What's for supper tonight?

[Rafikifan]

I am sitting here trying to make a grocery list and I get so bummed doing it. I like to cook, that's not the problem. It's just trying to cook something that the whole family will eat without eating the same things all the time that gets to me. DH will eat anything, dd 13 will eat anything I cook. The problem is ds 10 and ds 8. DS 10 is getting better so I guess it comes with age but even he and ds 8 have different tastes. Of course they agree on things like pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers, fried chicken etc. DS 8 really gets me...he loves a can of Dinty Moore beef stew. Now I can cook a very good homemade beef stew but nope he prefers Dinty Moore. Even something as simple as spaghetti they will eat but need to be in the mood for it. My only saving grace is that they do both like salad so I make lots of those so at least they get some veggies down them. DH comes from a family of 7 kids and he says that when he was young there was ONE thing prepared and if they were hungry they ate it whether they liked it or not and if not went hungry. I know y'all think I must spoil my kids but I've tried this tactic and if they don't like it they will decide to go to bed hungry which of course makes me feel awful since they are growing boys and NEED to eat. I've been given all sorts of advice. Some say, "Cook what you want, and if ds 8 wants a can of Spagettios or Dinty Moore, or a hot dog then give it to him since at least you know he has eaten. But I was raised on home cooking so I tend to feel guilty about that. But I don't feel like eating just hot dogs, hamburgers, and pizza all the time. I have a friend whose son is 10 and he LITERALLY lives on Frosted Flakes. That is what he eats for supper and OCCASSIONALLY she will get some spagetti down him but that is rare. I don't think that is very healthy but she says her pediatrician says if that's what he wants give it to him. I'm still skeptical. Personally I blame a lot of it on today's society. Both boys are involved in sports and dd is co-capt. of the danceline so we are always going in multiple directions as I think a lot of people are these days and then of course there's those McDonald's, Burger King's, pizza places on every corner which even though I think all of us parents pretty much cringe on going to often but under time constraints sometimes there is no choice and I think that kids today (not just mine and not all kids) are spoiled and would much rather have take out than home cooking. I have a sis in law who literally lives in a drive thru. Breakfast-drive thru, lunch the kids are at school, but then dinner is drive thru. I'm not at that point yet thank goodness, but I guess I'm not the only one that has these problems. Out of all of my female family members and a ton of friends I am one of the VERY few that cooks at all unless you consider throwing a frozen dinner in the microwave cooking. I'm not trying to brag because I KNOW I'm not the only one out here that wants to put a home cooked meal on the table but how do you all handle these situations??? I apologize this was so long but is there anyone out there with advice for picky eating children???? I'd love to hear your comments! Thanks for letting me vent.

 

[JCJRSmith]

This might be a little gruff, but here goes:

YOU are the parent here - what you say goes. If you prepare one thing, and the boys don't want it, let them go hungry. It won't kill them, and you are establishing that YOU are in charge. After one or two times, they will come around, and you can get back to preparing healthy meals for your family.

Think of it this way - remember when they were babies and they cried when you stopped holding them and put them in their cribs by themselves? What did you do? At first you probably ran to see what was wrong - only there was nothing wrong - they just wanted mom to hold them so they could fall asleep. Then one night you didn't go, and they cried for three hours. The next night they cried for an hour, and the next night, they fell asleep in the crib almost the moment you put them down.

By feeding them what THEY want instead of what YOU want them to eat, you are still running to them to hold them while they fall asleep.

Sorry to be so blunt, but that's my opinion.

 

[Rafikifan]

Originally posted by JCJRSmith


Sorry to be so blunt, but that's my opinion.

No, Jerry I do not mind you being blunt at all. I asked for opinions and I DO see what you are saying. And please noone think my kids rule the roost on everything, they are very good kids. I guess it just makes ME feel better seeing them eat because for one thing I work as a substitute teacher and I know a lot of kids eat barely anything at breakfast (mine will both eat eggs and bacon though so at least THAT makes me happy) and FAR too many eat near to nothing at lunch at school. I can't say I blame them either because on mornings I don't have time to make myself a lunch I will not eat the slop the cafeteria gives them either. So yes, I guess it's me that's weak on this subject because when I see they won't eat the "real" supper I think, well, nuking a hot dog will only take a minute. But you're right Jerry, if they start to realize that won't be happening anymore then maybe they'll eat what I serve. I guess I am just surrounded by parents who think I'm making it much harder on myself cooking (gasp!) than to just open a can or go through a drive thru and it has me confused. I appreciate yours and anyone else's input!!!

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Fortunately mine have never been really picky. Well ok, the 16 YO won't eat anything for breakfast on a school morning except Lucky Charms. But that is more a routine, don't make me make decisions in the morning thing.

However, they have been known to complain that dinner isn't ready when they are...sort of the same thing.

Since both DH & I are working, running kids - yep you all know the routine - we started getting them involved. Simple things at first.

Could the 8 YO help make the salad?

Do they like baked potatoes...maybe with cheese, etc the loaded version? How about 10 YO scrubbing and microwaving those? That DOES count as cooking from scratch you know. We sometimes do potato nights where the leftover bits of ham, chicken, etc are used to top the potatoes along with cheese sauce (gotta love Campbell's for that part) and leftover veggies!

Or ask THEM to suggest a menu once a week, and hot dogs, hamburgers and pizza are NOT allowed.

THoughts...

Deb

 

[eeyoreforever]

Sorry, but I have to disagree with JCJRSmith. Lots of times I cook things that my dd's won't eat, so I fix something different for them. I personally refuse to make my kids eat foods that they don't like. I don't like oysters (one of the few things I don't like), and if my dh were to tell me to eat a plate of oysters or go to bed hungry.......-well, it wouldn't be a pretty picture. Since I normally have 2-3 items served, they will at least eat part of what I fixed, so its not like cooking an entire other meal. I agree with the op that it is hard coming up with ideas of what to cook. Maybe you could set down as a family and come up with ideas for different foods and if you know you are cooking a meal your ds's won't eat, cook something the night before that they like, and they could have leftovers. This works for me. I'm interested to see what others have to say.

 

[WDWMom]

My kids have three choices at dinner

eat what is served

go hungry

make your own.

that way I make only one meal and clean up only one meal. If they make their own, they clean up their own. I even refuse to help them in anyway. Ideal no. But it works for us.

 

[pumba]

so I had a pound and a half of hamburg thawed out
two cans of cream corn
and mashed potatoes.......fake kind in a box......

brown the meat and drain any fat....
put in a casserole dish
put the cream corn on top of that
and then spread the mashed potatoes
around the top......
bake for a few and it is delicious

 

[Spinning]

Meal time can be such a hard time...
I only make one meal...if the kids don't like it then they can eat applesauce and cottage cheese. I remember a show that was on and the doctor was talking about getting kids to eat correctly. One thing he did say it takes a while for a body to like certain foods. He said to make the same veggie several days in a row. The kids didn't have to eat it but try it and have it on the plate. I did this with peas for myself! I hated them growing up...well guess what I can now eat them...granted I don't love them but they aren't that nasty!
So if they are having a salad and that is it don't worry about it. They will make up for it at another meal!

 

[pumba]

and also my dump and runs.......they have to have what we call a no thank you helping.......it may be one pea or one bean or a half of a teaspoon of squash....but they have to try it......and lo and behold ....some of the kids I take care of love brocolli and love peas and veggies.......I think that the only way to get a kid to like something is to try it........I do make four or five veggies at our sunday family meals when we have company......that way everyone has to like one or two of them.......

 

[nicki dahling]

I have three adult ( technically ) children living at home. To night was a perfect example of a typical meal night at my home ( except Sunday when I insist we sit down and eat as a family ). Hubby and I sat down and ate Salad and spaghetti. The 18 year old came in from Drama and Track and ate a hamburger so she was not hungry. The 19 year old is at work, so she gets a meal there. The 20 year old is at a card tornament so he can eat when he gets in, or eat while he is out ( which is usually what he does ). Now , when they were younger they had two choices : eat what I fixed, or not. They don't have to eat everything , but that's there choice. Sometimes I fix carrots ( well the 18 year old doesn't like it, but she may like the meatloaf and potatoes that went with it. So guess what ? She ate everything except the carrots. My mom use to say - this is not Burger King, yoou don't get to have it your way !

Cyndi

 

[disykat]

My kids are allowed one food they NEVER have to eat, and I will provide a substitute. (I obviously don't count foods they are allergic to as their one food.) My eleven year old never eats pizza (go figure) and my eight year old never eats cauliflower. Everything else they have to give a college try.