Julie Bogart

I'm about sick to death of our repeated meals (the five that please most of the family). And
even within that five, there are only two that everyone in the family will eat (Mexican and
black beans/or lentils with rice).

I am not an exotic cook. We're talking kids who won't eat baked potatoes, spaghetti, oven
baked chicken and tonight, meatloaf!

I want so much to make interesting food again (like I did when we were younger and my
kids were either toddler eaters or breastfeeders). I miss flavor and variety. My kids are just
driving me batty. They won't even eat sandwiches and yet every single week we go to a co-
op that requires a bagged lunch. I started making my old stand-by (pasta salad) which is a
favorite with the family... except my 10 yr old. So he never wants that for Monday lunch.
Even during the week, I cook lunch every day because no one will eat the normal American
lunch foods.

For co-op, they basically take chips and a drink. Isn't that pathetic!? If I make pasta salad,
then the 13 yr old will take it but the 8 yr old will take it and not eat it. We get home from
co-op and they are understandably ravenous. They complain all afternoon until dinner
which they sometimes barely eat. I might put out cheese and apple slices, peanut butter
and crackers. Nope. Not good enough. They will end up eating microwave popcorn if I
have it or chips. I can't afford to have chips and popcorn as their primary food stuff!

Dinner is becoming such a depressing time for me. How many times a week can we eat
Mexican, pizza and black beans with rice? They do love these foods and will eat them. But
I'm so sick of them. If I make chicken, my 17 yr old won't eat it. Chicken and potatoes is a
sure fire way for him to starve. If I make chicken soup, the younger two won't eat it. If I
make stir-fry, two fo the boys won't eat it. If I make anything with too many vegetables,
none of them will eat it. I make chili once a week to help me on Thursday nights when I go
to grad school, I have to make a special kind for my vegetarian daughter (15) and my 10 yr
old boy won't eat either kind.

I'm tearing my hair out.

I love to make stew in winter, but only Jon and I will eat that.

Even something simple like over fried chicken and french fries isn't universally received.
And now that my dd is vegetarian, she can't eat almost anything I make. I end up having to
make her different food every night. She hardly eats lunch any more (she won't eat
sandwiches like PB and J or cream cheese and ?). She will eat some of the meatless frozen
stuff but gets bored easily. She doesn't complain really, but she is half starving all the time
and ends up eating Ritz crackers and ice cream. Hardly a healthy diet!

I'm so discouraged and sick to death of our meals. When my mom was here I made this
gorgeous Nicoise salad with real Ahi tuna and felt I had died and gone to heaven. If I put
all the effort in to make that meal, I will be the only person in the whole family to eat it
and be full. I know I can "cook what I want to eat" but I still have to contend with hungry
people who forage through my cupboards and complain all day that they are hungry.

Anyone else struggle with the food factor?

I'm really angry tonight. I made a really tasty meal and no one ate it. What a waste of
shopping, money and effort. I was going to make dessert but I don't have the heart to
create something tasty to have everyone opt for ice cream and turn their noses up at what
I prepare.

Sorry to whine, but food prep takes up such a huge percentage of my life and I hate that I
can't please a critical mass of people more often. Some days it just drains my enthusiasm
for the other hours of the day.

Julie

Sara

Julie....I hear your anger and pain. Somewhere along the line, we've
become short order cooks and it's killing me too. Now that my kids
are older, I quit cooking because of the same problem you
have....they wouldn't eat what I fixed and would not have it as a
leftover the next meal or day.

I feel so badly about this but I'm tired of wasting food.

I thought we were the only ones to eat microwave popcorn for a meal.
This is so not funny. Sara in NC

April M

For what it's worth....here's what works for our family, which includes one
vegetarian teen and a hubby who can't eat tomato sauces.
I always have lots of cheap do-it-yourself options available (mac & cheese,
bagels, ramen soup, instant potatoes, cans of soup)...as long as there's no
mess for me and no one says anything negative about my food, they are free
to make something else. I encourage the younger ones to at least taste what
I make.

I do a lot of prep and let the family do the final fixings. For example, for
tacos I have soft and hard shells, meat, beans and the usual fixings all in
bowls. Everyone makes their favorites.
Spaghetti: I make pasta of some kind, Open a jar of regular sauce, a jar of
white sauce, a bowl of pre-cooked meatballs or ground meat, shredded
cheese...everyone puts together their own plate.
Pizza: I use English muffins, I put sauce on (except for hubby's), and have
bowls of fixings...everyone comes and makes however many they want, with
what they want. I get the works (onions, pepperoni, gr. peppers, olives,
garlic....)
I do salads the same way. Throw the lettuce in a bowl and have fixings on
the side.

I also consider it a success if at least three of us like whatever I make.
If I'm going to make a roast or soup, I just make sure I have some good
bread and veggies and cheese available on the side. And since I would
never want to be forced to eat something I don't like, I don't force my
kids...and try not to be bothered. It's easier now. They are all pretty
self-sufficient and willing to try new things. And finally after years of
thinking it wouldn't happen they mostly appreciate the cooking that I do (on
the other hand...maybe they're just glad I cook some days.....I can get
pretty bad about it some weeks!) They also do some of the cooking which
takes the pressure off of me.
~April
Mom to Kate-18, Lisa-15, Karl-13, & Ben-9.
*REACH Homeschool Group, an inclusive group meeting throughout Oakland
County.. http://www.homeschoolingonashoestring.com/REACH_home.html
*Michigan Youth Theater...Acting On Our Dreams...
<http://www.michiganyouththeater.org/>
"Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it." ~~ Dennis P.
Kimbro







-----Original Message-----
From: Julie Bogart [mailto:julie@...]
Sent: Friday, October 15, 2004 7:04 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [UnschoolingDiscussion] Food that pleases



I'm about sick to death of our repeated meals (the five that please most
of the family). And
even within that five, there are only two that everyone in the family will
eat (Mexican and
black beans/or lentils with rice).

I am not an exotic cook. We're talking kids who won't eat baked potatoes,
spaghetti, oven
baked chicken and tonight, meatloaf!

I want so much to make interesting food again (like I did when we were
younger and my
kids were either toddler eaters or breastfeeders). I miss flavor and
variety. My kids are just
driving me batty. They won't even eat sandwiches and yet every single week
we go to a co-
op that requires a bagged lunch. I started making my old stand-by (pasta
salad) which is a
favorite with the family... except my 10 yr old. So he never wants that
for Monday lunch.
Even during the week, I cook lunch every day because no one will eat the
normal American
lunch foods.

For co-op, they basically take chips and a drink. Isn't that pathetic!? If
I make pasta salad,
then the 13 yr old will take it but the 8 yr old will take it and not eat
it. We get home from
co-op and they are understandably ravenous. They complain all afternoon
until dinner
which they sometimes barely eat. I might put out cheese and apple slices,
peanut butter
and crackers. Nope. Not good enough. They will end up eating microwave
popcorn if I
have it or chips. I can't afford to have chips and popcorn as their
primary food stuff!

Dinner is becoming such a depressing time for me. How many times a week
can we eat
Mexican, pizza and black beans with rice? They do love these foods and
will eat them. But
I'm so sick of them. If I make chicken, my 17 yr old won't eat it. Chicken
and potatoes is a
sure fire way for him to starve. If I make chicken soup, the younger two
won't eat it. If I
make stir-fry, two fo the boys won't eat it. If I make anything with too
many vegetables,
none of them will eat it. I make chili once a week to help me on Thursday
nights when I go
to grad school, I have to make a special kind for my vegetarian daughter
(15) and my 10 yr
old boy won't eat either kind.

I'm tearing my hair out.

I love to make stew in winter, but only Jon and I will eat that.

Even something simple like over fried chicken and french fries isn't
universally received.
And now that my dd is vegetarian, she can't eat almost anything I make. I
end up having to
make her different food every night. She hardly eats lunch any more (she
won't eat
sandwiches like PB and J or cream cheese and ?). She will eat some of the
meatless frozen
stuff but gets bored easily. She doesn't complain really, but she is half
starving all the time
and ends up eating Ritz crackers and ice cream. Hardly a healthy diet!

I'm so discouraged and sick to death of our meals. When my mom was here I
made this
gorgeous Nicoise salad with real Ahi tuna and felt I had died and gone to
heaven. If I put
all the effort in to make that meal, I will be the only person in the
whole family to eat it
and be full. I know I can "cook what I want to eat" but I still have to
contend with hungry
people who forage through my cupboards and complain all day that they are
hungry.

Anyone else struggle with the food factor?

I'm really angry tonight. I made a really tasty meal and no one ate it.
What a waste of
shopping, money and effort. I was going to make dessert but I don't have
the heart to
create something tasty to have everyone opt for ice cream and turn their
noses up at what
I prepare.

Sorry to whine, but food prep takes up such a huge percentage of my life
and I hate that I
can't please a critical mass of people more often. Some days it just
drains my enthusiasm
for the other hours of the day.

Julie






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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Robyn Coburn

Julie, how frustrating for you!

After Jayn started eating solids, I became irritated by having to prepare
only three different things (and hers were nothing) as I was a vegetarian
but dh was not. I have a small inkling of what you are feeling, although by
no means did I have as much to deal with. I ended up changing my eating to
fit with him, just because it was simpler for me.

<<<<<I'm about sick to death of our repeated meals (the five that please
most of the family). And
even within that five, there are only two that everyone in the family will
eat (Mexican and
black beans/or lentils with rice).>>>>

Where I live in Los Angeles there are so many options for Mexican food
available in the supermarket including almost instant refried beans, and
lots of frozen stuff and takeouts. Maybe you could have more of that
available that the older kids could at least toss in the microwave if they
didn't like the meal you are cooking for dh and yourself.

<<<<They will end up eating microwave popcorn if I
have it or chips. I can't afford to have chips and popcorn as their primary
food stuff!>>>

Jayn goes through periods when she wants to eat microwave popcorn several
times a day. The same with chips. I find it only lasts a few days. I get the
snack size packs, which still make a sizeable portion, and there is less
waste. If anyone knows of a way to "keep" the popped popcorn fresh I would
love to hear it.

<<<<Dinner is becoming such a depressing time for me. How many times a week
can we eat
Mexican, pizza and black beans with rice? They do love these foods and will
eat them. But
I'm so sick of them. If I make chicken, my 17 yr old won't eat it. Chicken
and potatoes is a
sure fire way for him to starve..... snip.....
And now that my dd is vegetarian, she can't eat almost anything I make. I
end up having to
make her different food every night. She hardly eats lunch any more (she
won't eat sandwiches like PB and J or cream cheese and ?). She will eat some
of the meatless frozen stuff but gets bored easily. She doesn't complain
really, but she is half starving all the time and ends up eating Ritz
crackers and ice cream. Hardly a healthy diet!>>>>>

A short period of a less than optimum diet won't really hurt these older
kids, especially if they take some vitamins.

I want to suggest that it might help to turn responsibility for their own
food over to the two older ones. They are old enough to do at least some of
their own cooking surely. What if they went with you to the store and had
their own buggies that they could use to buy the food that they will eat -
perhaps hand them the portion of the family budget that would encompass
their meals normally as the way for them to pay. Then they get to choose it
and deal with it at home. I expect microwave meals might take up a good
proportion of it - at least at first.

If it works out that they love this arrangement at least part of your
problem is solved. If it works out that this becomes really difficult, then
at least they might gain an appreciation for the efforts you have been
making!

<<<<<I still have to contend with hungry
people who forage through my cupboards and complain all day that they are
hungry.>>>>

Aren't they their cupboards too? I hope you can find some detachment to
their complaints. My dh gets complaining like that sometimes - he is pretty
picky, compared to me anyway - so I know it is hard not to take it as some
kind of personal criticism.

<<<<I'm really angry tonight. I made a really tasty meal and no one ate it.
What a waste of shopping, money and effort. I was going to make dessert but
I don't have the heart to create something tasty to have everyone opt for
ice cream and turn their noses up at what I prepare.>>>>>

(((((Julie)))))
As someone who is a mediocre cook at best, I would love the opportunity to
not cook. I wish you could come over here and cook for me - believe me you
would get enormous amounts of appreciation!!

Robyn L. Coburn



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Elizabeth Hill

** Dinner is becoming such a depressing time for me. How many times a
week can we eat
Mexican, pizza and black beans with rice?**

It does sound tough.

What comes to mind for me is that apparently the kids don't mind
repetition the way you do. Therefore, I'd be inclined to feed them
leftover black beans and rice or pizza on some nights on which you cook
what you like for yourself. If your kids are eating these foods and
maybe some fruit (or even juice) then they are probably covering their
nutritional needs.

Is it the salt that makes the popcorn so appealing? Or the butter?
Would putting more salt and butter in other foods help "sell" them?

Betsy

** For what it's worth....here's what works for our family, which
includes one
vegetarian teen and a hubby who can't eat tomato sauces.**

Almost all my favorite foods have tomato in them, so when my husband
started having heartburn and avoiding tomatoes my desire to cook really
plummeted.

[email protected]

In a message dated 10/15/2004 7:40:43 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
julie@... writes:

Sorry to whine, but food prep takes up such a huge percentage of my life and
I hate that I
can't please a critical mass of people more often. Some days it just drains
my enthusiasm
for the other hours of the day.

Julie






Could you ask each family member to come up with five meals that they would
eat? Full meals, not just the entree. Then compile them, make a list and
let each family member say what they absolutely would not eat under any
circumstances.

Then use the pared down list (assuming you will get more than five meal
choices), then post a weekly menu of sorts so that each person knows what you
will be serving. If it's someone's favorite and another simply is not going to
eat it, then there might be a way of having a side dish that is filling for
that person, or have them make themselves a simple meal they will enjoy.

I'm sure it is extra hard when there are so many dislikes but maybe if they
feel they have a part in the planning they'll be more inclined to eat the
meals, even if it isn't their favorite.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Julie Bogart

--- In [email protected], rubyprincesstsg@a... wrote:

>
>
>
> Could you ask each family member to come up with five meals that they would
> eat? Full meals, not just the entree. Then compile them, make a list and
> let each family member say what they absolutely would not eat under any
> circumstances.
>
> Then use the pared down list (assuming you will get more than five meal
> choices), then post a weekly menu of sorts so that each person knows what you
> will be serving. If it's someone's favorite and another simply is not going to
> eat it, then there might be a way of having a side dish that is filling for
> that person, or have them make themselves a simple meal they will enjoy.
>
> I'm sure it is extra hard when there are so many dislikes but maybe if they
> feel they have a part in the planning they'll be more inclined to eat the
> meals, even if it isn't their favorite.

Hey I like this idea. It does sound like work, but what difference is it if I work on meals
they won't eat anyway now?

Thank you.

Julie B

Julie Bogart

--- In [email protected], "April M" <abmorris23@c...> wrote:

> I also consider it a success if at least three of us like whatever I make.

That is the attitude I've tried to sustain. I am glad to be reminded of it again. I realized in
talking to dh tonight that part of the problem is that he was diagnosed diabetic in the last
24 months and has been pretty strictly Atkins ever since. So I don't even have him eating
with me (and he needs meats made for him separate).

So when I realized that I really have multiple different eating situations to deal with in a
ddition to typical pickiness, it's not wonder I'm sick of this situation.

> If I'm going to make a roast or soup, I just make sure I have some good
> bread and veggies and cheese available on the side.

I really like this idea too. Good bread. Check. I need to remember to have bread at all the
meals. That is missing currently.

Thanks for your other ideas too.

Julie B

[email protected]

In a message dated 10/15/2004 11:00:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
julie@... writes:

Hey I like this idea. It does sound like work, but what difference is it if
I work on meals
they won't eat anyway now?

Thank you.

Julie B



Once the initial polling of potential eaters is compiled, you could just use
the same menu each week or alternate it a bit as plans evolve.

glena


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Julie Bogart

--- In [email protected], "Robyn Coburn" <dezigna@c...> wrote:

Maybe you could have more of that
> available that the older kids could at least toss in the microwave if they
> didn't like the meal you are cooking for dh and yourself.

I need to do this more. I'm probably just over-reacting to Mexican, but being from LA
myself and now transplanted into Ohio, the Mexican just isn't the same. :) although we are
getting our own Trader Joe's in town in November so that will be a big help! As it is, we eat
burritos at least once a week for dinner and Quesadillas for lunch most days!

>
> I want to suggest that it might help to turn responsibility for their own
> food over to the two older ones. They are old enough to do at least some of
> their own cooking surely.

They are, but they won't. My oldest will just not eat or eat cereal. And the vegetarian
daughter doesn't like vegetables! (Of all things). She's perfectly willing to microwave her
stuff, but she just isn't eating very well so I get concerned over that. Both don't like
cooking at all.

What if they went with you to the store and had
> their own buggies that they could use to buy the food that they will eat -
> perhaps hand them the portion of the family budget that would encompass
> their meals normally as the way for them to pay.

That might be interesting!

Then they get to choose it
> and deal with it at home. I expect microwave meals might take up a good
> proportion of it - at least at first.
>
> If it works out that they love this arrangement at least part of your
> problem is solved. If it works out that this becomes really difficult, then
> at least they might gain an appreciation for the efforts you have been
> making!

Lol! At least that sounds like a win-win.

>
> <<<<<I still have to contend with hungry
> people who forage through my cupboards and complain all day that they are
> hungry.>>>>
>
> Aren't they their cupboards too?

I knew when I typed that someone on this list would remind me of that principle! <bwg>

I hope you can find some detachment to
> their complaints.

Now you've got what was behind it. I feel like it's my hard work that is being judged every
time they look for what they want to eat and don't find it. It's not that I don't buy them
what they enjoy. It's that since they aren't eating decent meals, all the "snack" foods don't
last between trips to the store. So there is a rummaging effect that drains me.

>
> (((((Julie)))))
> As someone who is a mediocre cook at best, I would love the opportunity to
> not cook. I wish you could come over here and cook for me - believe me you
> would get enormous amounts of appreciation!!

Oh I wish I could! Would love to meet you. <g>

I did buck up and make Warm Fall Pear and Plum Streusel for dessert with vanilla ice cream
and it was a hit so at least everyone ate that. :)

Thanks for your encouragement.

Julie B

Julie Bogart

--- In [email protected], Elizabeth Hill <ecsamhill@e...> wrote:
>
> ** Dinner is becoming such a depressing time for me. How many times a
> week can we eat
> Mexican, pizza and black beans with rice?**
>
> It does sound tough.
>
> What comes to mind for me is that apparently the kids don't mind
> repetition the way you do. Therefore, I'd be inclined to feed them
> leftover black beans and rice or pizza on some nights on which you cook
> what you like for yourself. If your kids are eating these foods and
> maybe some fruit (or even juice) then they are probably covering their
> nutritional needs.

Great idea!

>
> Is it the salt that makes the popcorn so appealing? Or the butter?
> Would putting more salt and butter in other foods help "sell" them?

Convenience and it fills their tummies up.

They will eat trail mix or yogurt too, but these are so much more expensive that I can't
keep enough around to feed them this all the time.

Julie B

AlysonRR

<<<Julie B wrote, in part: I did buck up and make Warm Fall Pear and
Plum Streusel for dessert with vanilla ice cream
and it was a hit so at least everyone ate that. :)>>>



Grain, fruit, dairy - a complete meal by my calculation ;-) Maybe try a
sausage (or gimme lean veggie sausage) and egg pie? Cornish pasties?
Quiche? Pumpkin is a squash, so how about a nice full meal of squash
(vegetable!) pie?

Alyson


Alyson Ruff-Roberts
Ask me about Stampin' Up for cards, crafts, and scrapbooks
Stampin' Up Independent Demonstrator
AlysonRR@...



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Lars Hedbor

On Fri, 15 Oct 2004 23:04:21 -0000, Julie Bogart <julie@...> wrote:
>
>
> I'm about sick to death of our repeated meals (the five that please most of the family).
...
> Sorry to whine, but food prep takes up such a huge percentage of my life and I hate that I
> can't please a critical mass of people more often. Some days it just drains my enthusiasm
> for the other hours of the day.


Hi, Julie. It sounds like somewhere along the line to an unschooling
lifestyle, you got appointed to be the family kitchen servant.
Perhaps my approach is less unschool, and more old school, but it
works pretty well for us, most of the time.

I love cooking -- and I love to explore different cuisines. My
feelings aren't hurt if somebody doesn't like what I've made, and I'm
often my own harshest critic. I do usually ask that the kids all at
least try what I've made, before they make faces and declare "yuck!"

If they can't abide what I've cooked, they're welcome to head off to
the kitchen to make themselves a PBJ or nuke a hot dog or whatever.
But I don't run a restaurant, and I don't much take dinner orders. I
do try to shape the menu around the preferences of my family members,
but if someone's trying out vegetarian, they may get to fend for
themselves if dw and/or I get a hankering for steak.

We host exchange students, so we get a variety of food preferences
over the years. One year we hosted a Muslim, so I avoided pork, out
of respect for her sensitivity to its smell. The next year, we had a
student who was avoiding beef, being fresh from the European mad cow
situation. I adapted and adjusted.

Unschooling has to work for everyone in the family -- and that doesn't
mean that it should make *you* work for everyone in the family.

The funny thing about my approach is that, while we eat a pretty
widely varied (and usually very healthy) diet, I hardly ever see
someone flatly refuse what I've made (even the five-year-old), and do
the PBJ routine. (There have been a few spectacular failures that
have been set aside by unanimous consent, but those are pretty rare.
;-)

Best of all, I get to enjoy sharing my hobby with the family, and they
get a sense of how people in other parts of the world might eat. (I
do remind them that much of what we sample from other cuisines is
feast food, and that they probably don't eat this way very often.)
Cooking is not a chore, but a joy, and mealtimes are less a struggle
than what you're describing.

- Lars D. H. Hedbor
Oregon City, Oregon

catherine aceto

Also can you find some way to cook for an appreciative audience? I get together with the moms in my playgroup (8 of us) once a month for vegetarian potluck for dinner. It is a chance to go all out for someone who will actually appreciate it. (Although my kids do mostly eat what we eat and like it - if not there are only 2 of them and always something else in the refrigerator they like like pasta or beans/rice).

-Cat

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Cyndi

Hi Julie:

Sounds like you were having a rough day when you wrote this! Maybe
you're trying to hard to find common ground instead of looking at it
as reorganizing the way you plan your families meals.

One thing I try to do is to plan my menu for the week. I call all
the kids in to go over the menu. This gives me an idea of who is
going to eat what so I don't have a big surprise at the dinner
table. And I think that you just have to accept that on any given
night there will be one or two who aren't going to eat what's
prepared, so I ask them what they would like in substitute that
night. We also try to cover all the times that they will need
snacks or brownbag meals outside of the house and what they want.
It's almost like I get a mini-shopping list from each of the kids
and it works out really well. That way I'm not guessing what they
want and there isn't as much waste or want. So I guess what I'm
advising is that you take some of the pressure off yourself and get
your kids more involved in making the weekly menu planning choices.

It's kind of like a food diary when you are dieting - you don't
actually see what you are eating sometimes till you write it down.
With the menu planning, you sometimes see what the kids WON'T be
eating and you can adjust accordingly.

I also find that making a few staples ahead of time, say on Sunday,
like stew, chili, a homemade salsa, a big precut salad selection in
seperate containers and a big tomato gravy (with meatballs) and
container of pasta will generally fill in all the gaps for everyone
at some point during the week (and take care of dinner that night,
too). And if you get good and organized about it, it doesn't take
that long to put all that together in one afternoon, it's even a
good chance to get some of the kids that like cooking in the
kitchen, too.

Peace,
Cyndi

Julie Bogart

--- In [email protected], "AlysonRR" <AlysonRR@c...> wrote:

>
> Grain, fruit, dairy - a complete meal by my calculation ;-) Maybe try a
> sausage (or gimme lean veggie sausage) and egg pie? Cornish pasties?
> Quiche? Pumpkin is a squash, so how about a nice full meal of squash
> (vegetable!) pie?
>
> Alyson
>
>
This reminds me of when my oldest was a toddler. I made pumpkin pie from fresh acorn
squash almost every week. He loved it and would eat it even if we had other foods for
dinner he didn't like. I felt great knowing he was getting his veggies. :)

Maybe I ought to try exotic desserts for dinner and offer meat for dessert? ;-) At least
them I wouldn't feel like I was wasting the "whole" meal.

You've all been so sweet to understand the frustration and offer truly practical tips. I'm
really grateful and feel I have some new ideas to help me get going again.

Thanks!

Julie B

Julie Bogart

--- In [email protected], "catherine aceto" <aceto3@v...> wrote:
> Also can you find some way to cook for an appreciative audience? I get together with
the moms in my playgroup (8 of us) once a month for vegetarian potluck for dinner. It is a
chance to go all out for someone who will actually appreciate it. (Although my kids do
mostly eat what we eat and like it - if not there are only 2 of them and always something
else in the refrigerator they like like pasta or beans/rice).
>
> -Cat

I just love this idea! I must remember to do this more often.

Tonight my husband had over some of his students from college. I was so excited to have
them here to enjoy our cooking!

When I read your post I realized that this is what has been missing for some time:
entertaining. And ironically, my kids were so entertained by our guests, they never once
complained of hunger or over what food was available. And for all I know, they ate it!

The guests had a great time and my husband cooked the pork loin in a slow cooker on his
Webber Grill. It was delicious.

Just eating something I like perked me up.

Julie B

[email protected]

I hadn't made chicken and dumplings since I had had children (and years
before that) but I did make it a couple of months ago and they really liked it, all
of them. I've made it three more times. <g> They'll get tired of it, but
it's cheap and easy and makes the house smell good.

I've been using the chicken strips you can get at Costco (so all white meat
and easy to prepare). I cook it a bit first and then cut it up, but if you
just simmer it for several hours it will fall apart on its own. I start with
onion and garlic in a little oil, add water (used chicken broth a couple of
times, but that's not necessary), salt and pepper. Chicken. When the chicken
is cooked, add balls of biscuit dough. I've made my own and used canned and
the family doesn't care one way or another so far, it seems).

Let those be there at least an hour. The broth will get thick after a while.

It's good leftover, you can freeze it in small portions, and if you run out
of dumplings (Holly pretty much only likes that part) you might put leftover
rice in it. That worked here. <g>

A platter of things to eat with toothpicks has been well received here over
the years, if the kids are bored and haven't had much variety. Little cubes
of meat maybe, or sections of hot dog, but for sure chunks of pineapple, cheese
and apple. Maybe grapes or cherries (cut in half if you want them to get to
use the toothpicks).

Platters of sandwiches cut in quarters seem less intimidating than a whole
big sandwich to which a child has to feel a commitment (or pass-or-play). A
quarter of a sandwich isn't too daunting, and if it's good they'll get more, and
if not the adults can finish it off.

Cream cheese goes well with unexpected things. Keith taught me peanut
butter, cream cheese and honey sandwiches (plain cream cheese cut thin from blocks)
and I added sliced green grapes, for summer sandwiches). Kirby created a mix
when he was a kid that still appears from time to time here: tuna mixed with
pineapple cream cheese. Sounds gross but is truly good for sandwiches or on
crackers.

Little open-faced English-muffin things with melted cheese can be fun.
"Pizzas" kind of.

Sandra

Deb Lewis

***And now that my dd is vegetarian, she can't eat almost anything I
make.***

Dylan doesn't eat meat and he likes sandwiches made with hummus or Baba
Ganoush or tempeh. All of these can be prepared and stored in the
fridge for a few days.

Dylan likes a salad (like chicken salad) made with tempeh.
He also likes scrambled tofu rolled up in a tortilla with olives and
salsa.

***She doesn't complain really, but she is half starving all the time and
ends up eating Ritz crackers and ice cream.***

Will she eat cheese with the crackers? If she doesn't like peanut
butter what about cashew butter or almond butter?
Does she like nuts? You can add them to salads and stir fry, oat meal,
granola, yogurt.

Maybe she'd like to Google vegetarian recipes and try something exotic
that you'd enjoy helping her make. (on a night when the others have
leftover beans and rice.<g>)

Deb Lewis

Laura Johnson

I don't know if anyone else suggested it, but can you have them help plan and prepare meals? Maybe if they get to plan a meal, shop for it and help prepare it, then they will be open to other things. They could take turns. If not, I usually have something in the fridge to offer up with my uhm, discriminating eater. I get sick of his food too. So, often I buy him a frozen kid meal and we eat something we like. It's easier with one, I'm sure it is much more challenging with more kids.
Laura J
I like the idea of having different cultures and serving food from those places. That might be fun, you could find recipes together and plan a special night once a week.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

soggyboysmom

--- In [email protected], "Julie Bogart"
<julie@b...> wrote:
>
> They will eat trail mix or yogurt too, but these are so much more
expensive that I can't keep enough around to feed them this all the
time.

When we travel we like to have trail mix on hand too - it handles
travel well and is filling and all. We usually hit Sam's (or other
bulk place) and pick out big packs of raisins, nuts, chocolate
chips, other dried fruit, crunchy cereals, etc. and mix up our own
trail mix - we get tons of stuff for way less than the prepackaged
kind and we can mix it to suit ourselves. For a while I was
making "ogre mix" for DS - instead of mixing the ingredients I'd
leave them in layers! He loved it!

We also buy the big store brand plain yogurt and then mix it on a
per serving basis with honey, fruit, jams & preserves, crunchy
stuff, whatever. That way there's no buying tons of this or that
flavor for each individual - just one base and lots of toppings.

I can't really add much else to the discussion - there's only 3 of
us (DS is 6) and he eats about anything. We do take his ideas into
consideration and try to arrange things to suit all of us. For
instance, I can't eat eggs unless they are baked into something -
that rules out scrambled, fried, quiche, even some soft French
toast. DS currently loves cheese omelettes (4 egg omelettes no
less!) So, sometimes for dinner (yes dinner), he and DH will have
cheese omelettes, bacon, toast and juice. I'll have the juice,
bacon, and put the cheese on my toast to make a nice cheese
sandwich. Ends up being less cooking that way rather than more. As
has already been mentioned, we often have mix'n'match meals with the
pasta, sauce, cheese, meat, etc. all separate and mixed "to order"
but without much additional cooking.