Originally Posted by
hectors house
I have always done a hot lunch since I registered 12 years ago but am finding that children are becoming fussier and it's really hard to find a meal that everyone will eat.
Mondays I have a pescatarian child (who doesn't like cheese), a 2 year old who is very fussy and a 2 year old who eats most things
Tuesdays I have the pescatarian child, the 2 year old fussy eater and a 3 year old fussy eater (both will chew meat into a lump and not swallow)
Wednesdays I have the pescatarian child, 3 year old fussy eater and 2 year old who eats most things
Thursday - day off hurrah
Fridays - the 2 year old fussy eater, an 18 month old who likes roast dinners and my 13 month old grandson who eats everything
I tend to do quite traditional meals and adapt to make a vegetarian version using soya mince or quorn for the pescatarian child
I offer roast chicken dinners (vege sausage and vegetable gravy option),
beef or soya mince, veg & bean bolognese and serve with potato, pasta or rice,
tuna pasta bake,
beef & veg stew (done in pressure cooker so beef is tender)
mild chicken (or butternut) curry
Fish fingers, peas and home made chips
lamb or butternut squash tagine with cous cous
Fish pie with mash
I find it's only really the fish finger meal or the tuna pasta bake that I can guarantee that everyone will eat without a fuss. I'm not really too worried about the waste as I have 2 dogs and chickens so food doesn't go in the bin, I just feel it's part of my duty to ensure that children will eat a varied diet so they aren't a pain when they invited home to tea with friends when they get to school.
I'm seriously thinking about only continuing to do meals until the Spring and then asking the parents to provide a lunch box - I could do a cold lunch option but the pescatarian child didn't seem to like anything other than marmite sandwiches and pom bear crisps when we went on picnics in the summer - I bought quorn cocktail sausages and savoury eggs, cheese & onion rolls, tried hummus & veg, made mini salmon quiches with minimal cheese - would be interesting to see what her mum sends in the lunch box!
I do a lot of batch cooking specially for the children and freeze into portions and also I cook extra so that when myself and my husband have tea, I dish up a meal for the children for the next day - so often our meals are decided on what the children may or may not eat!