I need some food help...bad!

fiendiish

Ok...you're gonna need some background to understand this.

My husband and I have 2 children. It's always the 4 of us and it's easy to stay within my grocery budget and still feed everyone healthy, whole foods.

For 3 weeks every summer, his 3 children from his first marriage stay with us. (They are coming in tonight actually...they live across the country). Their mother eats trash and feeds them trash. They eat candy and burgers and pizza rolls and raman noodles (gag) and all the crap I DO NOT keep in my house...I'm quite sure they never eat an apple when they aren't here...but trying to force them to eat the way we do will cause a HUGE protest...especially when 344 days out of the year, they eat the way they do. Healthy eating is a gradual process that even the two that live here have a hard time with sometimes.

And if I let the other 3 eat the crap...then how fair is it for me to tell the 2 that live here that they can't have that??

How in the world do I cater to 3 extremely picky kids who eat nothing but trash....be fair to my husband and other 2 kids and NOT demolish my lifestyle for the next month...AND stay within budget??

Sigh.

Edit: To clarify the "budget" issue. I'm not trying to stay within the same budget I spend for just the 4 of us....but I am trying to not spend over double to cater to so many different eating habits.

xarrium

I'm not sure what your relationship with his kids is like, but see if they're willing to help you prepare healthy food--usually kids are more likely to try healthy foods when they've had a part in creating them.

WrenLynn

First things first there will be no way that you can spend the same amount of money as you are adding three mouths to feed whether that is healthy or unhealthy food. I would try to be a little more lenient during the time they are there and try to focus on the children and not how it is going to affect you as they see their parent very little per your post. Offer healthy stuff but don't cram it down their throats. Enjoy being with them and try not to stress because having them around for that short of time is not going to undo all the good you have done for you and your two kids. Good luck.

fiendiish

I'm not sure what your relationship with his kids is like, but see if they're willing to help you prepare healthy food--usually kids are more likely to try healthy foods when they've had a part in creating them.

I have an excellent relationship with the kids but I do mean it when I say that they wouldn't even DREAM of eating a salad or a piece of fruit.

fiendiish

First things first there will be no way that you can spend the same amount of money as you are adding three mouths to feed whether that is healthy or unhealthy food. I would try to be a little more lenient during the time they are there and try to focus on the children and not how it is going to affect you as they see their parent very little per your post. Offer healthy stuff but don't cram it down their throats. Enjoy being with them and try not to stress because having them around for that short of time is not going to undo all the good you have done for you and your two kids. Good luck.

Ok first, yes I am fully aware of that. Second, worrying about what we are eating does not take away from enjoying them being here. Two totally different things. I'm allowed to worry about all the work we have done here and how I can meld two COMPLETE opposite sides into a happy medium.

kaytij

My best friend has a wonderful cook book by Jerry Seinfeld's wife called Deceptively Delicious. It's all recipes for foods that appear to be junk-ish but are actually really good for them. She uses puree's of veggies that aren't so popular with most kids (cauliflower, squash, etc.) and works them into recipes like homemade chicken nuggets and brownies that are amazing. I hope this helps!

Mirlyn

Well I don't know about the budget issue, I think that is going to go out of the window. That being said, I know you shop at TJ's alot and there are plenty of things at TJ's that seem like junk but aren't. We had the most fantabulous cheese enchiladas the other night from TJ's and they were not bad at all, and not expensive ($4.30 for 4 servings.) I have some veggie chips and some jalapeno cheddar crunchie things that are like cheetos as well that have fooled my husband. Natural PB & Jam? Stuff that they won't know is a healthier version but it is so they still feel comfortable with the foods?

borisda

Hi
In my opinion your husband should support you and I don't mean he should take side but support you in the fact that you are providing an healthy diet. And you may see this as just clean sweeping the issue but " when in rome" so they eat what you eat when at yours and if (most unlikely) you at theirs then eat the crap.
I hope this helps Jay

Rhonnie

I must first admit I was not the best at feeding my kids the good healthy stuff when they were little - so I have no credibility.

I do know, that you can't fix 3-5 different meals snacks for them to eat every meal/snack because they are picky eaters (I have friends that do this with their kids claiming they won't eat otherwise...if they skip a meal or two because they don't like something... believe me they will eat the next meal no matter what it is!)

Kids LOVE feeling like they are in charge... Every meal give two choices. Maybe one that is a really healthy meal, but comes with a desert (strawberry shortcake made with just sliced strawberries, angel food cake, and fat free whip cream is an example of a sweet but not horrible for you desert) and then the other meal is a little less healthy (not sure what, maybe homemade baked chicken nuggets (which they love to help make) and baked fries) but with a desert that is a little more healthy (melons, or apple sauce or something like that).

I don't know how you feel about food as a reward... but make an exchange system. They want a bag of baked chips? Then they have to turn off the TV and go outside and ride their bike for 1/2 an hour, etc. Or maybe they want to go to a movie or something... make a deal that if you do then they have to eat all their salad at dinner.

As mentioned... fill your house with healthy snacks and/or 100 calorie packs.

Good luck! I admire your love for your stepchildren and your hope of having everyone eating healthy!

-r