i can't be bothered

Bobbykins

Hi Claire

maybe it would help us to help you if you could post on here what meals your family DO like?

Perhaps we could then come up with some suggestions to cut down on the work in making them, or suggest cheaper/quicker/easier ways to make them in advance?

So, for example, what have you had for tea each night this week so far?

belfastgirl23

Hi Claire

I think your problem is that you are feeling overwhelmed by the idea of being OS. And I can tell you that I couldn't manage half the things that some of the people on these boards do and I don't have any kids. I'd suggest that you think about trying it for just one week. So sit down sometime tonight or tomorrow and work out five meals for next week. Base them around whatever your kids have regularly (corned beef shepherds pie ). And shop for them. Personally I too tend to do a bit of a cook up on a Sunday and make something big (casserole type thing that's often nicer on the second day) which I will have for dinner on Monday and either have again on Tuesday or freeze off a couple of portions. I would tend to prep on Monday whatever we're having on Tuesday and so on cos I'm always hungry when I get in from work and if I have to think about what I want it tends to be unhealthy.

In terms of the kids do you think they are particularly fussy eaters? And if so do you think it's a real genuine dislike of the foods or just being awkward? I suppose the problem is that you've given them a concept of having a choice so they are exercising it. If you will cook them something else or get a takeaway then they will probably play on that. I wonder if it would help to let them know in the morning what's for dinner so that they can be looking forward to it rather than asking them what they want when they're already hungry? Or even sitting down with the week's mealplan and planning it together?

Anyway just to say it's very much one step at a time. When you get into the way of it it's actually a lot more convenient, when you come in hungry and know what you're having it's fairly easy to prepare. But coming in hungry and not knowing what you're having or what's in is quite stressful.

Good luck!

clairewp

Bobbykins wrote: »

Hi Claire

maybe it would help us to help you if you could post on here what meals your family DO like?

Perhaps we could then come up with some suggestions to cut down on the work in making them, or suggest cheaper/quicker/easier ways to make them in advance?

So, for example, what have you had for tea each night this week so far?

I don't really want to say
ok then monday VEG soup ish done in slow cooker9kids moaned and ate half)
Tues fish, veg and savory rice( youngest had fish fingers) didn't eat all coz of bones
Wed kids,pizza chips(ate it all) us....KEBAB i know bad but i was out till 9.30.
Thurs ready meals son curry, daughter spag bol, us chilli bake
Tonight bad night kids wanted beans on toast ( now i know this is ok for one offs but thats what they wanted) us ?
Tom chicken in red wine sauce with veg and pots.(lets hope they eat it )
Sun roast beef ,veg , Yorkshire veg etc
i know your all gonna look at my week and revolt in shock horror ( i know i am )
help

CRANKY40

Looks like an ok week to me. Veg soup - I hate lumps and have to blend mine. Would that work for the kids?

Beans on toast is a great meal. It has protein, fibre and carbohydrates amongst other things.

Hmmm, I'm 40 and I'm still not keen on things in red wine sauce....and one of my ds's favourite things is home made curry or chilli, but the little pest will only eat it with pilau rice, sigh. We also have pizza, but ds makes his himself (I do the dough and freeze it in batches), and the rest is easier than you think. Roll the base out, spread some tomato puree and add toppings as chosen by children. Cheese is good for them and mine usually makes a face out of ripped up ham, hair out of sweetcorn and ears out of tomato slices.

moanymoany

clairewp wrote: »

I don't really want to say
ok then monday VEG soup ish done in slow cooker9kids moaned and ate half)
Tues fish, veg and savory rice( youngest had fish fingers) didn't eat all coz of bones
Wed kids,pizza chips(ate it all) us....KEBAB i know bad but i was out till 9.30.
Thurs ready meals son curry, daughter spag bol, us chilli bake
Tonight bad night kids wanted beans on toast ( now i know this is ok for one offs but thats what they wanted) us ?
Tom chicken in red wine sauce with veg and pots.(lets hope they eat it )
Sun roast beef ,veg , Yorkshire veg etc
i know your all gonna look at my week and revolt in shock horror ( i know i am )
help

Thursday - did you cook three meals - or were they ready meals? Sorry, just read through and saw they were ready meals. Chilli is only spag bog with chilli powder and red beans.

Baked beans are fine, think of putting a poached egg on it, give fruit for afters

It seems that your children have been dictating to you. I'm not suggesting you give them food they don't like, I suggest you sit with them to create a 7 day menu that includes some things you can make double and freeze half for another time. Then they eat what has been agreed. Don't allow a child to demand something else. It won't hurt them to go without a meal and it is a good lesson in life! If this happens give them a solid breakfast, maybe scrambled egg on toast.

jacket potatoes are a good base for meals.

clairewp

moanymoany wrote: »

Thursday - did you cook three meals - or were they ready meals? Sorry, just read through and saw they were ready meals. Chilli is only spag bog with chilli powder and red beans.

Baked beans are fine, think of putting a poached egg on it, give fruit for afters

It seems that your children have been dictating to you. I'm not suggesting you give them food they don't like, I suggest you sit with them to create a 7 day menu that includes some things you can make double and freeze half for another time. Then they eat what has been agreed. Don't allow a child to demand something else. It won't hurt them to go without a meal and it is a good lesson in life! If this happens give them a solid breakfast, maybe scrambled egg on toast.

jacket potatoes are a good base for meals.

They were ready meals,i understand your points completely but as for solid breakfasts, im lucky to get them to eat anything at all.1 will eat porridge 1 won't. Egg on toast they will only eat after 10 guess i need to get my strict head on

squeaky

And another "handling" trick...

..don't ask your kids an open question such as "What would you like for tea?" because they'll go pretty much anywhere. They aren't considering balance, or even likes and dislikes so much - it's more of a spur of the moment "I fancy this" sort of thing.

By all means "weight" things a bit towards where you want to go...

And give them a simple choice... "Do you want fish fingers, chips and beans; or would you prefer shepherds pie peas and sweetcorn?"

This way you are basically picking the menu - but they get the choice of the one meal for the night 'cos you sure as heck ain't making both

If they pick the fish fingers - fine... it just doesn't show up again on the menu choice for a couple of weeks

Between this and, on those rare occasions when you have the energy, involving them in the cooking can make a lot of difference. And having them produce their own toppings for pizza bases that you make is a simple way that most parents have found to start their kids off (I've seen it said on here lots of times). Just don't expect to get the pizza done in five minutes flat

pariskate

Hi Claire,
you have all my sympathy!! I too have kids who are a bit picky, though to be fair it's the eldest who is the real problem. Couple this with a husband who comes in late most evenings and sometimes I feel like I'm running a resto with individual menus for everyone.:rolleyes:
My 'picky' kid is a real meat and two veg man so that's fine but needs to be done on the night (and gets really boring for the rest of us, who like some variety). I'd love to have more ideas for stuff to put in the freezer or just 'chuck together' quickly but just can't seem to get myself organised or motivated enough.
I know I should be tough on the 'eat or go to bed hungry' line but it feels really mean if they have to make do on bread and cheese too often!
Ah well, lets just keep on trying,
Kate

purpleivy

I remember my mother asking me once when dd was very small why I was asking her what she wanted for tea. After that I asked her if she wanted x or y, either being OK with me.

You maybe need to ask yourself who the parent is in all this......ALthough I do know how difficult it can be with children. Mine are OK in the food dept, but not all areas! I couldn't see how old they are Claire.

belfastgirl23

I have beans on toast at least one night a week and a spaghetti and pesto or spaghetti and (defrosted) tomato sauce combo one other night. Convenience doesn't automatically mean that something is bad for you - beans on toast is a pretty okay meal in my book although admittedly living on it probably wouldn't be good. Don't set your standards too high this is my watchword anyway.