Chapter 7 The Ultimate Guide to Ending Picky Eating in Kids

Arthur and Elena Howard looked uncomfortable when they opened the door to find a stranger standing there.

Elena smiled apologetically. "This child is such a picky eater. We just don't know what to do with him."

Arthur sighed. "He wouldn't get up this morning no matter how much we called him. He only just got up now, so of course he's not hungry. Today's children are so strange."

Emily scanned the table, noting the steamed vegetables, roasted red bell peppers, and a plate of roasted chicken. Then she glanced at the skinny seven or eight-year-old boy who looked like a walking skeleton. She immediately understood the situation.

For treating children's picky eating habits, she had just the solution.

"Mr. Howard, Mrs. Howard, would you mind if I tried making something for him to eat?" Emily volunteered.

"You must be Emily," Arthur smiled kindly. "Please, go ahead and try. If my grandson enjoys your cooking, consider your interview passed."

"Leave it to me, Mr. Howard, Mrs. Howard!" Emily replied confidently.

She went to the kitchen and checked the refrigerator. There were chicken legs, flour, and they even had an oven.

Emily first mixed dough for hamburger buns, then marinated the chicken legs, and cut some tomatoes and lettuce.

After baking the buns, she assembled the burger with fried chicken, tomato, lettuce, and a slice of cheese, creating a delicious-looking hamburger.

Next, she prepared golden crispy fried chicken legs and french fries.

To balance the meal and control the caloric content, she also made a refreshing cucumber lemonade.

Seeing Emily's homemade burger and fried chicken, Oliver Howard's eyes lit up. He was practically drooling and couldn't wait to start eating.

"Awesome! Fries and burgers, my favorite!" he exclaimed.

Arthur and Elena quickly stopped him and told Emily, "Ms. Green, Oliver's parents don't allow us to give him junk food."

"Mr. Howard," Emily smiled, "how is this junk food? Look, this burger has carbs from the bun, vegetables, and protein. The fried chicken is also protein, and with this cooling cucumber lemonade, it's a perfectly balanced meal."

"Well..." Arthur wanted to argue but found her logic quite reasonable.

Elena looked troubled. "Emily, that logic makes sense, but... but these are still considered junk food."

Emily explained, "Fast food from restaurants isn't healthy because of the quality of ingredients. With your high-quality ingredients, that concern is eliminated."

"They're the same ingredients, just prepared differently. If you're worried, why not call Oliver's parents and ask them?"

"Good idea." Elena immediately picked up her phone and made an international call.

"Yes, Emily used ingredients from our kitchen. They say it's okay? Good!" A minute later, Elena hung up and patted her grandson's head.

"Your mother says home-cooked versions are fine. Go ahead."

"Great!" Oliver immediately dove into the food.

He started with the burger, taking large bites and nodding with satisfaction.

He took several gulps of the honey-sweetened cucumber lemonade.

Then he moved on to the french fries and fried chicken, his cheeks puffed out as he chewed, looking like an adorable little hamster.

Seeing Oliver eating with such enthusiasm made Arthur and Elena happy. This was the first time he'd eaten so heartily at their home. They immediately decided to hire Emily.

"Emily, I'm sure you understand our situation now?" Arthur asked.

"The job is relatively straightforward, though you'll need some patience when helping Oliver with his homework. Would you be willing to stay with us for a month to help take care of him?"

"It would be my pleasure," Emily quickly replied. "Mr. and Mrs. Howard, Oliver—I look forward to working with you all."

Emily felt like she'd won the lottery, finally finding normal clients.

Next, Arthur gave Emily a tour of their home. As expected of professors, their book collection rivaled a small library, which made Emily's eyes light up with excitement.

Noticing her interest, Arthur chuckled. "You enjoy reading? Feel free to browse our collection when you're not busy. I'm not sure if these books match your interests, though."

"With so many books, I'm sure I'll find something I like," Emily smiled.

She had always loved reading. When her parents' arguments became too much, she would escape to the public library for peace.

After touring the house, Arthur took Emily around the neighborhood, showing her where the supermarket and farmers' market were located.

Though the buildings in the neighborhood were older, the area was lush with trees and quite pleasant.

The neighborhood was populated with retired professors and civil servants, all of whom appeared vibrant and active. People engaged in various cultural activities—some played chess, others sang in groups, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

This scene strengthened Emily's resolve to save enough money to retire early and enjoy such a peaceful retirement lifestyle.

After touring the neighborhood, they returned home. Elena happily greeted them at the door. "He ate everything! Oliver finished everything Emily made. His tummy is so full, I'm worried about his digestion."

"Don't worry, Mrs. Howard. I'll prepare a digestive soup for him later," Emily said. "It's almost lunchtime—why don't I make lunch for everyone? I just bought some sea bass at the market with Mr. Howard. How about baked fish with herbs?"

"Wonderful," Elena agreed happily. "We don't necessarily prefer bland food—we just don't know how to cook properly. Eating out seems unhygienic to us, so we end up making simple dishes."

"Just let me know what you'd like to eat, and I'll prepare it," Emily said, already taking the groceries to the kitchen.

Sea bass was perfect for baking—tender flesh with minimal bones.

The fish had already been cleaned. Emily seasoned the fillets and prepared the vegetables.

Though there were pre-made seasonings available in the supermarket, Emily preferred to make everything from scratch.

First, she sautéed some aromatic vegetables in a pan. Then she placed the seasoned fish on a bed of sliced lemons, surrounded by cherry tomatoes, baby potatoes, and asparagus. She added fresh herbs, a splash of white wine, and baked it all together.

When the fish was perfectly cooked, she garnished it with more fresh herbs and a light lemon butter sauce.

The completed dish looked absolutely mouthwatering.

Arthur gave Emily a thumbs-up. "This looks and smells incredible. I'll definitely need an extra serving of potatoes with this."

His compliment gave Emily a profound sense of satisfaction.

Back home, she'd done all the cooking too, but her parents always found fault. Now, as a nanny, she not only got paid for the same work but was also appreciated.

Comparing the two situations made her realize what a difficult life she'd endured before.

After lunch, Arthur and Elena went for their afternoon rest, and Emily helped Oliver, now well-fed and content, build with his Lego blocks.

After the nap time, three elderly ladies entered the house cheerfully, saying to Elena. "Elena, it's bridge time!"