GET AHEAD: Prepare all so you just need to reheat or cook the onion, celery and carrot so ready for when you want to add the rest.

TEATIME SUGGESTION: Pinwheel sandwiches

Serving suggestion:
- A large dollop of long-term thinking (don’t focus on just one meal)
- A cup of cheerful conversation (no bribery, just connection)
- A pinch of salt (how you should take all food rejection!)
- Lashings of laissez-faire (the less you micro manage, the better)

Serves at least 4

Ingredients:

500g beef mince
1 onion, peeled (I like red onions)
1 carrot, peeled
1 celery stick
1 tsbp olive oil
1 large garlic clove, crushed
1 tsp dried oregano
10 ml tomato puree
300 ml beef stock
400g can chopped tomatoes

METHOD:

Chop the onion, carrot and celery very finely. Heat the oil in a large saucepan add the onion, garlic, carrot and celery. Cook for about 3-4 minutes or until the onion is softened, stirring all the time. Add the beef with the tomato puree and cook until the meat changes colour, stirring.

Add the stock, tomatoes and oregano with salt, pepper and bring to the boil. Lower the heat and simmer very gently for about 1 hour or until the meat is tender and the sauce is well reduced.

How to serve this meal to your child

Beginner: ‘My child refuses any new meals’

Cook for yourself and reheat some of the bolognaise sauce and serve alongside your child’s usual meal the next day to use for dunking some bread into. Or you could offer it as a small starter whilst they are waiting for their meal. The great thing about this approach is that you are not cooking specifically for your child, you are giving them leftovers from a meal that you would have cooked anyway, so straightaway there is LESS expectation and pressure. It’s about creating easy opportunities to widen your child’s food list.

Intermediate eater: ‘My child may try this new dish but I’m not sure’

Choose a day when you can eat together. Offer other components your child usually eats so there is no pressure such as their favourite pasta and cheese. If your child isn’t keen on trying any of the bolognaise, it doesn’t matter, it is better to just be casual about the whole thing and focus on building long-term happy eating habits. it is all about your child getting used to seeing new food and taking it in and also seeing you eat it to give them confidence for future meals!

Advanced eater: ‘My child eats most things I give them and is not phased by new food’.

Serve the new meal and if they unexpectedly do refuse it, the best advice is not to panic and don’t feel bad. It’s just one meal. Say non-confrontational words such as ‘you don’t have to eat anything you don’t want to’ and see if they can try a bit in their own time. If they don’t, it is best to move onto the next mealtime and write it off and try another time!