[Alternate Titles for This Post: How To Recycle An Old Favorite or How To Coax Your Boyfriend To Eat What He Doesn't Like]

We absolutely loved this simple dessert of Apples in Honey and Pine Nut Caramel and have made it on more than one occasion. So one morning, with one too many apples forgotten, I finally used them with the a variation of the recipe to top off the breakfast oatmeal. I skipped the cream and pine nuts (because we didn’t have either, honestly) and decided to stick to just butter and honey. Mmmm.

I cooked old fashioned organic oatmeal in whole milk. God I love that. I made sure not to overcook it.

This was a winning combination. Yumm.

You might be wondering about the second alternate title. Well, Dan dislikes oatmeal. It’s one of those things on his long Will Not Eat list. This does not sit too well with me as I’m pretty open to all kinds of food and when I travel, I try as much local fare as I can. Food, as in life, is an experience — and for me, you’re missing out if you don’t at least try new things or revisit old ‘ew’ stuff labeled from the days you couldn’t even spell your name.

So slowly, I’ve began to lead him into a new chapter in his Foodie life and have him retry food that he ‘hates’. He cringes when you mention “oatmeal”, “mushrooms”, “cabbage”, or “bananas” as if he was going to be sick at that instant. From the mere mention of the food. I told him that if he tries it again and still hates it, then fine. But to completely shun them would be a shame. There’s a whole world out there outside of steak, pasta, and potatoes. Come to think of it, it’s like training a child to eat veggies, really. Haha.

One thing about food aversion is that most of the time, it’s just the way it’s been prepared that brings out certain detestable qualities. Other times, you went to the wrong restaurant. When it comes to oatmeal, I found out that Dan doesn’t like the ‘mushiness’ of it, just like how bananas are mushy. And I completely understand that because I hate both mushy oatmeal and bananas. However, that only comes out when you overcook oatmeal and if you use the the instant ones. Even I find it gross. So I remedied that and cooked it my way — not overdone, and with whole grains to munch on. He really liked it! Plus he finished his bowl of cereal with fruit.  Bingo!

I’d say I have a feeding success rate of 80% when it comes to something “different”. So for those who are challenged by their boyfriends, husbands, or even little ones, I’ll share you with a few tips.

What I learned about feeding the (well-loved) ultra-picky eater:

1.  Work with him/her. If you want them to be flexible, you should be flexible yourself. Consult them beforehand and if you can, involve them somehow in the cooking process. Ask them what they think and what they’re comfortable with. Avoid surprises because once you put the food on the table without warning them it has something they dislike, chances are the brain is already closed to any sort of negotiation. Dan’s like that. He can be fixated about asking “What’s in it?” before eating.

2.  Pair old favorites with foods you want to introduce. Let loose of your creativity in the kitchen. If he/she likes strawberries and not yogurt, make yogurt ice cream. If he/she doesn’t like cabbage, well guess what…neither that boiled beef soup nor traditional pot stickers that he/she loves wouldn’t taste complete without it. If they don’t like yam but like fries, make yam fries [they are SO good]. Have fun cooking! Experiment and be surprised at all the new variations you can come up with.

3.  Ask what they don’t like about a particular food. Address it and see if it can be remedied. Cabbage, for example, is a tricky vegetable to work with. A lot of people complain about the smell but I’ve never had that problem. It pays to know how to cook it right and with what combination. Make sure to buy fresh food, too!

4. Don’t stress out about it. I enjoy introducing Dan to new kinds of food. He likes it, too, and he’s mighty proud of himself of what he’s accomplished so far (tried Vietnamese food, authentic Chinese food, Filipino food, Indian food…etc.). I’m quite happy for him, too.  Like I said, have fun. You and your picky eater could have a great time going to your local market together to shop, or even eat.

» What are your tips for feeding your picky family members?