Question for ladies with families....
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I should ammend... if I want a very low cal meal, I will make that for myself, and something else for hub and kids. If he wants bacon and eggs for breakfast I make heart papliation and explosion sounds until he gets mad at me and settles for eggs and an apple.0
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I am pretty fortunate to have a nonpicky household, but in the instance something is made that someone doesn't care for, they've got the option of eating leftovers or making a sandwich. No new meals will be made! My hubby is a seasonal worker and does all of the cooking and cleaning during the winter months, I do it during the summer...fair system for us!
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I totally blogged about this once.
But of also like to add that most veggies suck because most people don't know how to prepare them.
Steaming/boiling/microwaving vegetable is disgusting. As are most frozen and canned vegetables.
Try introducing fresh vegetables and roasting or sautéing them.
Also, serve dinner family style and allow your oldest to seve himself. Don't freak. He'll eventually start picking healthy items too! Ad put a little bit of everything on your daughters plate. Same rule! Don't freak!
Good luck and don't give up.
And regarding your husband; if he doesn't want to do it for himself then maybe you can encourage him to at least try during family meals so your children don't also end up diabetics.
X's.0 -
I have 5 children so I make 1 dinner and that is it! We always have a full dinner with a fruit, veggie, main dish, and bread. There has to be at least one thing they will eat or there is cereal;)0
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you'd think so, but no. He was never taught how to cook ANYTHING! He cant even make toast withought burning it. It's pretty sad. His mom always taught him that's why you find a wife. Ugh. And I tried to teach him to cook. After 5 minutes he says"I don't have patience for this" and leaves.
I received a husband in exactly the same shape 34 years ago. He learned really quickly that if he didn't smarten up he might very well starve to death. I didn't care if he couldn't make tap water because he's a functioning adult in all other respects so he could figure it out. He quickly learned to eat what was put on his plate and he also learned to cook. I had a meeting after work last night and come home to a lovely dinner he had prepared.
He's your husband, your equal, not your mentally challenged 3rd child!0 -
I will only ever cook a seperate meal if I really want to eat something that someonelse in the house is allergic to, and then it is my choice.
My fiance and I are pretty good with eating most things that are put in front of us but I must admit that he has had to coax and encourage me over the past few years to eat fish ( I only ever ate it if trying to be polite at someone's house!) , which culminated in a huge victory last autumn when I bought my first whole fish from the fish monger and had to prepare the whole thing before we cooked and ate it. I'm still not a huge fan but I wouldn't dream of refusing a plate of fish now as I know its not so bad.
Sneak in some extra veg to sauces, stick loads of delicious fruits on their deserts and get them snacking on some carrots and celery sticks with low fat cream cheese, yummers!0 -
You're not running a restaurant. You cook as you've been doing, healthy meals with veg and they take it or leave it.
In our house there is no option to leave it, the food is good for them so they need to eat it.
My hubby didn't eat much veg when we first met, but he's totally changed. He does most of the cooking and veg is served with every meal.0 -
What if you made something like spaghetti squash with meat sauce or egg plant lazagna (or spinach instead of the noodles).
What about things like tacos? Meals where the vegetables are hidden in the meal
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Do something now while they are still young. If Dad is not going to eat right in front of the kids, don't let him sit at the table with you and the kids when you eat so that you are the one setting the example for them. Surely Dad knows that his eating habits are not good. Appeal to his senses as a father. Ask him if he wants to pass on his eating habits as a legacy to his children or do something to make their lives better.
This....and, you are not operating a restaurant!!! The habits your kids get into now will affect them forever, you know this I'm sure. If you are in charge of the kitchen, then TAKE CHARGE!!! When your kids are healthy adults who eat well without a second thought, they will appreciate your efforts in their youth. When your healthy husband is playing with his grandchildren, he'll be thanking you too! 0 -
Just like kids...A husband will eat whatever if fixed for him, if he gets hungry enough. lol... But seriously, find new/healthy food that the whole family can try together and always work in new recipes. That way they can't say they don't like it, if they have never tried it.0
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be an example...if the kids don't want what I cook they have to eat half of it and then forage for healthy alternatives themselves. Carrots, quesadillas, pretzels, cheese, eggs. My kids are older , 9 and 11yo, so a little more self sufficient..but I also don't go out of my way to make things they hate. They both have their likes and dislikes. My older son will eat carrots and homemade kale chips.. the youngers son likes salad and peas...I ask them what they would like, and they help me plan the meals for the week...so I would suggest you ask for input...and have healthy alternatives.
I ditched my husband long ago, so I can't give you input there..he's an adult and if he doesn't like it, I'm sure he knows how to forage too...but I must say that as an adult with some serious health issues, I'd think he would like to be a healthy example to his children...and take care of himself for their sake.0 -
PERSONALLY I would not make ANY CHANGES to what you already do (if you're incorporating fruits n veggies already). We have to SHOW by example. If the hubby don't like it, he doesn't have to eat it but the kids--i'd put my foot down bc we have to TRAIN THEM to eat right. That's just my opinion. I would say, as far as the kids, try to be creative when preparing/serving them fruits and veggies. Who knows, hubby may even be tempted to try 0
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I have this same issue. It's hard to eat healthy all the time with all males in the house, a growing teenage son and my husband who aren't on diets. I say continue to make stuff with vegetables in it. your husband can not put vegetables on his plate and you should find a way to make the vegetables tasty for the kids or get them v8 type drinks cuz they need to have vegetables in their diets. with making the stuff that everyone likes to eat just use portion control. it's not always about having a plate full of healthy stuff as it is about making the food on the plate in smaller portions. try that0
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My husband is crazy fussy about food. I make sure that one thing I cook he will eat, if he snubs his nose at the rest, oh well.
My kids are very good eaters, so I am lucky there, but I will say they are even better about things when they get to pick out veggies and fruits.0 -
I'd say you need to MAKE SURE the kids don't become their dad.
However you have to make that happen, the kids need to eat healthy.0 -
You need the sign I have in my kitchen: Today's Menu...eat it or starve!
THIS!!0 -
We are like dogs, cats, birds and any other animal that needs to eat in order to survive--if we get hungry enough we'll eat it. We have all been in a situation where we are starving to death and we find a linty mint in our purse or a piece of gum from when gum was invented in our pocket and we eat it . Kids and husbands operate the same exact way.
What I have done is fused all of our tastes together and created a monthly menu that can satisfy us all. Prior to making the menu, I sat down with the fam (Husband, The Girl - 10, The Boy - 12) and ran down a long list of everything from juice to pastas to veggies to sauces. From there I made my list of compromise foods. From those "compromise foods" I created my menu. My husband is also lactose intolerant and loves cereal and ice cream and cheese so at least once a week I create a dish with one of those things in it. Does he complain later? Yes, but it was good going down.:drinker: LOL
Some things on there they don't like so they don't eat, but I post it up on the fridge and I don't entertain the "I don't want that" attitude. My son tried me the other day and after about 30 min of being hungry, he sat his *kitten* right down and ate what I cooked. Your kids are young enough to where they have to eat what you give them but you kinda have to make it fit their taste buds. Most kids are not going to just jump at the chance to eat cooked carrots--even I hate them--but would they eat them another way? I also include my children in the cooking process. That helps a lot too. And then I also make sure that we have a complete and total whatever kind of meal day. That helps because they know they can suffer through Mon-Thurs and then get what they want on Friday.
Good luck! Just remember you are the boss.:glasses:0 -
Well my husband and I work together on planning our meals so that HE'S cooking something that everyone will eat. For our kids, whatever they turn their noses up at, they just don't eat. We refuse to be a diner....we make 1 meal for everyone. Made them try Chicken Chow Mein last night and they LOVED it. The only concession we'll make is if we're having something we KNOW they won't eat (for example, if we're having Haddock Fillets and we'll make them fish sticks).
But we are also very lucky in that our kids (ages 6 and 4) love veggies (take after their dad!), so that's rarely the fight.0 -
When I was little, each kid had a "list of 5." These were five things we could opt out from if they were served. Since one of mine for a long time was chicken, I ended up making myself other meals sometimes. Others, though, were silly: beets (which were never served), peas (which my mom hated too, and therefore were never served). I'd choose differently now.
As a child, it put me in a bind. I CHOSE what not to eat. Hence, I had to eat everything else cooked for me.0 -
No surprise I'm divorced! LOL.
As the father of children, aren't they supposed to think of the kids before themselves, or is this just a mom thing?0 -
I don't have advice about the husband because mine eats anything! Lol, but I have a picky daughter and I sneak in veggies by making smooties for breakfast and throwing in a carrot or some spinach. If you use vanilla greek yogert, bananas and berries it will be sweet enough to hide the veggies. Also, if you make homemade burgers or a meatloaf you can chop up spinach or zucchini real fine and put them in your meat mixture. They'll never know!!! Hope this helps a little! 0
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So there's me, my husband my 3 /12 year old son and my 1 year old daughter. My husband hates vegetables, maybe likes only 4 or 5 fruits, loves red meat and bacon and sausage, is lactose intolerant, o doesnt drink milk, but still insists on eating cheese, pasta and bread.(And hes diabetic :noway: ) my kids are starting to stick their noses up at veggies because dad does. Well, I do the shopping for the household. I do ALL of the cooking. Should I just start making meals and either him and the kids eat or they don't?? I'm sick of making different things for everyone!!!! Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated!!
The other thing I would say is make sure your husband realizes what kind of example he's being for the kids. SHOW him that because HE'S not eating certain things, neither are they. Kind of like that commercial where she replaces the dad's and kid's orange soda with a bottle of water. They follow by example and your kids are young enough that they are sponges and will absorb whatever you teach them at this point.0 -
Well, I don't have a family, but I grew up in a "eat what mom cooks or go hungry" house. And it worked. I was a fit, healthy, active kid, and I love all kinds of foods.
Catering to everyone's likes and dislikes will create unhealthy, over weight kids who are picky eaters. No one wins at that game.0 -
Should I just start making meals and either him and the kids eat or they don't??
Absolutely!
You mentioned that your husband can't cook. I'd say your husband can't cook YET and doesn't want to learn. But if you are willing to do all the shopping and cooking, then go for it. Find some new healthy recipes and cook up a storm!0 -
You need the sign I have in my kitchen: Today's Menu...eat it or starve!
WINNING!!!:drinker:0 -
And I tried to teach him to cook. After 5 minutes he says"I don't have patience for this" and leaves.
Oh boy, does he have YOU figured out! If I pretend to be useless in the kitchen, I get to leave and my wife will cook for me.
If it were me, I'd make dinner and if he didn't like it, he could make himself something else. If he can't pour a bowl of cereal, I guess he's screwed. You are not his personal chef, you do not exist solely to please his finicky toddler palate.0 -
I cook for a family of 6 and they can be picky but have really gotten the healthy eating bug with me. I will not cook different meals. It's enough to organise for 6 as it is.0
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You do the cooking in your house so your family should eat what you eat. I certainly wouldn't waste time trying to please everyone, you'll be permanently stressed and people will still find fault.
You will be doing your children the biggest favour in the world by setting them up for a healthy lifestyle, plus they will be the kids that everyone wants to have home for dinner as they won't be picky eaters!!
My eldest is 18 and he still picks mushrooms out of his spaghetti bolognaise at home, but I know that when he goes out to eat anywhere, he eats EVERYTHING that is put in front of him. At the end of the day, we're aiming for healthy children that will try all foods.
As for your husband ... tell him that he should know better ;-) Good luck!0 -
My boyfriend and my daughter are both typically very picky eaters. I do find though that we can make slight adjustments. I prefer lots of vegetables and they prefer little to none. I have been compromising by cutting vegetables up smaller and limiting them to the kinds they like (like onion and red pepper). We do also make my daughter eat whatever is prepared for dinner but might make modifications - she likes plain peppers and not mixed in so maybe she will have everything separate instead of mixed together. My daughter is six so she can also give me her input better than your older child can but sometimes if she helps in the kitchen she's more likely to eat it. Good luck!0
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You need the sign I have in my kitchen: Today's Menu...eat it or starve!
^^^ Yep! Rules to live by in my house!0
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