Every time a new child arrives (and I really do mean EVERY time)…
…you have to find out what they like to eat, and even more important, what they DON'T like to eat.
And do it quick.
And, if you want the quiet life, you indulge their preferences and avoid their aversions.
Simples.
As time goes by you can work on things and improve, but not on day one.
But; it might not be as simple as I made out at first. If the child has any type of eating disorder you'd hope it had been identified before they arrive and you, as foster parents, are advised.
If they have a clean bill of health it doesn't mean they aren't picky, and you usually have to move heaven and earth to keep them onside at mealtimes.
Feeding them right is good for their karma, good for household peace and quiet, and (if you know a few tricks and hacks) it can be good for their health too.
I'm not above blending brocolli into a spag boll sauce…or pretending the child is a giant and cauliflower is huge trees…
The reason food and fostering is in my mind is this;
We've been getting to know a teenage girl who is the single mother of a baby, they're both with us right now.
The first thing I asked our Blue Sky social worker when the placement was confirmed was;
"What would she most like for her first evening meal with us?"
The answer came back swiftly;
"Cottage pie."
No problem. It's one of the top ten comfort foods. Plus I got a snapshot of family mealtimes in the child's real home; cottage pie is easy to eat with a single fork off your lap while watching Series 4 episode 9 of your favourite drama. Plus it's usually pretty bland and unchallenging.
So. First evening meal with us we all sat round on stools at the breakfast bar and NOT at a formal table. She said she liked the food. I'd done brocolli as a side and she ate some. I'd done a basic salad (lettuce and cucumber) and she ate some of that too, drenching it in Caesar Salad dressing.
Then she asked, as casually as she could:
"What spices did you put in the cottage pie?"
"Er..none. Is it OK?"
"Ye. But I quite like…y'know…paprika. And garlic. And oregano and basil. Cayenne, but not too much."
Me: "Chilli powder?"
"No! Yuk!'
Me "Anything else?'
"Lots o' salt. An' pepper."
She went back to eating.
They say that during the first 3 seconds of meeting someone for the first time the average person collects and processes 5000 pieces of information about them, instinctively.
It's about the same the first time you discover a new child's food preferences.
And if you're on your game it tells you 10,000 things about the child, their past life, who they hope to become…
…and what to serve on day two.
I took advantage that we were talking about food and asked her about all her likes and dislikes. She enjoyed the telling. I got her full book of favourites and no-no foods.
Itwas a win/win.
She felt cared for.
My meal planning was going to be a doddle.
Although, I'm going to have to look up the recipe for Nachos.
If there aren't a million of them up on YouTube, I'm Gordon Ramsey.
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