There is only one meal served in my home for breakfast, lunch and dinner: "eat it or starve".
I make good nutritious meals taking food preferrences into account and if the skid doesn't like it, well then not my problem.

My youngest SD went through this. And was told "either eat it now, or have it for the next meal" she thought I was bluffing. Come breakfast, everyone else had pancakes, YSD had her supper from the night before. Took her a couple tries with the "I don't like it" to figure out she was gonna eat it.

LOL!

I used to sing that to my bios when they were little. They've pretty much outgrown that stage and will eat just about anything I make for them but DH and I would make them fix their own ramen, eggs, quesadilla or grilled cheese whatever if they wanted something else.

Fix it yourself clean up after or go to bed go directly to bed do not watch Spongebob do not play video games be quiet.

I used to make two separate meals. used to.

We deal with this also and although it really bothers me, I could care less at this point. Growing up, my mom never made seperate meals nor were we allowed to eat something different. It was simple, don't like it? don't eat at all. I know Bm caters to Ss and this is why he's like this. Bm moved out of her moms house and now it seems to be even worse because I think she really just gives him fast food and frozen dinners. Whatever though, I have my own kid to focus on. I've let Dh know, it's his child so he can deal with it. whatever.

Shaman related a similar situation which I plan to use (Appologies to Shaman if my paraphrasing is missing some details). After her step-kid turned his nose up her meal that she arduously made, she quietly got up, fetched the garbage can and just slopped the meal in the garbage. She then went to the pantry and got a loaf of bread and jar of peanut butter and placed it on the table (all without saying a word).

I choose what to serve- I always serve some things that sd will eat- sometimes there are things she doesn't like (or used to but suddenly doesn't). At mom's I think because it is the two of them mom probably asks her every night "What do you want for dinner"

She will often announce when she asks what we are having "I don't want that" or "I don't like that." Dh used to argue with her and finally give in and make her something else. (Which IMO makes her pickier). I do not like that, so I spoke with him and he lets me handle it.

What *I* do is just state "I am sorry to hear that, but it is what I am serving. Eat what you like, skip what you don't, but don't complain." I might be more strict in my approach if she were my child. It has worked with her, though.

I know that throughout any given day/week she eats plenty, so I couldn't care less what she eats at any one particular meal. I do expect her to have good manners at the table and to treat me respectfully, so that is all I ask. You don't like it? No problem, don't eat it. But this isn't a restaurant, so don't expect something else. Don't say yuck, gross etc- no thank you is fine.

I think most kids will be less picky if it isn't made into an issue and they aren't catered to.

I was that brat at the dinner table. I drove my mother nutso. Ewww... I hate that... Ewww... that is gross....Ewwww... we're having what?????

..and now I have BS4 who I love to death BUT he is so my child. The kid won't eat anything! Paybacks are a bitch

I even asked my partner to ask BM what he kids like to eat so that visitations are easy for everyone. But being a wuss he didnt ask her. I asked the kids and all i got was, pizza, ice cream and lollies.

I cook healthy meals and they refuse to eat. So I've given up - now they only eat chicken nuggets, battered fish and french fries prepared by their dad. i have zero time for their meals and refuse to cook separate meals.

i make lovely quiche and SS6 slams doors and storms to his room screaming, "I'm not eating the quiche". My mother would have slapped me before I'd even screaming that sentence.

I handle this with the peanut butter solution.

Anyone that doesn't want what we're eating can have a peanut butter sandwich AFTER everyone else has finished eating and the table has been cleared. This is how the state recommends handling a resident of a nursing home who won't eat what they're served at mealtime. If it's good enough for our elders, it's certainly good enough for the squeak wheel child that always has a problem at mealtime.

I feel for any of you that have to deal with picky eaters. My youngest BD and 4 of my skids are sometimes picky but not horribly so. I think the skids get it from their BM mostly,she doesn't eat veggies and has never at least made them try them.We have rules like "you will at least try everything". When I make a veggie they've never had (roasted cauliflower,asparagus etc..) they actually like it-go figure!! So I always call bullshit when they act like they don't like something.
I very much try to make what I know they like and I include them in a discussion on meal planning every weekend.
There's no way I'm making an extra meal. Hell-to-the-no. So its definitely eat it or starve in our house.

And like most of you, I'm a fabulous cook so they are damn lucky to have me!! And honestly they do show appreciation for the meals I make so I'm pretty lucky in that regard.