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Message
Non "crap" meals for the kids. What are your go to's on a busy weekday?
Posted on 8/23/13 at 11:07 am
Posted on 8/23/13 at 11:07 am
I'm trying my damnest to avoid the drive thrus, mac & chz, and chef boyardee crap.
What are some of the meals you make/made for your kids that they would actually eat?
What are some of the meals you make/made for your kids that they would actually eat?
13
Posted on 8/23/13 at 11:12 am to MSMHater
baked chicken at home should be good for kids
simple spaghetti and red sauce
grill some hot dogs?
simple spaghetti and red sauce
grill some hot dogs?
Posted on 8/23/13 at 11:15 am to Geauxld Finger
Frozen cheese tortellini with spaghetti sauce with chicken or meatballs (sometimes the frozen meatballs from Publix)
Posted on 8/23/13 at 11:17 am to MSMHater
Lots of folks cook meals over the weekends that can be frozen or served during the week.
A roast can be served one night as an entree, skip a night and RB poboys on another night. Smoked meats can be served sliced one night with sides and turned into pulled pork or beef another night for sandwiches.
If they eat vegetables, you can roast all kinds in a jiffy. Even if they aren't big veggie eaters, roasted veggies taste much different than they do steamed or baked. Caramelization adds a "sweet" aspect. Roasted broccoli tastes so much different from steamed. Same with cauliflower. Roasted sweet potatoes are delicious. A sprinkle of parm cheese on any of them when done usually attracts kids, too.
Pork tenderloins cook very quickly with little prep. A jelly or jam glaze at the end changes it up and is simple.
Even picking up a deli roasted chicken from the grocery or Sam's or a smoked chicken from a bbq joint can make a quick meal with a few sides you make at home.
A roast can be served one night as an entree, skip a night and RB poboys on another night. Smoked meats can be served sliced one night with sides and turned into pulled pork or beef another night for sandwiches.
If they eat vegetables, you can roast all kinds in a jiffy. Even if they aren't big veggie eaters, roasted veggies taste much different than they do steamed or baked. Caramelization adds a "sweet" aspect. Roasted broccoli tastes so much different from steamed. Same with cauliflower. Roasted sweet potatoes are delicious. A sprinkle of parm cheese on any of them when done usually attracts kids, too.
Pork tenderloins cook very quickly with little prep. A jelly or jam glaze at the end changes it up and is simple.
Even picking up a deli roasted chicken from the grocery or Sam's or a smoked chicken from a bbq joint can make a quick meal with a few sides you make at home.
Posted on 8/23/13 at 11:19 am to Gris Gris
quote:
Even picking up a deli roasted chicken from the grocery
I love this. $5.99 and you are set!
Posted on 8/23/13 at 11:22 am to MSMHater
quote:This is really simple. Make them eat what you're eating. No matter what it is (as long as it's not crap obviously) they will thank you for it. I could go on and on about this subject. I just cringe with embarrassment when people say "all my kid will eat is nuggets and pizza". No shite lady! I would just eat junk food all day too if I didn't know any better and I didn't have someone around who's job it was to MAKE me eat.
What are some of the meals you make/made for your kids that they would actually eat?
This isn't directed to you MSMHater, I just feel really passionate about this.
Posted on 8/23/13 at 11:29 am to OldSouth
quote:
This isn't directed to you MSMHater, I just feel really passionate about this.
Honestly, I agree with you wholeheartedly.
But I swear there seems to be an inverse relationship between how good the meal is, and my kids wllingness to try it.
You can bet your arse that if I spend 3-4 hours making ribs, fresh green beans, and a field salad, then they will eat 2 bites and want to be done.
But if I spend 20 minutes throwing a disgusting totinos in the oven, or heating up a hot dog and canned green beans, they are gonna eat that shite like it's going out of style. Drives me nuts.
Jambalaya, pork medallionns, stuffed flounder, etc.. anything even moderately complex, NOPE!
I don't want to just keep giving them crap, but I don't want to listen to 2 hours of bitching b/c I sent them from the table hungry (which is what usually happens). Thus my request for some of your kids favorites.
This post was edited on 8/23/13 at 11:30 am
Posted on 8/23/13 at 11:29 am to MSMHater
quote:
What are your go to's on a busy weekday?
I don't have kids, so who knows if they'll eat it, but my favorite quick weeknight meal is salmon and broccoli. The salmon takes 10 minutes at most and steamed broccoli takes a few minutes. I can have a meal ready in 20 minutes from turning on the oven.
Another quick one is a chicken breast pounded out flat and thrown on the George Foreman. The Foreman grill might make some foodies scoff, but it does the job when I'm in a hurry. I also like to fix large batches of rice or quinoa early on in the week and keep it in the fridge to use as a side when needed.
Posted on 8/23/13 at 11:32 am to MSMHater
quote:Then make them spend the 2 hours at the table. It won't take them long to realize that you are bigger, stronger, smarter, and more patient than they are. 1 week tops and they will figure out that they aren't getting up until they finish eating. There may be times later that they don't want to try something but they won't even complain because they will know the rules. Try it man.
I don't want to just keep giving them crap, but I don't want to listen to 2 hours of bitching b/c I sent them from the table hungry (which is what usually happens)
Posted on 8/23/13 at 11:34 am to BottomlandBrew
quote:Oh, I scoffed. Then someone brought one to put in the kitchen at work. That thing will make a shite sandwich tasty.
The Foreman grill might make some foodies scoff, but it does the job when I'm in a hurry.
Posted on 8/23/13 at 11:36 am to Gris Gris
quote:
Lots of folks cook meals over the weekends that can be frozen or served during the week.
We have twin 16 month olds and this is what my wife generally does. Plus we have a nanny that comes during the week and it makes it easy on her to have food ready to go for them.
We have exposed to them a lot of different foods and as of now, there really isn't much that they don't like. We still do normal kiddie stuff like pizza and fish sticks, but have also given them things like sushi, hummus, quinoa, risotto.
Posted on 8/23/13 at 11:46 am to TJG210
standard--tomato soup and grilled cheese
Posted on 8/23/13 at 12:02 pm to OldSouth
I agree. My kids eat salad, broccoli, yogurt etc and do not eat mcdonalds. Want to know why? that is how they were raised. I fed them good food as toddlers and they didn't know anything else. We had yogurt and carrot sticks in the house and no cookies or chips. They are also huge water drinkers because they were not offered soda or chocolate milk as kids. By the time they started being influenced in school they of course would eat candy and stuff but by high school they were back to the good foods.
Posted on 8/23/13 at 12:04 pm to MSMHater
We've had this discussion many times. People disagree vehemently on the subject. I think some methods work for some kids and not for others. My parents never made us eat anything. We're a mixed bag. Most of us like or will taste anything. The two youngest are more limited, but they are guys and don't have a lot of interest in cooking other than smoking, grilling etc...
They eat some veggies and are happy with steak, chicken or pork. Not much on seafood.
On the other side of the coin, my cousins-7 kids-had to sit at the table until they took 3 bites of everything. They would gag at the table and hide spinach in pot plants, their socks, shoes or anywhere they could find as soon as my aunt turned her back or left the room. It was miserable. I would always eat before I went there to spend the night because mealtime was so awful. I'd also stay in my cousin's room next to the dining room while they sat there because I couldn't stand to hear them gag or crying. I finally stopped going over there until after their meal was over.
Today, they are all very picky eaters. They don't care about food. They more or less eat to live. Dining is not an event like it is at our house.
You just never know. Some kids respond to being made to taste and some do not. What works for some doesn't for others.
I don't subscribe to force feeding. Never will. I will suggest and urge and try to make it fun, but I will never require. Mealtime is also family time and I don't think it should be miserable. It's not just about the food in this busy world. I weigh the value of the family meal versus an extensive palate and quality family time will win every time.
My $.02.
They eat some veggies and are happy with steak, chicken or pork. Not much on seafood.
On the other side of the coin, my cousins-7 kids-had to sit at the table until they took 3 bites of everything. They would gag at the table and hide spinach in pot plants, their socks, shoes or anywhere they could find as soon as my aunt turned her back or left the room. It was miserable. I would always eat before I went there to spend the night because mealtime was so awful. I'd also stay in my cousin's room next to the dining room while they sat there because I couldn't stand to hear them gag or crying. I finally stopped going over there until after their meal was over.
Today, they are all very picky eaters. They don't care about food. They more or less eat to live. Dining is not an event like it is at our house.
You just never know. Some kids respond to being made to taste and some do not. What works for some doesn't for others.
I don't subscribe to force feeding. Never will. I will suggest and urge and try to make it fun, but I will never require. Mealtime is also family time and I don't think it should be miserable. It's not just about the food in this busy world. I weigh the value of the family meal versus an extensive palate and quality family time will win every time.
My $.02.
Posted on 8/23/13 at 12:07 pm to OldSouth
quote:
Then make them spend the 2 hours at the table.
That simply doesn't work with a 1.5 year old and three year.
ETA: This simply doesn't work with MY 1.5 year old and three year old.
But if they don't want to eat what's on the table at dinner...they don't eat. But I'm not going to make them eat. And I'm sure not sitting at the table for two hours as some power play.
This post was edited on 8/23/13 at 12:10 pm
Posted on 8/23/13 at 12:25 pm to Gris Gris
quote:
A roast can be served one night as an entree, skip a night and RB poboys on another night.
Man THIS!!! My mom was the queen of Roast, rice and gravy. She'd cook one on Sunday and we'd eat left overs for a week- sometimes the same meal, sometimes a variation. But it was always good.
I've seen finicky kids and i feel sorry for their parents. Whats wrong with making them go hungry? Not starving them, but just making the point: if you don't eat...you DONT eat.
worked for me and my siblings.
oh and no, I don't have kids so fire away at my ignorance.
This post was edited on 8/23/13 at 12:29 pm
Posted on 8/23/13 at 12:40 pm to Gris Gris
quote:
Gris Gris
Wise woman.
And don't you ever tell anyone I said this.
Posted on 8/23/13 at 12:43 pm to Gris Gris
quote:I have 5 so I'm not speaking out of ignorance.
On the other side of the coin, my cousins-7 kids-had to sit at the table until they took 3 bites of everything.
quote:Too bad.
They would gag at the table
quote:Don't. Raising children is work, it's not always fun.
hide spinach in pot plants, their socks, shoes or anywhere they could find as soon as my aunt turned her back or left the room
quote:They would be punished for this crap. If they don't like it that's one thing but there's no excuse to behave like this.
I couldn't stand to hear them gag or crying.
quote:I agree with this, which is why if they know the rules and the consequences of breaking them, you won't have a problem.
Mealtime is also family time and I don't think it should be miserable. It's not just about the food in this busy world. I weigh the value of the family meal versus an extensive palate and quality family time will win every time.
I know a lot of this comes off as harsh but it's only during the initial pushback years, 2-3 or so. Plus, from my own experience, my Grandmother would try to make me eat lima beans. After vomiting a couple of times she never tried again because I ALWAYS ate everything she ever gave me except those damn things. So, I also understand there have to be some exceptions.
Posted on 8/23/13 at 12:46 pm to OldSouth
quote:
I have 5 so I'm not speaking out of ignorance.
But you are speaking out of one small sampling in your own house.
This post was edited on 8/23/13 at 1:23 pm
Posted on 8/23/13 at 12:46 pm to tigerinthebueche
The "must try two bites" rule isn't such a bad one. I don't agree with turning mealtimes into a battleground, and the sit-until-you-eat parents have obviously never dealt with a preteen with anorexic tendencies.....but starting in in pre k years, make em eat at least two bites of whatever's being offered, then then can make a "meal" out of the parts of dinner they prefer.
Some people have textural and taste perception issues....often these folks grow up to have nutritional (obesity/underweight) issues. Don't plant the seeds for a lifetime struggle by making meals into power struggles. Separate negative emotions from food/mealtimes, and you'll do your children a bigger service than attempting to forcibly broaden their palates.
If I had a dollar for every person I knew who had serious food issues, I could retire tomorrow.
Anyway, back to the OP: kids love pasta, and you can use Barilla Plus, whole grain, or other slightly healthier versions to crank out weeknight meals. Find a marinara in a jar you like, and make meatballs in bulk every couple of months to stick in the freezer. if you chop veg fairly small, you can hide em in the sauce and no ones the wiser. Simple pasta and pesto is another possibility....fresh shrimp or boneless chicken sautéed with a little pesto jazzes it up a big.
I grew up on beans and rice: lentils, black beans, red, white, blackened peas, etc. Texture is soft enough for little kids, and it's a dish easily cooked in bulk and frozen in meal sized portions. Add cornbread, a whole wheat yeast roll, or other side, and picky eaters can customize by choosing to skip the rice, or the beans, or just eating a buttered roll.
Ditto for ground turkey chili, 15 bean soup, gumbo....
Final tip: children should be participating in the meal prep and cleanup. They're far less likely to reject food if they had a hand in making it. Make sure they understand the labor involved in making meals and shopping. Too many kids run from school to activity to homework and are not contributing members of the household. Fine as kids, but they often grow into entitled adults....and no one wants to marry THAT. Train em right, or you might be stuck with em til they turn 40!
Some people have textural and taste perception issues....often these folks grow up to have nutritional (obesity/underweight) issues. Don't plant the seeds for a lifetime struggle by making meals into power struggles. Separate negative emotions from food/mealtimes, and you'll do your children a bigger service than attempting to forcibly broaden their palates.
If I had a dollar for every person I knew who had serious food issues, I could retire tomorrow.
Anyway, back to the OP: kids love pasta, and you can use Barilla Plus, whole grain, or other slightly healthier versions to crank out weeknight meals. Find a marinara in a jar you like, and make meatballs in bulk every couple of months to stick in the freezer. if you chop veg fairly small, you can hide em in the sauce and no ones the wiser. Simple pasta and pesto is another possibility....fresh shrimp or boneless chicken sautéed with a little pesto jazzes it up a big.
I grew up on beans and rice: lentils, black beans, red, white, blackened peas, etc. Texture is soft enough for little kids, and it's a dish easily cooked in bulk and frozen in meal sized portions. Add cornbread, a whole wheat yeast roll, or other side, and picky eaters can customize by choosing to skip the rice, or the beans, or just eating a buttered roll.
Ditto for ground turkey chili, 15 bean soup, gumbo....
Final tip: children should be participating in the meal prep and cleanup. They're far less likely to reject food if they had a hand in making it. Make sure they understand the labor involved in making meals and shopping. Too many kids run from school to activity to homework and are not contributing members of the household. Fine as kids, but they often grow into entitled adults....and no one wants to marry THAT. Train em right, or you might be stuck with em til they turn 40!
This post was edited on 8/23/13 at 12:57 pm
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