My kids are typical kids....they don't inhale the things they should. One day they like something and the next day they don't. It drives me crazy.
One thing I refuse to do however, is be a short order cook. I cook one meal and that is that. You eat it or you don't. If you choose not to eat it, fine, but don't ask for something else. Simple as that. Hungry at bedtime? Oh well, you should have eaten your dinner.
That being said, I try to have something on the plate that everyone will eat. If I don't think the main dish will be a smashing hit with one (or all 3) I try to have a side dish they will like, or a side of fruit instead of veggies.
The other day was a day that I was off with my daughter at an activity and one of my son's had a baseball game that started before we'd be back. On those nights that we end up eating in shifts, I like to find something I can make ahead and will reheat easily and taste just as good. So, I made a quiche. Quiche is really nothing more than eggs and cheese, both of which all 3 of my children will eat. They even eat eggs and cheese together. But, I was still surprised when none of my kids wanted to eat it.
When I asked my husband how he liked dinner (since I wasn't there when he ate it), he said it was good but commented on how the kids weren't thrilled. I commented that I wasn't too surprised but it is nothing they shouldn't have liked and it was easy to make ahead. His response? "It's really all about the kids you know."
My response? "I am not cooking chicken fingers and hotdogs every night and they can either learn to eat or go hungry." Other points I have made over the years are:
* I don't want my kids to grow up to be picky eaters like me
* I want them to learn to eat a balanced, healthy meal NOW so that as they get older it won't be such a struggle.
*THEY WON'T STARVE TO DEATH. If they skip a meal they don't like, they will eventually eat when they are hungry. It isn't going to kill them.
Tell me, where do you stand on that debate? Do you cook what you like or always cater to the kids?
Monday, August 2, 2010
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I stand RIGHT by you. Eat what I cook, or go hungry.
ReplyDeleteAnd they practically NEVER go hungry.
I feel the same way as you do - I refuse to cater to them. But, what's different for me is the food allergies I have to deal with. That being said, when I plan my meals for the week, I try to see how allergy-friendly I can make each meal so that I don't need to cook two entirely separate things. There have been nights in this house, too, where a child has skipped a meal because they refused to eat what was on their plate. I agree, they won't die from starvation. I do, however, let them choose what they want to eat for lunch.
ReplyDeleteFood allergies are a whole different ballgame. My view on this topic might be a little different if I had to deal with severe allergies.
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