Problem: Julie Mann of Berkeley, California, wants healthful recipes that will appeal to her finicky husband.
Julie would love to cook more produce and less red meat, but her husband, Aaron, is more comfortable with steaks and starches. Shrimp would be an option, but Julie doesn't feel comfortable cooking shellfish. Can this couple learn to prepare dishes that will both appeal to Aaron's palate and teach their daughter, Ivy, about healthy eating?
Kitchen Strategy: Cooking healthy recipes for picky eaters isn't as hard as it sounds. First of all, you must appeal to all the senses. How food looks and smells is as important as how it tastes. Second of all, stick to a flavor profile your picky eater enjoys (sweet, savory, tart, spicy, etc), and make every ingredient work. Preparing less enticing foods in a new way can turn vegetables from plain to pleasing. Finally, keep it simple. Most people who have a limited palate don't like a large variety of textures in one dish.
The dishes we developed for the Manns feature some of Aaron's favorite ingredients, such as shrimp and avocado. Yet many of them incorporate unfamiliar ingredients, or foods he would otherwise avoid, such as tomatoes and broccoli. In the end we provided the Manns with new meals that stretch Aaron's boundaries and please the entire family.
Reader Reaction: Most of the dishes we created for the Manns hit the mark. The Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Tomatillo Salsa and Parmesan Chicken Paillards with Cherry Tomato Sauce are "destined to become family staples," according to Julie, who was surprised at the simplicity of the taco recipe. "The shrimp were incredibly easy to make, and this pretty much wiped away my fears."
The BLT Bread Salad received mixed reviews. Julie "absolutely loved it. This is something I'll serve to company," she says. But Aaron couldn't get past the raw tomatoes, even when Julie used heirloom tomatoes from their community-supported agriculture (CSA) delivery.
Got picky eaters of your own? Check out the full slate of recipes we cooked up for the Mann family.
