Cooking for kids..

Irishmummyof2

Last week i was minding my friends little boy and i had made sausages and mash for my 2( 6 and 3) and lasagne for dh and i, my friends wee boy K wanted lasagne and i was very surprised.
I usually end up making 2 meals every night one for us and one for kids as they won't eat proper food, they want chicken nuggets, mas, sausages and grravy or noodles.
Dh has said that they will grow out of it whereas i want to make one meal and either they eat it or they don't.
Dh and i eat at 5.45pm when he gets in from work and i have been giving the kids theirs at 4.00pm, but if we all eat together and they don't eat it, should i give them supper, any tips/ advice, is very very welcome.

Patricia

Curv

Hi

My 17 month old is sort of in the middle of where your kids are... sometimes he eats what we have and sometime he has his own stuff. This is because, like you, DH, DS1 and I all tend to eat a bit too late for him. So what I'm starting to do is on the days when he can't eat with us, I save a portion of whatever we are having and warm it up for him the next day. That way I'm still cooking one meal, IYSWIM?

But he doesn't always like what I give him (he's still learning, bless him)... if that happens I tend to give him something like porridge or Shreddies for his pudding - that way I know he's getting something down him but without going to the hassle of cooking something different. If I thought for one second that he was refusing food out of awkwardness, he wouldn't get anything else. He has to at least try his meal to qualify for pudding. I'm sure that makes me look like a horrible mother, but I can't be doing with picky kids and there's no way I'm going to pander to that sort of behaviour. *steps down from soap box*

He also has a drink of milk at bedtime, so that tops him up a bit.

HTH

Curv x

allIcouldwishfor

I would have thought that at 3 and 6 they are quite old enough to eat what you have.

Mine (3 and 5) don't always like something the first time they try it but as long as they taste a few mouthfuls I'm happy. If they won't try it the alternative is to go straight to bed, they rarely go for this option but it has been known. If they don't eat at least half of each thing on their plate they don't get any dessert.

Given the choice between starving and eating proper food, all children will eventually eat the food. If you always give them the "get-out" of chicken nuggets you'll be cooking two (or three) different meals every night until they leave home!

Penelope_Penguin

Hi! I think it's very important for families to eat together. That way the children learn how to behave and interact in a *formal* setting with adults. There's also a chance to chat about the day's events and discuss family issues, holiday plans, etc.

Having said that, when my children were that age they were *starving* when they got back from school. I gave them a helathy but filling snack - HM cake or biscuit, cheese and crackers/on toast, sandwich, salad, fruit. They could then eat a main meal with us later.

That way you can feed everyone the same. I'd advise to only give your children one choice (unless it's something they really don't like, but keep that list short ). If they don't want it, don't force them to eat it, but don't offer anything else, apart from something plain (bread and butter ).

Additionally, do they help you to cook? Even if it's only chopping a carrot, or opening a tin, they may be happier to eat something they're been involved with. We often get out the cookery books and each choose a new dish - could you do that with yours?

Children don't benefit from having a narrow range of tastes and being labelled *fussy*.

HTH, Penny. x

Pink.

Hi Irishmummy,

There is a lot of good advice on these older threads that might help:

Meals for kids, same as rest or different?

Kids And The Eat Or Starve Approach To Os

A confession of a bad mother for feeding kids

Heeelpp! Having problems menu planning due to fussy kids!

Pink

newmrslockwood

My kids always eat what we are having. we eat together at the table when my DH gets home from work. If they wont eat what is put on the table tough. I have done this since weening them from 6 months old. Kids are 2, 4 and 13 now and they eat most foods.I don't make a big deal out of it though, If the food doesn't get eaten they have to wait till next meal time which is breakfast. they do have a warm milky drink to go to bed with. I know that if they not eaten much tea they will have a massive breakfast. Lasagne is an ideal food for kids to enjoy, and it can be saved for later if your DH home too late to eat with kids.
HTH

tiff

I always refused to cook two meals, so I cook one for all of us. If my DH is going to be late I reheat his when he gets in. We all prefer this, that way I can get everything cleared up. You need to be persistent with the kids, they wont like everything, but they need to be persuaded to eat what you eat. Give them their favourites and make those often, but add in new foods all the time.

My OH gets home from work at 5.45pm too and we get home from school just before 4pm. We eat our meal with my DH when he gets in, so the kids usually have a snack, (fruit, crackers, crisps) if they are hungry after school. I have found if I feed them a meal at 4.30 they are hungry again at bedtime, so I prefer it the other way round.

Irishmummyof2

Thanks for all the replies and looks like dh's idea is out the window.
Tonight we are having leek and butterbean crumble, mash and hopefully it won't be world war 3.

MRSMCAWBER

Hi there

Perhaps you could tell them that you are all going to be eating one meal form now on...but then allow them 1 day each to pick their favourite... Pizza, burgers, chicken nuggets are all really easy and cheap to make..if its a weekend meal when you have more time they could even help out with the cooking....they may well be willing to try more things if they have made them....

morganb

Irishmummyof2 wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies and looks like dh's idea is out the window.
Tonight we are having leek and butterbean crumble, mash and hopefully it won't be world war 3.

Good luck! Any chance of the recipe ... please!

Curv

You just beat me to it, morganb... and what's not to like about leek and butterbean crumble? Surely the kids will love it?!