Request for Advice -- Two Children/Different Diets

You may already do this normally but it might be interesting to get the kids (more?) involved with shopping and cooking the things they can both have. Take to farmer's market, allow to pick out new/weird/colorful etc foods, research recipes together, whatever fits your plan. If it feels like a game and you set it up as a special adventure for the summer, it could be something v memorable for them both.

Kind of the "Man, painting this fence is so much fun!" approach?

worth a try. as it stands, the cousin went back to my mother-in-laws a few minutes ago. i have a feeling they'll cave-in on the diet. we'll see.

How about giving them meals where you can stick different ingredients/elements in bowls on the table and let them help themselves -- customisable to their individual likes/requirements. Like, uh, fajitas in one bowl, sauce(s) in another, chicken in another, veg in another, etc etc, they put the meal together themselves according to what they like and are allowed. Does that make sense?

(I use this tactic a lot with mine, one of whom is fussy as hell with multiple allergies, the other will eat anything.)

at the moment, the deeper problem is that the cousin refuses to eat anything -- except oatmeal and eggs -- on the diet. right now it's a waiting game. she refuses to eat and the family, to their credit, isn't caving-in. we'll see who gives first.

damn, i'm sure she's on the diet for good health reasons but i was an ultra-picky eater as a kid and i'm glad my parents were understanding and tolerant.

she's on the diet for very serious health issues.