Cooking for kids can be complicated. They can be picky and don’t always want to eat the same meals as the rest of the family. I hear this complaint often, and that many parents' go-to solution is to make something simple for the kids to eat and to serve them first, such as microwaving chicken nuggets or whipping up boxed mac and cheese.
If this is a routine for you or someone you know, I’d like to offer a few things to consider and some more meaningful solutions.
When you’re trying to please a fussy eater, it’s easy to focus solely on the food and what you can make to please them. But mealtimes are about more than just serving a meal—they are an opportunity to talk, connect, and create lasting bonds.
For children, eating with their parents is comforting and can be a valuable time for learning. Regardless of what’s on the Menu, sitting down and sharing the experience makes mealtimes more meaningful.
Good food is important, too, and if you need to make "two meals" to cater to different tastes, it can be simpler than you might think.
For example, at lunch the other day, I prepared pizza, melon, and prosciutto for my son, Alessio, and me. Alessio had some melon and then pizza while I was perfectly happy enjoying one of my favorite Italian dishes—melon and prosciutto.
The prep was easy: slice the melon, plate the prosciutto, and warm up some focaccia with tomato sauce that I picked up at the market to make “pizza.” I added a bit of prosciutto and cheese to the focaccia and popped it in the oven. While we didn’t eat the same meal, we shared a moment.
Dinner tonight will look similar. I’m thinking about serving ravioli, more melon, a salad with vinaigrette, and maybe a pan-seared steak—or something similar that is also quick and easy. This little medley of dishes will offer choices for us to enjoy what we like while still eating together.
Afterward, we’ll likely head out for gelato! Just like dinner, we have different preferences on the flavors, but it’s s still gelato.
Next time you’re trying to accommodate different palates, pick a few simple dishes that can be mixed and matched to create one meal for everyone. This is one of the benefits of serving meals in courses, which you can read more about here.
If you know someone who struggles with pleasing everyone in their household, send them this Dinner Story and help them create more meaningful mealtimes.
