Light football dinner for a picky eater

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I've decided to center Thanksgiving around watching football and have the turkey dinner on Friday. I don't have a TV at my house and SO will be here and his big joy on T-day is watching football so we'll go over to my dad's condo for that, I think that will be nice for dad too. I don't want to cook over there much so I'm planning on light, noshy things for the afternoon and a soup and appetizer dinner.

I'm going to bring pork stew made in the crockpot over for lunch, with rice and salad. Then for dinner, I'm thinking some kind of soup and noshes. Problem is, dad is super picky!! No peppers, onions or celery. No spinach, zuchinni, broccoli, cauliflower or cooked cabbage. I want it to be finger foods mostly.

Here's what I have so far:
Guacamole and chips, maybe bean dip, maybe not
Crudites and dip for me and SO
Cheese and crackers and mixed nuts
Fruit bowl

Now for the soup. Initially I thought squash soup, yum, but then the whole evening seems a little light on the protein. So I either need another protein snack, or some kind of protein in the soup. Chicken soup would be great, but seems not to go with the other foods. Bean soup with ham? That's two pork meals in one day. So maybe chicken enchiladas for lunch instead of the pork stew? I could do baked beans with sausage, or even just sausage, but that seems a rather starchy and fatty addition. Another option is some kind of chicken drumsticks . . . I need suggestions for either a soup with more protein, or another snack protein that isn't too unhealthy and also doesn't include the forbidden vegetables . . . I know, it's a pain!

Starchy and fatty and sugary, all my dad's favorite foods!

Featured Answer

User

8 years ago

Do you have to skip making a mirepoix when you cook for him? It's going to eliminate a lot of things if you can't start with a good base.

Agree I wouldn't do pork twice. I think a butternut squash soup is lovely this time of year.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (19)

Olychick
8 years ago
What about squash soup served with teriyaki chicken wings? I marinate mine overnight, then broil them, which you could easily do at your dad's. Easy to transport, easy to eat, yummy.
Related Discussions
Looking for T&T Recipes for picky eaters
Q
Comments (13)
I was not a picky eater as a child, but now I am. I don't like certain textures, things like Jello will make me fight to swallow instead of gag. Neither of my kids were very picky, but Ashley liked (and still likes) more sweet stuff and processed food than her sister. She'd do things like sit down with a can of cream of mushroom soup and eat it right out of the can. She still prefers white bread and would be as happy living on fast food as she would be with filet. My granddaughter first ate everything, then became very picky, now she's becoming more adventurous again. I told her to try new things, if she didn't like it she could spit it out, she didn't even have to swallow. That got a lot of new foods into her mouth and she liked some of them. She just wanted to know that she had the option, I guess. She is also funny about texture, even when she was a baby things like pudding and mashed potatoes would make her gag. She still won't eat mashed potatoes. My grandson is an eating machine. He'll eat anything except green beans, he hates those. His problem is that he will eat until he gets sick, if it's one of his favorites. So what to feed picky eaters? I'd start with what they like, and try to branch out. He likes chicken? How about some BBQ sauce? I ground Doritos in the food processor and made chicken nuggets, those Doritos became seasoned bread crumbs. He likes pasta? What does he like on it? If it's plain, could you get away with some cheese? That cheese could eventually include some seasonings, maybe some bacon. I never met a kid who didn't like bacon, for some reason. Many kids like things they can dunk. My granddaughter still won't dunk a french fry in catsup, she hates sauces. My grandson dunks everything in catsup, BBQ sauce or ranch dressing. I think it depends on the child. I wouldn't fight over it, but if you can ease some new things into his diet, he might not even notice. Or, you might get lucky like I did on Halloween. I made some butternut squash bread, which both the grandkids love. There was some squash left over. Amanda came in, added some butter and brown sugar and heated it in the microwave, then ate a bowl of it. Bud suspiciously eyed what was left and asked me what it was. I told him that it was so good that his mother didn't share it, she was being selfish. He took me very seriously and quietly finished off the bowl, then told his mother that he'd eaten the rest of "her" squash. She told him that was OK, she'd make more for HERSELF tomorrow. He promptly announced that he'd eat that too, LOL. Sometimes a kid just wants to be obnoxious. (grin) Annie
...See More
Help, I need vegetarian recipe for Christmas dinner
Q
Comments (29)
My experience doesn't match msazadi's. I know vegetarians who are foodies. One is in my kitchen at the moment making cornbread. Two nights ago he made ravioli with a citrus sauce. For Thanksgiving, the meat eaters amongst us went to my DIL's sisters house for turkey lunch. In the evening we hosted a vegetarian Thanksgiving meal. My DS invited an fellow grad student and her room mate (both Indian and vegetarian). We wanted to make something they would like without doing Indian food. This Tunisian Chickpea Soup from Olive Trees and Honey went over well. Spicy enough to be familiar to them without attempting to be Indian. 1/4 c olive oil 1 large onion, chopped 3 carrots, chopped 1 small (~10 oz) celery root, peeled and chopped or 2 stalks celery chopped 2-4 cloves garlic minced ~ 10 c water 1 lb (2 1/3 c) dried soaked chick peas 2 bay leaves 1 tbsp cumin seeds or 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin 1 to 2 tbsp harissa or 1 tsp cayenne 1 tsp salt or 2 tsp kosher salt ground black pepper 1/2 c chopped fresh cilantro, mint or parsley 2 to 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice or 1 c plain yogurt 3 to 4 c french bread cubes or pita bread (optional) (I didn't) 3 to 4 c French bread cubes or pita bread In large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, celery, garlic and saute until softened, ~ 10 min Add water, chick peas and bay leaves. Boil, cover and reduce heat and simmer until tender, ~ 1 1/2 hours Toast cumin seeds (if using) in a dry skillet until lightly browned - shake or stir - don't burn them. Grind. Add cumin, harissa or cayenne, salt and pepper to soup. Cover and simmer 15 min. Discard bay leaves. Coarsely mash the chick pease a bit with a wood spoon, potato masher or stick blender. Can be stored in fridge and reheated for serving. Add the cilantro and lemon juice and heat through before serving. If desired, add 1/2 cup bread pieces to each bowl and ladle soup over. Drizzle with olive oil. (We were having falafal and pita bread after plus I made cranberry walnut whole wheat bread so we didn't do bread in the soup bowls. I didn't drizzle the oil and it was fine.) Moroccan variation in case you have non-spicy types - omit cumin and harissa. After mashing the chick peas, add 2 lb stemmed chopped spinach or chard or frozen spinach thawed and squeezed dry and the lemon juice, cover and simmer 2 to 4 min. Home made pita and falafel were great but not low effort. About half the falafel recipes used soaked and ground chick peas. The other half used soaked, cooked and mashed chick peas. I did a half batch each way - the ones using soaked and ground but not pre-cooked chick peas came out much better - very good flavor and texture. Sephardic Leek and Cheese Casserole also from Olive Trees and Honey - a very good book if you want to expand your vegetarian repertoire - is good and pretty easy. It reheats well so you could make it ahead. Too late for Jessy I'm afraid. 1/4 c olive oil 3 lb leeks ( 1 1/2 lb if you do the zucchini varient), white and light green parts only cut into thin lengthwise slices and washed 1 large onion chopped (optional - I've always used it) 1 c water 2 cups (~1 lb) grated zucchini 2 tsp salt or 4 tsp kosher salt 1 cup (5 oz) crumbled feta or 1 c (8 oz) farmer or pot or 1 c grated kefalotyri or Parmesan cheese or a combination (I've always done the feta) 1 c shreded kashkaval, Goueda, Muenster or Cheddar (did this the first time and thought it didn't add much - other times I've done just the feta) 5 large eggs, lightly beaten 2 tbsp olive oil ground black pepper to taste or 1/2 tsp cayenne 1/4 c chopped fresh dill or 1/2 tsp grated nutmeg (optional) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and oil a 9 " square or 8 by 11 inch baking dish or two 9-inch pie plates. In a large sauce pan (she must have really large sauce pans - I use a small soup pot), heat oil over medium heat. Saute leeks and onion until softened. Add water, zucchini if using, 1 1/2 tsp salt or 3 tsp kosher salt, cover and simmer until leeks are tender (about 15 min). Drain Combine cheeses, eggs, remaining salt, pepper and dill or nutmeg. Add leek mixture. Put in baking dish. Bake until set and golden brown, about 50 minutes. Variant - you can leave out the cheese msazadi and cook 2 lb peeled, diced russet potatoes with the leeks. Kind of mash it after the draining step. I usually still put in the feta or you can put in 1/2 c Parmesan cheese. Really fancy and a good side dish for the meat eaters would be a nice Biryani. I have made one with cashews and pistachios in the top layer of rice but it was more work. There are some simpler ones on line.
...See More
Dinner issues
Q
Comments (12)
When my kids were in elementary school and middle school my number one priority was to come together at dinner as a family and share a pleasant meal. So I had a lot more rules about dinner conversation than manners or nutrition. I have many friends with different priorities and their families turned out just fine, so I'm not saying my way is the only way or my priorities the best priorities. It was very important to me that dinner be pleasant, so here are the things I did. First, I gave a warning depending on what the kids were doing that dinner would be in X number of minutes. Depending on what they were doing, sometimes a couple of warnings. So they were rarely yanked out of the middle of an intense battle in the tree fort or building a Barbie house. They had some warning to wind things down. At the final call for dinner, everyone was expected to come pretty quickly. Next, I was not very picky at all about food eaten or manners. Nothing gross was allowed like egregious chewing food with the mouth wide open, but I didn't care if they put their napkins in their laps or not. I put healthy choices in front of them, they could eat or not as they chose. When younger they had to try one bite of everything, but as they got older I didn't care. My most important rules were about conversation. Everyone had to participate. My husband and I didn't discipline the children or complain about their behavior, etc. I tried to keep my husband and my conversation confined to things that would be somewhat interesting to the children. So work conversation between the adults was brought down to a kid level and kept fairly short, or at least I tried. I tried to keep my eyes open during the day for interesting dinner topics, jokes, etc. My kids picked up that habit as the years passed by, and they do the same thing now. My daughter often got overlooked and no one but me was interested in her school day. And she was often very quiet and hard to draw out. So for awhile we had the "magic knife". Whoever had the "magic knife" got to talk, and only mom could overrule. I used the "magic knife" to teach some conversational manners - don't monopolize the time, pick topics of general interest, tell about your day but don't spend forever and not give sister a chance to talk, etc. But I put those things in positive terms, not negative ones. For example, rather than "shut up and let your sister talk" I'd say, "We loved hearing about your day and now I know you want to hear about sister's day". We also had the "blessing cup", which was sparkly and had gold stars. Anyone caught being a blessing got to drink from the "blessing cup". They had to either be caught, or someone else had to tell me. The blessing couldn't be self-reported, in other words. My kids needed to learn very good manners because they sometimes met business contacts at conventions, etc. So I sometimes had dinners just to teach manners. I told the children in advance what I was doing and why. I tried to make it fun - I cooked foods they really liked, they decorated the table and used candles. I tried to keep things light and funny. We brought out the china, silver with all the place settings, crystal, bread plates, etc. And me being me, I spent as much time teaching them proper conversational manners at business and charity dinners as I did which fork to use. But I'm not sure how to describe it - it wasn't presented in a bad way but in a positive way, like learning to drive a car. But those types of dinners didn't happen that often. I put a lot of thought and effort into making dinner pleasant. It didn't always come easily, and sometimes it felt like I was the only one who cared. But my efforts paid off. My kids are young adults now and they are wonderful dinner companions, if I do say so myself. They can converse with a variety of guests if they need to, on a variety of topics. When we all sit down to dinner now we almost always linger a long time after the meal is over, talking. It's worth every minute I spent listening to the elaborate plot of an Animorphs book or the details of an epic battle for control of the tree fort. Or debating what I'd most like to be - a cobra or a black mamba and why. In fact, we had a fascinating discussion about Russian polar bears just a couple of weeks ago. Enjoy those mealtimes together, they go by way too fast.
...See More
Dinner at 8 (#2)
Q
Comments (6)
This one is easy! I don't think he'd be happier with anything but real Southern BBQ (noun, not a verb), cooked low and slow over wood charcoal and using an assortment of woods for the smoke. I'll serve fried green tomatoes, mini cheddar bisquits with brown sugar baked bacon, marinated shrimp, and gingery spring rolls first. Big galvanized ice filled buckets will contain glass bottles of Pepsi, orange Nehi, hard cider, beer, and water. Ice tea and fruit water available from jugs. A nice sized pork shoulder can take up to 8 hours, a task considered essential. The result is a deeply blackened roast that falls apart when you move it from the grill to a platter for chopping. I'd make my usual sauce, tomato and vinegar, sweetened with molasses and honey, with a tad of this and a bit of that. It's thinner than anything from a bottle. We'll have the pulled pork, slabs of ribs, and some chicken. Sides would include pinto beans and collards, stewed together with a pig knuckle; my cole slaw, chopped green salad, roasted ears of corn, corn bread, homemade yeast rolls, southern potato salad, mac and cheese. I'd have pickles, lots of sauce on the side (hot and mild) for sandwiches, fresh sliced veggies from the garden. Hmmmm, dessert. Probably a peanut butter and chocolate pie, icy cold watermelon, coconut macaroons. Elvis would need to visit in the summer. I'd have picnic tables with white linen tablecloths, but rolls of paper towels for the sticky fingers! Lots of fun to decorate with lanterns, twinkling lights, and my garden is full of flowers for mason jar arrangements. Pint jars, wrapped with raffia bows, and filled with flowers can be taken home by the guests. Sheesh, I am getting waay too into these fantasies. Audrey, you should select someone from another part of the country or world for the next dinner party.
...See More
User
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
You could even make the butternut squash soup with ginger and Chinese 5 spice to marry it to the wings and do an Asian theme.

Of course, curry is excellent, too.
writersblock (9b/10a)
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Sweet potato harvest soup

The seasonings make it like Thanksgiving in a bowl, a nice preview of the next day, and it's one of the easiest soups there is, no mirepoix or roux.
l pinkmountain
Original Author
8 years ago
Yes, I was thinking chicken wings, but honestly, they are so messy and dad has some kind of palsy and almost certainly will spill or drop something. I guess I could just do some kind of boneless chicken strips, same way . . . Maybe I should even consider cold Kentucky fried chicken. Dad actually likes that. Yes, . . . I know.

If I went "Asian" for dinner I could even bake some shrimp egg rolls or do cold shrimp appetizer too. I love curried squash soup, not sure if dad will like it . . .
0
User
8 years ago
Cold fried chicken is delicious. Love to dip it into ketchup.
carolb_w_fl_coastal_9/10
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I think chicken soup could absolutely go w/ that menu. Maybe a cream style, or maybe a white chili style? Is Dad just picky, or can he not eat those things for a reason? You could hide any onions, garlic & chiles by mincing them fine enough to disappear into the mixture.
l pinkmountain
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
The onions, garlic, celery and peppers is because they upset his stomach, and I can usually sneak a small amount into a soup or dish for one of those, because a small amount usually doesn't bother him. As for the rest, I think he is more or less afraid of anything green. I have a great recipe for red lentil curried soup too, but that would be out, he doesn't do pea or lentil soups.

I have an easy peasy chicken soup that we make with boneless chicken breasts, frozen mixed vegetables, and boxed chicken broth, and then we add barley. It's good but I make it a lot. I really liked the idea of the squash soup though . . . I was in the grocery store today and saw they have any number of heat and serve "pockets" stuffed with various kinds of meats, so maybe some of those on the side . . . Chicken salad of some kind might be an option too. And on the way to the grocery store I thought of making deviled eggs. Dad loves egg salad so that would probably be a great option.
0
plllog
8 years ago
Instead of the guacamole and chips and cheese and crackers, why not a big dish of nachos with meat (either chicken or beef)? You can make everything ahead of time and just wrap it really well, or, if it travels/stores better, put each of the elements in a container or bag and do a quick assembly and a short time under the broiler there. You could do that with the squash soup.

Or do Bbstx's recently posted zucchini soup with the sausage in it. You could use chicken or turkey sausage--use olive oil for the sauté, brown the sausage separately, and add it in later in the cooking process so it doesn't overcook. Or get precooked poultry sausage, crumble it and put it in at the end.

But I also agree with Carolb that you could make chicken soup go with your meal well enough. Just look at the seasonings of the dip and guacamole and make sure the soup goes with them. Or you could goose the squash soup with some concentrated chicken stock (or veal or beef).
0
Bumblebeez SC Zone 7
8 years ago
I'd make fun foods. They can eat healthy the next day. Buffalo chicken dip (from the oven), wings, nachos, sliders, spiced nuts, cookies, bacon wrapped dates, kebabs, loaded potatoes....

Bring a salad if you want one.

Soup, while delicious, isn't fun.
nancyofnc
8 years ago
Protein can be deviled eggs, Everyone devours them and can be made way ahead. Another idea is sliced tomatoes, fresh or dried basil, balls of fresh mozzarella, drizzled with olive oil and freshly ground pepper. Picky eaters will pick out what they want leaving the good stuff for everyone else.
0
annie1992
8 years ago
I agree with Nancy on the devilled eggs, and they can be made ahead of time. I also like the idea of boneless wings of some type, or maybe some chicken sliders. Potato skins or wedges can have cheese, beans or meat as a protein source too, and scooped out potato halves can hold things from taco meat to smoked fish to chili to a cheese mixture, so stuffed baked potatoes could be finger food if you use smaller potatoes.

A sliver of sharp cheese with a thin slice of roast beef makes a nice slider, even better on a sweet potato biscuit. I also think it should just be fun on Thursday, you can do turkey and vegetables on Friday!

Annie
0
l pinkmountain
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
SO and I actually enjoy healthy food more than unhealthy, that's one reason we are together, we have a similar palette! If it's healthy and tasty, it makes us happy. Maybe loaded potato skins would be good, since dad loves them. Or loaded sweet potatoes, which I just saw a recipe for the other day. Dad loves sweet potatoes too. I could make ones stuffed with marshmallows and sugar for dad (the way he likes sweet potatoes, and some veggies for SO and I, like maybe broccoli with chicken and spicy peanut sauce, since SO loves broccoli). As far as "fun," everyone included loves guacamole and also squash, but I agree that it can't be the main feature. I didn't know chicken wings came boneless, that would be good. SO would love some spicy wings to go with that assortment!
carolb_w_fl_coastal_9/10
8 years ago
Wings are almost always welcome, IMPO.
0
tishtoshnm Zone 6/NM
8 years ago
If wings are too difficult to eat, boneless chicken threaded onto a skewer with whatever "wing sauce" basted on could be a workable alternative.

Meatballs in a small crockpot could also help with the protein angle and there are many different flavor options you could go with, lamb, turkey, beef, etc. I am not even sure you really need a soup for dinner since you will be eating a pork stew at lunch.
0
lindac92
8 years ago
I'd make a vegetable beef soup....with onions and celery and let your dad pick those vegetables out.
Seems neither one likes food much at all, so buy some meatballs at Sam's Club and make that BBQ sauce with the mustard and grape jelly and fix what you like. Let your dad eat raw carrots and meatballs.
0
l pinkmountain
Original Author
8 years ago
Yeah, for my dad some Little Debbie chocolate cupcakes and the meatballs would be fine.
annie1992
8 years ago
L, boneless chicken wings are available frozen at Meijer, but not fresh, so you could probably find some. Chicken "tenders" would work just as well, I think, if you can't find boneless wings.

I've also roasted slices of sweet potato and topped them with sour cream/cheese/bacon and made a version of potato skins, because I like sweet potatoes as well as I like white ones, they're all yummy.

Have fun, the Lions have actually won a couple of games this year, so there's hope for football!

Annie
l pinkmountain
Original Author
8 years ago
Ahem, we are Packers fans at my house! ;)
0

Light football dinner for a picky eater

User

Comments (19)

Olychick

Related Discussions

User

writersblock (9b/10a)

l pinkmountain
Original Author

User

carolb_w_fl_coastal_9/10

l pinkmountain
Original Author

plllog

Bumblebeez SC Zone 7

nancyofnc

annie1992

l pinkmountain
Original Author

carolb_w_fl_coastal_9/10

tishtoshnm Zone 6/NM

lindac92

l pinkmountain
Original Author

annie1992

l pinkmountain
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Light football dinner for a picky eater

Comments (19)

Related Discussions

l pinkmountainOriginal Author

l pinkmountainOriginal Author

l pinkmountainOriginal Author

l pinkmountainOriginal Author

l pinkmountainOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

l pinkmountain
Original Author

l pinkmountain
Original Author

l pinkmountain
Original Author

l pinkmountain
Original Author

l pinkmountain
Original Author