Meals for kids, same as rest or differant?

swizzlebabe · 20 April 2005 at 5:44PM

I put a msge on moneysaving old style in which I mentioned that i make 1 meal for me and hubby and 1 for kids.

But made to feel bad and poor money saver for making 2 meals.

I feed the children at 4.30pm and we eat at 8pm when they are in bed, hubby not home until 7.30pm.

They do not live on junk, but the oldest in particular is fussey= he does not like chips or tomato sauce, but does eat most veg and fruit. Although he will only eat sausages no other meat not even burgers.He will only eat chicken dippers- which is good as most chicken content thing I have found, but will not eat proper chicken.

What do you do? make them have what you have or give them what they will eat-within reason.

sarahlouise210 · 20 April 2005 at 5:55PM

In an ideal world we would all sit round the table together, eat the same food and clear our plate! In reality our lifestyles have changed over the years and a vast majority of families will eat as your do - separately and different food. I have tried feeding the children what we eat, but what is the point if they will not eat it? I find there are only a few meals that we will all eat happily. I have a fussy eating child and another that would eat absolutely anything....twice! As long as you are doing your best to give them a balanced diet within the limits of what they will actually eat you cannot do more than that.

Becles · 20 April 2005 at 5:57PM

I've never made seperate kids meals, and my two have always eaten with me. They eat a variety of things now, and I enjoy the family time at the dining table.

It's a bit difficult though if hubby isn't in till 7.30pm.

What do you do on weekends? Could you all have the same thing together then, and try and persuade them to eat different things to be like you and hubby?

If the children are fussy, get them to watch shows on TV like Planet Cook, Blue Peter, and Big Cook, Little Cook. My son keeps printing off recipes he's seen being made on TV and he prepares them (with help!) himself. If the kids have suggested and made something, they are more likely to eat new things.

Jamie Oliver has been doing a series of healthy kids meals in the Daily Mail this week, and my son has clipped things out the paper for us to make too!

pandas66 · 20 April 2005 at 6:06PM

When the kids were really little I only did 1 meal, but eaten at seperate times (thanks to the microwave) pureed at 1st and got lumpier as older. (me too as it happens).
Now the kids are at clubs and 'playing out' they are allowed to choose 1 evening meal of their choice, so Monday it might be eldest sons choice and Tuesday its younger al the rest are mine. If it happens either don't like it they can help themselves to a sandwhich/cereal/soup instead. They are allowed 1 easy tea a week too (from the takeaway). As I work school hours this is all discussed on the way to/from school. Very lucky though as they both good eaters and will pick fruitas a snack and yet wanted to share my easter egg.

hilstep2000 · 20 April 2005 at 6:41PM

I have never given my kids different meals. I also never ask them what they want! I decide what we're having, and it's a case of "eat it or starve!" Sometimes that's what they have done, gone without, because I won't give in, but most of the time they just ask "What's for dinner?" and eat it. It's all a case of who's in charge!!

Murtle · 20 April 2005 at 7:00PM

swizzlebabe wrote:

I put a msge on moneysaving old style in which I mentioned that i make 1 meal for me and hubby and 1 for kids.

But made to feel bad and poor money saver for making 2 meals.

I can't imagine anyone on the moneysaving old style making anyone feel bad about anything (at least not intentionally), but I can't find the post you are referring to.

But as far as feeding kids, I was brought up on exactly what my parents had! Mum liquidised it to begin with, and then it got lumpier as I got older! When I wanted to turn vegetarian, I was told I could - so long as I cooked my own meals!!! I did....

There are the two schools of thought, let them choose what they want to eat, or the eat or starve....

My sister ate spaghetti for months when she was little, apparently my mum was told, that was fine, if that's all she want to eat she got her nutrients that way and sis moved onto other food when she wanted!

However, as for feeding the little ones - how old are they?? If he likes chicken dippers - try making them, so that they look like what he is used to when on his plate, but if he happens to see you when cooking them will see what they come from, as he gets used to that it should be easier to start adding to his food repetoire. (I hope that makes sense....!) (You can also mix things into his food this way so that he can't see it, but still gets the nutrients he needs.

culpepper · 20 April 2005 at 7:04PM

ours have always had the same as us.
When OH was on shifts I used to cook in the evening and eat with him,the kids got it for lunch next day, then had 'tea ' later of sandwiches etc.
When they were at school and now , OH gets back anytime from 6 onwards, so i cook for myself and kids to eat together and OH's goes in the microwave for him to heat up when he gets home.
We were delivering one of our nephews back to his mum after a visit and were shocked to see 2 chicken nuggets,about 10 chips and a spoonful of peas was his dinner with a tiny little mousse type thing for 'pudding'. I dont know, it might have had as many calories as a plate full of bolognaise but it put me in mind of the old space age films where the astronaut had 2 pills for first course and another one for afters

Quackers · 20 April 2005 at 7:20PM

Me & hubby both work full time, hubby works shifts and I'm the only vegetarian in the house. Sunday is the only day we all eat together - Its only the same meal though if we have a roast dinner (mine minus the meat).

Once a fortnight my girls have their tea at their Nans for the whole week (how moneysaving is that

), the other week their dad is home to pick them up from school and cook their tea. We dont all eat together as my girls are hungry before I get home - they wouldn't last.

They eat healthily enough - how we eat and what time we eat and whether we eat the same meals or not is irrelevant to me. As another poster said in an ideal world we'd all eat the same meal at the table together - this just isn't possible for us. We do it on Sundays, on my day off in the week when hubby is home and obviously when we eat out. Oh, and on 25th Dec

furrypig · 20 April 2005 at 7:26PM

feeding children can be sooo difficult and as with most issues re child 'rearing' it's often a case of whatever works for you.
I often used to give the kids what I call 'frozen kiddie [email="cr@p'"]!!!!!!'[/email] even if it was organic!! But I have now banned chicken nuggets as I have decided these are awful after seeing Jamie Oliver! My kids are usually hungry by 5 pm so have meals seperately. My oldest is fussy and likes the kiddy food but the youngest will eat anything. During the week we have meals seperately though sometimes I will manage a meal together if they eat late and we eat early. We do try and have a family meal at weekends, usually a roast as this is one meal that we all agree on.
The children like getting involved in cooking though they don't always like the outcome! I am trying to do more homemade stuff and have been known to tell the oldest if she leaves it that there is nothing else. They do like fruit and veg so we can usually work something out.

So sorry that you were unhappy in Money saving ol' style. No one there would mean to cause offence or upset and I have found them to be really helpful, friendly and honest. At the end of the day we can take what advice we find useful and ignore the rest as we all have our own opinions!!

Good luck with this as it can be a difficult one, so go with what feels right for you and your family.

Spendless · 20 April 2005 at 7:55PM

To be honest I have a similar problem as it can vary from week to week and day to day when my hubby comes in.

Even if he comes in at the standard 5.45 the kids are often moaning that they're hungry (they're 5 and 2).

What I do is either offer a snack after eldest gets in from school, and we have a family meal together when husband gets in or if husband is late I do a seperate meal for kids at earlier time.

If the kids are eating earlier I sit at the table with them (with a coffee) and have my meal later with husband.

ka7e · 20 April 2005 at 8:01PM

Swizzlebabe, you can get round the problem by choosing meals that fit in with your kids and husband (and just as importantly, save time!).
Make a stew or casserole - mush it up a bit for the kids, then add some wine (or dry cider) to it for your own evening meal and put it back in the oven in a covered dish, on a low heat.
Cook pasta dishes (spag bol/ tri-colour pasta with a plain tomato sauce + grated cheese/pasta shells with smoked ham+fried onion+cheese). Keep back postions of the sauce etc and just cook fresh pasta portions for yourself and husband.
And you can't please everybody all the time, but encourage your kids to be adventurous with their food! I always put a little of everything on my kid's plates, even when they said they didn't like it. Most things they will eventually try again. My daughter rediscovered peas at 14 and decided they were actually "alright"!

Meals for kids, same as rest or differant?

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