover sauce.
Quote from: JBubble on January 29, 2009, 09:12:14 AM
What doesn't she like?
Or maybe an easier question is, what does she like?
what doens't she like....food that actually has character
once again, think of feeding a 5 yr old. chicken fingers, fries, and occasionally a quesadilla.
Then tell her to go in time out if she doesn't finish what's on her plate. [cheeky]
Quote from: OverCaffeinated on January 29, 2009, 09:21:24 AM
Then tell her to go in time out if she doesn't finish what's on her plate. [cheeky]
[laugh] +1
Seriously though, ?? My suggestion would have also been...
Quote from: OverCaffeinated on January 29, 2009, 09:06:25 AM
Take the dishes that she does like and make them better. Example; if she likes spaghetti with a plain marinara sauce or with ground beef. Just kick it up a notch and use some Italian sausage instead of the beef, than through some fresh veggies in the sauce like squash.
Send said picky eater to be w/o supper. It'll only take once or twice [laugh]
I cook a lot, I like squash dishes, there's lots of variations on how to fix it. Lots of different types of squash too. Butternut can be treated a lot like sweet potatoes and prepped with brown sugar, spices & butter. I cook a lot of chicken & beef on the grill. Marinades, spices, rubs etc are key to variety here. I do roasts and ribs in the slow-cooker with excellent results as well.
JM
We were talking with a friend last night about her picky eater boyfriend.
He only eats:
- garlic bread
- french fries (not even tater tots)
- occasionally dry cereal
- occasionally sweet pastries
- a multi-vitamin
Talk about challenging!
I'd just cook her want she wants.
and do the add-ons you can put in yours on the side.
that or do what i do...serve a big fat martini first...then she doesnt care what i cook ;D
Thats ... special.
Cook what you want to eat. Then throw some chicken fingers in the microwave for her. If she's not willing, then make the beast with two backs it. Not worth your effort.
If you wanna put forth the effort:
If she eats mashed potatoes, sneak cauliflower in there. Or a different kind of cheese.
Make meatballs but sneak in different kinds of meat (turkey, veal, pork, chicken).
Then, when she eats it, say, "Aha! You just ate veal in that meatball! So quit yer pregnant dogin'!"
Another approach is to get all mushy and tell her you want to have a better dining experience with her and her aversion to most foods is making that difficult. Play the "This is important to me" card.
Quote from: KnightofNi on January 29, 2009, 08:56:45 AMi'm trying to find recipies that are simple and won't be "intimidating" to the palate challenged.
How about a cookbook that is geared towards cooking for children?
Cook aromatic dishes you like so when she comes in it smells so good she can't wait to eat ~
JM
Threaten to play the bagpipes until she tries something new.
Hmmm, apparently it is genetic.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/10/dining/10pick.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/10/dining/10pick.html)
Send her to summer camp. Everything will taste better when she comes home.
On a more serious note, cook what she likes and upgrade your portion in what ever way makes the dish more desirable to you, for instance, BACON, squirrel or a nice sauce. Offer her a taste.
Quote from: somegirl on January 29, 2009, 10:21:41 AM
Hmmm, apparently it is genetic.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/10/dining/10pick.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/10/dining/10pick.html)
Hooey.
According to the report, 78 percent is genetic and the other 22 percent environmental.
“People have really dismissed this as an idea because they have been looking at the social associations between parents and their children,†Dr. Cooke said. “I came from a position of not wanting to blame parents.â€Reflective of today's society. Something else to blame. No accountability. People love it when there's a scientific reason it's "not their fault." Next there will be a pill for it.
Get her toked up on some of the dankest nugs you can find.
Everything afte will taste *so* good.
Quote from: MrIncredible on January 29, 2009, 10:39:23 AM
Get her toked up on some of the dankest nugs you can find.
Everything afte will taste *so* good.
There's some science I can get behind! [cheeky]
anal
Quote from: JBubble on January 29, 2009, 10:01:11 AM
Thats ... special.
Cook what you want to eat. Then throw some chicken fingers in the microwave for her. If she's not willing, then make the beast with two backs it. Not worth your effort.
If you wanna put forth the effort:
If she eats mashed potatoes, sneak cauliflower in there. Or a different kind of cheese.
Make meatballs but sneak in different kinds of meat (turkey, veal, pork, chicken).
Then, when she eats it, say, "Aha! You just ate veal in that meatball! So quit yer pregnant dogin'!"
Another approach is to get all mushy and tell her you want to have a better dining experience with her and her aversion to most foods is making that difficult. Play the "This is important to me" card.
i have slipped diff ingredients into dinner. it works maybe 20% of the time. for a few meals afterwards she is leary of what i am cooking.
i have also played the importance card. her reply was something along the lines of "then eat it yourself. i'm not going to eat somethign that i don't know what it tastes like. blah blah blah."
Quote from: somegirl on January 29, 2009, 10:04:01 AM
How about a cookbook that is geared towards cooking for children?
not a bad idea, but i'm nto cooking 2 meals.
Quote from: howie on January 29, 2009, 10:32:43 AM
Send her to summer camp. Everything will taste better when she comes home.
On a more serious note, cook what she likes and upgrade your portion in what ever way makes the dish more desirable to you, for instance, BACON, squirrel or a nice sauce. Offer her a taste.
i dont' relly have time to make extras, and to be honest, i'm tired of setting a part of the main dish aside so i can actually make it taste how i want it to.
Quote from: somegirl on January 29, 2009, 10:21:41 AM
Hmmm, apparently it is genetic.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/10/dining/10pick.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/10/dining/10pick.html)
both sets of her parents love eating and trying new things. i think it's just her.
Quote from: MrIncredible on January 29, 2009, 10:39:23 AM
Get her toked up on some of the dankest nugs you can find.
Everything afte will taste *so* good.
umm, yeah. neither of us smoke so that's not going to happen.
though i do appreciate the ingenuity of the suggestion.
Quote from: bobspapa on January 29, 2009, 10:59:35 AM
anal
i see how this helps me, but i don't think it will make her eat different foods.
What are the exact reasons for not trying something new or different?
JM
You married or is this just a girlfriend?
If it's the latter you could just replace her instead.
;)
Quote from: alfisti on January 29, 2009, 11:13:13 AM
You married or is this just a girlfriend?
If it's the latter you could just replace her instead.
;)
lol...our disposable society at it's finest... [clap]
Quote from: the_Journeyman on January 29, 2009, 11:12:36 AM
What are the exact reasons for not trying something new or different?
JM
i'm not really sure. she doens't like change, but loves going to new places and doing new things.
Quote from: alfisti on January 29, 2009, 11:13:13 AM
You married or is this just a girlfriend?
If it's the latter you could just replace her instead.
;)
but she pays half the rent and bills. it would take too long to bring up a new one through the ranks and get her to the position that sh'es willing to do the same thing. besides, if one found out about the other in the meantime i'd be paying rent all by myself.
Quote from: KnightofNi on January 29, 2009, 11:18:50 AM
but she pays half the rent and bills. it would take too long to bring up a new one through the ranks and get her to the position that sh'es willing to do the same thing. besides, if one found out about the other in the meantime i'd be paying rent all by myself.
I see your quandry. [laugh]
Just make what you like...let her eat it, or let her make what she likes. ;D She'll either come around or she'll cook her own food.
My wife is fairly picky...although nowhere as picky as what you describe. Her biggest thing is she doesn't like fish. We live in the Pacific Northwest...and she doesn't like fish...WTF. [roll] So...when i want fish I make it, and she eats mac and cheese or something. Problem solved. ;D
i encountered this problem once upon a time. after beating my head against the proverbial wall for a while, i solved the issue.
i stopped catering to it.
dont get me wrong,...i didnt go out of my way to whip up anything crazy, but i stopped worrying about it. people will find something to eat if they get hungry enough. [wine]
the thing is, i want to make her dinner. i like doing it.
there are only so many ways i can cook pasta though.
Quote from: Triple J on January 29, 2009, 11:26:01 AM
Just make what you like...let her eat it, or let her make what she likes. ;D She'll either come around or she'll cook her own food.
My wife is fairly picky...although nowhere as picky as what you describe. Her biggest thing is she doesn't like fish. We live in the Pacific Northwest...and she doesn't like fish...WTF. [roll] So...when i want fish I make it, and she eats mac and cheese or something. Problem solved. ;D
haha, i made tuna for myself one night and had to listen to her pregnant dog about the small of fish for the next 4 days.
now if she pisses me off enough i'll leave the can on a high shelf when she cna't get to it.
anyways, it looks like ya'll have confirmed what i was already thinking. cook what i want and if she doens't want it then tough shit. she can make pb&j sammiches.
make something that is good to everyone but different from what she would normally eat and ask her to try it. my ex used to be a real picky eater, but i got her to change by having her try stuff that i liked until she got used to it and i started doing that more often. when i met her she HATED mexican food and it is my favorite, but by the time we split, she loved it. when i wanted her to try calamari said "its good and youre gonna have to try it someday, or im just gonna slip it to you and say its something different" and it turns out she loved it. the only thing i could never get her to eat was sausage.
Quote from: KnightofNi on January 29, 2009, 11:41:45 AM
anyways, it looks like ya'll have confirmed what i was already thinking. cook what i want and if she doens't want it then tough shit. she can make pb&j sammiches.
I think that is the best way to go. [thumbsup]
read the first few post.... so excuse me if my post is a bit confusing maybe i didnt get the initial point of the thread.
Clean out the house of current foods. Starve yourself for 3-4 days with water and crackers only. Then hit up a few unique restaurants. There is no flavor better than hunger. Because of that above reason, i eat almost anything now and appreciate it. Well I didnt starve myself, i was just waiting on a check to clear. ;D
Quote from: toaster on January 29, 2009, 12:07:12 PM
make something that is good to everyone but different from what she would normally eat and ask her to try it. my ex used to be a real picky eater, but i got her to change by having her try stuff that i liked until she got used to it and i started doing that more often. when i met her she HATED mexican food and it is my favorite, but by the time we split, she loved it. when i wanted her to try calamari said "its good and youre gonna have to try it someday, or im just gonna slip it to you and say its something different" and it turns out she loved it. the only thing i could never get her to eat was sausage.
I see why she's your ex.
I still like Jeff's suggestion of a little booze before dinner. A few glasses of wine while cooking would do the trick too [wine]
mitt
Quote from: MrIncredible on January 29, 2009, 12:13:42 PM
I see why she's your ex.
Darn it, that was my punch line.
Send her to a 3rd world country. Im sure she will learn to be less picky then.
Quote from: MrIncredible on January 29, 2009, 12:13:42 PM
I see why she's your ex.
and whats so bad about that is that shes now a lesbian (she had told me about doing things like that in her past but still). and her new woman is a very butchy looking thing and is bigger than me and is downright scary looking. and by bigger, i mean she looks like she weighs more than me and im about 275.
I'm a gluten-free picky bastard. :(
lm and I try to plan meals around my problem. That means I eat more yucky green stuff than I did in the past. On bike nights, she and the boys have gluten nights where they eat all the stuff I cant... pizza, pasta, sammiches.
We have a bread maker, so every now and then I/we make bread using rice flour. I'm making jalapeno cheese bread this weekend.yuuuum
Quote from: bobspapa on January 29, 2009, 12:28:18 PM
I'm a gluten-free picky bastard. :(
lm and I try to plan meals around my problem. That means I eat more yucky green stuff than I did in the past. On bike nights, she and the boys have gluten nights where they eat all the stuff I cant... pizza, pasta, sammiches.
We have a bread maker, so every now and then I/we make bread using rice flour. I'm making jalapeno cheese bread this weekend.yuuuum
Gluten free by choice or intolerance? My wife has celiac, but when she works I have pizza hut on speed dial. Have you tried gluten free pasta or other products, there not bad?
Quote from: OverCaffeinated on January 29, 2009, 12:31:04 PM
Gluten free by choice or intolerance? My wife has celiac, but when she works I have pizza hut on speed dial. Have you tried gluten free pasta or other products, there not bad?
by choice..... I choose not to sit in the bathroom cramping and crapping hours on end [laugh]
bobs redmill stuff is da bomb [thumbsup]
Quote from: mitt on January 29, 2009, 12:13:54 PM
I still like Jeff's suggestion of a little booze before dinner. A few glasses of wine while cooking would do the trick too [wine]
mitt
she doens't just drink. if we go out with friends she'll have a drink, but she won't drink with or just before a meal.
i'm just going to stop catering to her in that area. i'm going to make something that i find fun and tasty and if she eats it then she eats it.
i just need to remmebr what i used to make and how to make it before i started cooking for her.
Quote from: bobspapa on January 29, 2009, 12:32:44 PM
by choice..... I choose not to sit in the bathroom cramping and crapping hours on end [laugh]
bobs redmill stuff is da bomb [thumbsup]
i have the same reaction to milk.
Quote from: KnightofNi on January 29, 2009, 12:38:58 PM
i have the same reaction to milk.
for years.... I thought it was milk.
i had no idea kathy was that picky... good luck travis :)
wow...
I agree w/your conclusion. just cook for you, and let her come 'round if she wants.
that said, I feel bad for you man. I don't think I could know I couldn't be w/a girl like that.
Quote from: KnightofNi on January 29, 2009, 12:38:58 PM
she doens't just drink.
Now we come to the heart of the real problem.
doesnt just drink...
<shudder>
wow
;)
Quote from: JEFF_H on January 29, 2009, 01:30:38 PM
Now we come to the heart of the real problem.
doesnt just drink...
<shudder>
wow
;)
not everyone can be a raging drunkard.
My wife HATES onions. I am an onion Lover! Whomever cooks gets to decide is the rule. You get what you get!
Ive got clients that end up cooking 4 different meals every night because of picky family members.......F THAT!
Does she at least like the way you vacuum?
Quote from: rgramjet on January 29, 2009, 02:30:09 PM
Does she at least like the way you vacuum?
[laugh] [laugh] Nice! ;D
Quote from: KnightofNi on January 29, 2009, 01:49:53 PM
not everyone can be a raging drunkard.
Poor bastards. [drink]
Quote from: rgramjet on January 29, 2009, 02:30:09 PM
Does she at least like the way you vacuum?
i do a better job than her at it. besides, she's just happy she doesn't have to do it. [laugh]
Quote from: KnightofNi on January 29, 2009, 01:49:53 PM
not everyone can be a raging drunkard.
Be all you can be! [drink] [beer]
Quote from: toaster on January 29, 2009, 12:07:12 PM
make something that is good to everyone but different from what she would normally eat and ask her to try it. my ex used to be a real picky eater, but i got her to change by having her try stuff that i liked until she got used to it and i started doing that more often. when i met her she HATED mexican food and it is my favorite, but by the time we split, she loved it. when i wanted her to try calamari said "its good and youre gonna have to try it someday, or im just gonna slip it to you and say its something different" and it turns out she loved it. the only thing i could never get her to eat was sausage.
i have met a few adults who, as kids, were never required to eat anything they did not want or like.
i blame their parents for raising spoiled humans :P
Quote from: mitt on January 29, 2009, 12:13:54 PM
I still like Jeff's suggestion of a little booze before dinner. A few glasses of wine while cooking shots of Ouzo would do the trick too [beer]
mitt
Quote from: KnightofNi on January 29, 2009, 12:38:58 PM
she doens't just drink. if we go out with friends she'll have a drink, but she won't drink with or just before a meal.
i'm just going to stop catering to her in that area. i'm going to make something that i find fun and tasty and if she eats it then she eats it.
i just need to remmebr what i used to make and how to make it before i started cooking for her.
i have the same reaction to milk.
pretty sure you heard it here first [drink]
My bro on law never ate a green vegetable until he was 35 and married to my sister. Their dog enjoyed a very high fiber diet. I dont get it...
Quote from: herm on January 29, 2009, 06:30:45 PM
i have met a few adults who, as kids, were never required to eat anything they did not want or like.
i blame their parents for raising spoiled humans :P
i do to. and i have told her my theoory on it.
she didn't totally agree, but she also didn't get angry. :)
Just went through this whole thread and decided that I feel very sorry for her.
I could NOT go through life only eating what she eats.
But please don't say she doesn't eat [bacon]
I've just got a phone call from my wife saying she has broken the shower! F*CK! [bang] [bang] [bang]
Quote from: herm on January 29, 2009, 06:30:45 PM
i have met a few adults who, as kids, were never required to eat anything they did not want or like.
i blame their parents for raising spoiled humans :P
+100!
Its funny how much parental influence or lack thereof, shapes a person's diet.
Not only is my bro in law a picky eater, he is also a food hoarder, especially sweets. Someone once gave him a gallon of Vermont Maple syrup for Christmas, he drank the whole gallon within two days. Dont even get near him if he has some fudge......
Its gotta suck to be the middle of 7 kids....
Quote from: rgramjet on January 30, 2009, 03:15:18 PM
+100!
Its funny how much parental influence or lack thereof, shapes a person's diet.
Not only is my bro in law a picky eater, he is also a food hoarder, especially sweets. Someone once gave him a gallon of Vermont Maple syrup for Christmas, he drank the whole gallon within two days. Dont even get near him if he has some fudge......
Its gotta suck to be the middle of 7 kids....
Doesnt all that sugar...umm KILL YOU? lol I cant even fanthom drinking a 2Liter in 1 sitting.
Its beyond his control but its funny as hell to watch!