What type of mom are you?

brendas026

Im talking about meals: Are you the type that asks your kids what they want to eat and make it or
like me, the type that makes my choice of meal and they have to eat it because this is not a restaurant.
although i let them pick whatever they want once a week, I knew a person that had 2 kids and she would make 2 different meals three times a day, everyday! thats exhausting.

macpatti

I decide what's for dinner. I'll give them options for breakfast, though.

creech6317

My kids are grown now, but I was raised (and so were they) if you don't like what was made for dinner, go hungry. I never had the time, money, or inclination to make multiple meals for my kids. I guess I am just mean that way.
Although I was never mean and made things I knew they would hate (liver and onions, one of my fave things) unless I knew they were going to be gone.

NikkiSmo

I will usually make what I want and adjust it to suit them as well. For example last night I made fish, roasted sweet potatos and a veggie medley. For the rest of the family I made fish, white potatos and corn. I guess it was an additional pot for the corn. There are days when I know that my kids won't eat what I'm fixing so that is the nights I give them chicken nuggets but thats rare I just try and fix food that are good for me and yummy for them it's not going to hurt them to tr new things, I have been very suprised at their reactions I have had only one meal tank! Now that not to say they don't eat dinner then go get an ice cream but at least dinner was healthy!!

runningmom27

I have a 3 yo and an 11month old....I make what i feel like having and they eat it, obviously there are some things i still cant put in the babies mouth, but other than that, i dont run a restaurant. It has been like that since day one and it is great...on saturday i asked my 3yo what he wanted for dinner, his answer-sushi. Okay! Good enough:)

LinsenNRoses

I usually almost always decide what we are going to have. I'll give him the choice of what vegetable he wants and let him pick what to eat around once a week. If he doesn't like it then he isn't hungry! I rarely have that problem because he isn't picky because he knows better!!! :happy:

_VoV

My kids are 20 and 17 now, but I have to say I totally missed the boat on this one earlier on when they were little, and there's no steering it back. We eat absolutely no family meals together, except for 3 holidays every year. Everyone wants what they want, when they want it. I credit that to catering to their wishes when they were younger.

Some of that arose from personal doubt. I thought letting them respond to their own hunger, and desires (within reason) would be better than me--a portion-distorted mom--calling all the shots for them.

This approach yielded mixed results--a son who is fit and slim, who moderates his eating without difficulty and doesn't even weigh himself. And, a daughter, who struggles with extra weight (but, not as bad as I am).

gemgirlred

I decide what's for dinner. I'll give them options for breakfast, though.

I'm the same. I do put a few fruit or veggies out for my 21month old but not until he has at least tried dinner.

Turtlehurdle

I decide what she eats.

sillygoose1977

It is just my 10 year old daughter and me at home so she helps decide the meal planning. She is pretty sensible and knows what I am willing to cook.

snoopytwins

I decide what's for meals. I generally try not to fix things I know they absolutely hate, but I'm not a short-order cook. Once a week, I'll give them a couple of choices, say on a night I don't feel like "cooking." I also have the "you must try it before not liking it" rule (and they've discovered they like lots of things they didn't think they'd like), and we have an age/number of bites rule for things they'll eat but don't particularly like which is generally a vegetable or pasta or potato issue (green beans/potatoes/etc).

ETA...my boys are 5 and my daughter is 3.5...if you don't eat it, then I don't fix anything else.

rossi02

Most of the time me or my husband decides.. though sometimes we asked which they prefer. "Would guys like carrots and broccoli with your chicken.. or beans and fruit salad?" Getting them in on the process gets them a little more excited about what we are having. Plus, if I let the boys pick out the veggies and the fruit they want that week at the grocery store, they are more inclined to eat them.

*ETA, the other day I did make a mainly green meal because they had been playing incredible hulk all day... so we had *limited edition* so I said.. incredible hulk spinach noodles to go go along with their alfredo sauce, chicken and broccoli. If it brings excitment about healthy foods, I'm all for it.

tripitena

I was the mom who made one meal for my family and if they ate it, fine. If not they were hungry.

Of course I had no problem making an entirely separate meal for myself. :blushing: I'm veg and they are omni so....ya.

laurin2010

I decide because if it was up to him it would be junk. I give him options; do you want A or B, he can choose from that; that way he still has some sense of control. Don't get me wrong mama is a sugar queen so we do splurdge the good stuff every now and then! I try to cook all meals because I feel I need to instill healthy eating habbits now or I will struggle with getting him to eat proper nutrition he needs as my growing little boY! --i know all kids will be picky eaters but i do try to get him to eat healthy!

MichelleLydia

I almost always let him have a say, he's 3 and usually helping me in the kitchen anyways. I have no problem making multiple meals though, I grew up incredibly picky and understand not always liking what everyone else wants. My son usually picks healthy choices though yesterday he asked for quinoa, salmon and carrots for lunch. He gets himself breakfast when he gets up, we make lunch and dinner together.

tauny78

I try to get my kids involved with the meals. Yes, I decide, but I ask what they might like with the main course or if I have a couple options I'll let them choose. My kids are old enough now that for breakfast and lunch they are pretty much on their own (most the time), but at supper it is ultimately my decision. I will usually give them some options though and let them be included in the process. And of course from time to time they do get to choose the meal. Before I go shopping for the week I will ask everyone what 1 meal do they really want. I don't spoil my kids, but I want them to feel like they have choices and that what they want is important to me.

odusgolp

My kid prefers fresh fruit & veggies over McDonalds, so when I let him grab whatever he wants, I never have to worry.

That being said, I make dinner for the two of us... If it's clearly something very adult that he wouldn't like (I like to cook fancy), I will make him something more simple. You can easily prepare two chicken breasts two different ways

Give & Take.

mkaluzny

I had five children at home at one time. If they did not like the meal served; they were free to make something else. Guess what, all are much better cooks and bakers than their mom is.

Il_DaniD_lI

She eats whatever I feel like having for supper that day.

wolverine66

i am the masculine kind?

i have a 20 month old, and (being a first time parent) I do find myself occasionally making multiple things just so he eats. I try not to, but if i know he hasn't eaten well for breakfast or lunch, or both - i think it's important that he eat. i do plan on stopping that when "making" something else is more than getting a yogurt instead of apple sauce or cutting up a different piece of fruit.

Ivana331

for breakfast and lunch, they can eat what they choose, usually. Today I decided on mac and cheese because one box is too much for one kid, so they both have to eat that. But for dinner, it's one meal and that's that!!
Breakfast is usually cereal or pb&j, so that's not hard. Lunch they choose between fish sticks, corn dogs, chicken nuggets, sandwich, grilled cheese.... none of those are difficult or time consuming to make.
ETA: there are mealtimes. they do not get to eat whenever, I tell them it's lunchtime, if you don't eat now, you have to wait until dinner.

JessigirlJb

I will ask my family for preferences but usually the decision is left up to me.

vim_n_vigor

Im talking about meals: Are you the type that asks your kids what they want to eat and make it or
like me, the type that makes my choice of meal and they have to eat it because this is not a restaurant.
although i let them pick whatever they want once a week, I knew a person that had 2 kids and she would make 2 different meals three times a day, everyday! thats exhausting.

Breakfast there are usually a few options available, and lunch is options chosen from leftovers. There is one dinner, but I usually give them part of it to choose like - do you want peas or broccoli, or rice or potatoes, that sort of thing.

DonniesGirl69

She eats what I cook or she cooks for herself. :laugh:

That sounds mean, but she's 17.....she's capable and I work 2 jobs, so ya know......lol

Im_NotPerfect

They eat what my husband cooks. But we do ask for their input when planning our meals for the week.

Breakfast on the weekends is usually what they want.

7funnygirl7

I'm the cook in the house, so whatever I make, they eat! Thank goodness they are not picky eaters...LOL

WifeNMama

Breakfast has choices. Lunch and dinner is up to me. Sometimes I modify it a bit, like if I want spicy, I take out their portion before I season the rest. And ketchup, ranch, or hoi sin goes with any meat that isn't mixed into something already. I give them a choice between milk or water, and limit juice to one meal a day.

blonde71

I decide what's for dinner. I'll give them options for breakfast, though.

^^^^This. I tell that it's not a diner and I'm not a short-order cook, lol.

MrsMrtz

I decide what's for dinner. I'll give them options for breakfast, though.

THIS.

mgmlap

They can say what they want....but for the most part..I cook what is in the fridge..but I am lucky..my kids will eat anything. My oldest wanted chicken tikka masala on monday..and thats what I made.

CdnPgnMom

For me it depends on the day. Sometimes I will ask the kids what they want, but give them options to choose from. Other times I will make something and they are expected to eat it, going hungry if they don't want it. Also, when I do my meal plan/grocery list, I ask everyone in the family to choose one meal they would like me to buy the ingredients for. It makes them feel like they are a part of the whole process and the kids really look forward to it.