--- title: Feeding Picky Eaters on Meatless Friday description: Barb Szyszkiewicz brainstorms Meatless-Friday meal ideas that will satisfy the most discriminating child's (or adult's) palate. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20260626%20BSzyszkiewicz%201.png --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/feeding-picky-eaters-on-meatless-friday#) [MEATLESS FRIDAY](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/meatless-friday) # Feeding Picky Eaters on Meatless Friday Jun 26, 2026 6:00:00 AM  |  by [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20260626%20BSzyszkiewicz%201.png) *Barb Szyszkiewicz brainstorms Meatless-Friday meal ideas that will satisfy the most discriminating child's (or adult's) palate.* --- It's no secret that [my husband doesn't like fish unless it's salmon](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/meatless-friday-a-simple-sauce-for-any-fish). I don't usually care to eat eggplant or mushrooms. And over the years, we endured about 15 straight years when at least one child refused food, even food they liked, if it was served with sauce already on it. I am pleased to report that all our children went through that stage — and eventually outgrew it. They're all good cooks now, as adults, and very adventurous eaters. One of my kids wouldn't touch a green bean until he went to Boy Scout camp one summer and discovered that he was extra hungry after all those camp activities all day, and that green beans are actually good! (Hang in there, moms; there is hope!)   ## Meatless Fridays Can Still Happen in Families with Picky Eaters When other parents learn that [Catholic Mom offers a weekly Meatless-Friday recipe feature](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/meatless-friday/), I frequently hear, "That would never work in my house." Or "My kids are too picky to eat fish!" Or "We eat cheese pizza every Friday in Lent." I'd like to reassure you that it *can* work in your house, you *don't* have to serve fish (ever), and there's no shame in serving cheese pizza every Friday of the year if that's what your family enjoys. [We have a cookbook's worth of recipes here for you to choose from](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/meatless-friday/). They range from breakfast for dinner to simple soups, sandwiches, or salads to fish dinners that are easy to make ... and some that are a little more complicated.   ## 11 Tips for Feeding a Picky Eater (on Meatless Friday or any day!) - Try [breakfast for dinner](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/meatless-friday-all-day-breakfast)!  - [Skip the fish](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/meatless-friday-fish-free-favorites). There are plenty of other ways to serve a meatless meal. (See also: cheese pizza every Friday.) - [Serve pasta](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/meatless-friday-money-saving-pasta-meals); it's so easy to make without meat. - If you think someone will refuse the entree, **serve some robust side dishes you know they like,** and let them fill up on those instead of the main course. - [Let the kids help you cook](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/meatless-friday-cheesy-tuna-melts)! I found that when I involved my school-age children in planning and preparing the meal, they were more likely to eat it, even if it was a new food. - **Introduce new foods frequently.** Make a point of trying new foods yourself, too. But serve those new foods alongside dishes you know your family does enjoy, so they have options in case they truly don't like the new menu item. - **Encourage your kids to try a new food, but don't force them. **Sometimes it will take a few dinners before they're ready to taste something new. - **Hold the sauce. **Instead, serve the sauce on the side. It's a rare child who doesn't like to dip their food!  - **Encourage politeness. **Teach your child to say, "No, thank you" when something is offered that they don't like or don't want to try. Make sure they know that saying, "EWWWWWWWWWWW!" or pretending to vomit are unacceptable responses to the offer of a new food. - **Start early.** The more variety a toddler has in his diet, the more likely he'll be to continue to try new foods later in life. - **Let them leave something to the side.** I'll cook with mushrooms, since everyone in the family but me likes them, but I don't eat them. I'll pick them out of my portion and put them on the side of my plate. Since all the kids are out on their own now, my husband gets those mushrooms all to himself instead of having to beat one of the kids to my plate at the end of the meal.   Disclaimer: I do not use the term "picky eater" to refer to a child (or adult) with food allergies, sensory issues, or other special needs that may make feeding them a challenge. While some of the tips above may apply in those situations, I recommend that you consult with a medical professional such as your child's doctor or allergist, or a registered dietician, for meal-planning advice.   [![See our full list of Meatless Friday recipes](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/interactive-188493254954.png) ](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLKqkSGJxrvoU%2FBk2n8e1wDfOhSz0jqGB114Iobi%2B3orgZFXcyfatYHyfD9HTD%2BRNJXcCZXuBMh6IVGNHLkJx5Y%2FpBvj95I6ErIJYVcpbq1%2F4BUnRTAzvBUm67pfUfIvJkusVX2iBpcy4YfojWN1Jc99Aw07nxl0LMVxvWeyL6C1y%2Ba5tPg%2BXG0UNrYffwxJxZK%2BbfQBNQOPfXVW&webInteractiveContentId=188493254954&portalId=275132)   ![20260626 BSzyszkiewicz 2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20260626%20BSzyszkiewicz%202.png?width=1080&height=1350&name=20260626%20BSzyszkiewicz%202.png)   ### What's your biggest Meatless-Friday challenge? Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles. --- Copyright 2026 Barb Szyszkiewicz Images: Canva ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Ffeeding-picky-eaters-on-meatless-friday%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Ffeeding-picky-eaters-on-meatless-friday%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Ffeeding-picky-eaters-on-meatless-friday%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Feeding%20Picky%20Eaters%20on%20Meatless%20Friday) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Ffeeding-picky-eaters-on-meatless-friday%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Ffeeding-picky-eaters-on-meatless-friday%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/BSzyszkiewicz%202022.jpg) ### [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) Barb Szyszkiewicz, senior editor at [CatholicMom.com](http://catholicmom.com), is a wife, mom of 3 young adults, and a Secular Franciscan. Barb enjoys writing, cooking, and reading, and is a music minister at her parish. Find her blog at [FranciscanMom](http://franciscanmom.com) and her family’s favorite recipes with nutrition information at [Cook and Count](http://cookandcount.wordpress.com). Barb is the author of *[The Handy Little Guide to Prayer](https://amzn.to/2LQB2oL)* and * [The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours](https://amzn.to/3wbDB8k)*, available from Our Sunday Visitor. ## Related Blog Articles [ What Do You Feed Your Family on Good Friday? Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/what-do-you-feed-your-family-on-good-friday) [ Meatless Friday Meals and Memories from Our Readers Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2020/01/31/meatless-friday-meals-and-memories-from-our-readers/) [ Meatless Friday: Mushroom-Rosemary Pasta Sauce Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2017/02/03/meatless-friday-mushroom-rosemary-pasta-sauce) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to receive our free daily digest email. Copyright © 2026 CatholicMom.com. All Rights Reserved.