You let your kids eat what??

We eat pretty uniformly the same. Sometimes the sides are things that I know my kids don't like (brussel sprouts, as an example). I say they have to take one and eat it, and they can have the stuff they like with it. I always make sure there is at least one thing for supper that they LIKE so that they can get a decent amount of food. I will usually have a salad (so will my husband and one of my daughters), but the rest of the kids don't like salad. They get to have whatever veggie I make. I try to stick to fairly healthy recipes that we can all enjoy.

My one son pretty much refuses to eat meat, so it's a little more difficult for him to eat what we usually have (the only meat he'll eat is a turkey burger or shredded chicken in a gravy over brown rice--other than that, forget it!). He ends up with cheerios for supper half the nights a week...

my mom did the same thing. If you don't eat what you are given, then you don't and that is what you're given next time. Children shouldn't dictate to the parent what they will and won't eat. just gives them the idea later in life that they will get their own way on other situations.

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My mom definately did the same thing! If she was going to invest her time (and money) on preparing a meal, then we were REQUIRED to eat it. I can remember when I first got my own car, job, etc. I didn't like what she cooked, so I was going to go run through a drive through. Well, that was my *kitten*! Not only did I not get to to to the drive through, but I also didn't get what she cooked, lol.

bump...I am so guilty of this :sad:

If I didn't eat what my mom cooked I went without. If you let your kids run your menu then be prepared to eat mac and cheese and chicken nuggets EVERY night... My kids will eat what I cook or go to bed hungry. I'm not worried, They will eat when they get hungry enough. It frustrates me when people let their kids have anything they want because they are "picky".

Most of the time my 5 year old will eat whatever we are having. However, when I fix a spicy Cajun or Mexican meal I don't expect him to eat it and will prepare him something else. Even if he does have frozen chicken nuggets, he will have at least two veggies right beside of them and must eat the majority of the veggies. I encourage him to try new things....sometimes he does, sometimes he doesn't.....I don't make a big deal about it.

As a child, if my Mother wanted me to try something and I refused to take a bite, I had to sit there until I did or until it was bedtime. I didn't eat it. I just sat in the same spot and did not eat. This happened on many occassions at lunch time and I had to sit there ALL DAY....lol. I choose not to partake in this type of battle with my child.

One more thing... kids are very visual... so I let my girls look though food magazines ( love Martha Stewart Every Day Food) typically good food that is fairly easy to make and even lists the majority of calorie counts for meals. They look the the magazine every month and pick out food that "looks tasty". Then I incorporate those meals into our week... if they want they get to help, and when they pick it out and help, they are normally excited to see what it taste like. I have gotten my girls to eat all kinds of things this way. Good luck to you. Being a mom is a hard job, but teaching your kids how to eat healthy will benefit them their entire life.

I am not one to strong arm my kid into eating something they truly seem to detest. Aren't you really teaching your child that food is now about power and control? I don't want my kids thinking food is something of a control issue. That being said, I am not a short order cook. I do try to plan ahead and if I am making something I know my EXTREMELY picky 6 yr old won't eat I will make one alternative for her. She used to eat EVERYTHING and then she hit 3 and somehow dinner became evil! If she flat out refuses to eat then she will go to bed with no dinner. And she is not the least bit fazed by it! I do require that she stay at the table until the rest are done eating as dinner is more than just the food. I buy healthy food, and a few treats but she definitely has to earn the treats by making healthy choices too. A wise doctor once told me "kids will eat what they need naturally" so as long as I don't allow her to go free-willy on junk I am trusting her body to guide her, along with some encouragement from me! She's growing and healthy so something's gotta be working!

This isn't answering the OP question...but... Annie's makes some tasty organic "kid friendly" food... at least it's organic!

I guess I was a strange kid. Chocolate was my only weakness. I'm not saying I ate really healthy all the time, but my mom never even had to ask me to eat my veggies. I loved broccoli and carrots. She did burn me out on chicken, but I ate it because that was what we were having. No discussion or other choices available.

There are a 100 different opinions on this topic, but I'll tell you how I handle it. I have 3 kids to feed - 11yr, 17yr, and 21yr old. First off, I decided to never make food a battle. The kids have free access to the healthy snacks... variety of fruits and vegetables and protein sources, like cottage cheese, string cheese, boiled eggs and yogurts. I try to make sure there is plenty available to chose from. My kids have their different hunger levels, and I don't want to limit or monitor foods - so they can have unlimited quantities. They can eat as much as they want - of those foods listed above. Instead of worrying about "bad" foods, we worry about the nutritional quality of different foods. "Hey son, there isn't alot of nutritional value in those doritos... make sure you pay attention to the serving size and save room for something more nutritious." "Bad" foods aren't bad... but I want my kids to be aware that they don't have much nutritional value, and to treat it as such.

When my kids were younger, I would make comments like "Oh wow, we are late for lunch - I bet your body is just screaming for some baby carrots right now!" "Your tongue may want chicken nuggets but your body wants a sweet apple - how can you get the two to compromise?" "I am going to bring cheese with us to the park, because I know you will need a snack and I want to give you something to help give your body more energy!" With one of my children, I pretended to listen to their wrist, and their body would "tell" me what it needed. "Oh boy - your body says it needs vegetables!! Let's hurry and go chose one!"

One of my favorite sayings now, with older children is "Looks like you are slowing down. Is your body saying it's had enough?" I point out to them when they are uncomfortable from eating too much, and remind them of it at other appropriate times. And never, ever do I tell them to finish what's on their plate. In my house, it's ok to waste food. Better the extra calories go in the garbage rather than on your body.

As they got older, it got easier. I am able to reason with them more. I try to cook or serve two fruits or vegetables every meal, usually a salad and some steamed veggies. I *try* not to be a short order cook. I am aware of the kids' preferences, so I try to have one fruit or veggie that they like.

I try to make the fruits and veggies as easy to eat as possible. I cut the watermelon into bite sized chunks. I wash the apples and grapes before putting them away. Cut up cauliflower, broccoli, and celery. Make it ready to go. I have also learned that if I take steps at meal times to make it easy for them, they eat it. If I tell the "salad is in the fridge" they don't bother to get it out. If all the fixins are on the counter, they help themselves.

We haven't always been good about our portions - so now it is a game to find your correct portion! Guess how much a half cup of ice cream is! If I win, you'll try those brussell sprouts I am going to cook tomorrow. If you win, you get to chose the radio station in the car next errand out. They are good at this, and we have made it all kinds of fun! The kids love playing with the scale.

The scale and the very basics of nutrition can be a learning experience for small children. Let them look at the numbers on the scale. Let them add and subtract food to get to different numbers. Have a "vitamin/nutrient of the week" game... where you teach the bare basics "Vitamin A is good for the eyes! Let's look online or on packages with thing with Vitamin A" Or you can make a meal with Vitamin A rich foods.

And last but not least, with very small children, I always insisted they put a spoonful of each meal foods on their plate. Quinoa? Just a spoonful, so they can get used to the foreign look of it. I have found a few times of this gets them to try it, eventually.

Good luck!!

My grandchildren live with me and the 3 year old girl will eat anything that doesn't eat her first. Whatever I eat, she figures it must be good or I wouldn't be eating it. The 5 year old wouldn't touch a vegetable when he first came. Now he loves salad, and will eat a variety of other vegetables. The other day they both scarfed down brussels sprouts without so much as a peep! They also love kale chips. I've discovered that any vegetable that will get crunchy in the oven is a big hit. They like broccoli florets cooked at 450 until they start to get crispy. They both like salmon. My daughter is not big into cooking or nutrition. When the kids moved in, they figured all meals must either come in a fast food bag or be delivered by the pizza guy. They switched over to real food a little at a time. And things that the boy wouldn't eat at first, are staples for him now. Just keep offering it to her, or talking about how good it is when you are eating it. Eventually you can win her over, one food item at a time.

I don't have kids but If I did I think I would let them eat some of what they want mixed with some of what I want. For example, mac and cheese. I loved that as a kid and I still do. Annies makes an all organic macaroni and cheese that is a healthy alternative to the Kraft brand. If your daughter only likes that kind, just try adding some veggies to it or something to jazz it up with a healthy little twist. As your daughter gets older she will be more accepting to trying new foods. I can't really imagine a little kid eating quinoa or couscous etc lol. Good luck!