re: Non "crap" meals for the kids. What are your go to's on a busy weekday?

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I also don't think dessert is a necessary part of a meal and I believe it can be used as a reward for tasting, good behavior and that sort of thing.

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THIS... We figured this out the hard way, and now have a "husky" 5 year old that thinks dessert is an automatic, even if it's just a few graham crackers. Now, we offer them yogurt or a bowl of fruit if they ask for dessert.

I'm coming to grips with the force feeding thing, and I try to respond with something like "You get what you get, and you don't pitch a fit" I just don't want to hear about how they're hungry 30 minutes later and they want a PB & J sandwich. It's always a work in progress, and one thing might work for a while, and then you have to change when they get older.

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What kid wants to sit down to a plate of ribs..?

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What? Are they not supposed to get a whole rack each?

I shred the rib meat for them. Putting it on a hawaian roll helps to.



Lots of good advice and meals in here. In addition to R2R's standard, condescending, ultra enlightening words of wisdom.

Thanks everyone.

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Lots of good advice and meals in here. In addition to R2R's standard, condescending, ultra enlightening words of wisdom.

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Excuse me, but what the frick did I do wrong?

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Excuse me, but what the frick did I do wrong?

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Absolutely nothing. And nothing you don't do every single day here. And my words were tongue-in-cheek. I was not offended, butthurt, crying, etc.. I got exactly what I thought I would get from you. No bullshite.

ETA: And nothing you said was wrong, either.

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Excuse me, but what the frick did I do wrong?

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I used to kind of look down on people who only fed their kids crap. Then I had a couple kids. It's hard as shite to get them to eat real food. Especially the boy. We battle it daily. Neither one of my two kids will eat mashed potatoes. Are you kidding me? Mashed pafrickin tatoes was my favorite food on Earth when I was a kid. I can force them to eat it, but they don't like it. They do good on some stuff, but a lot of things you think they would like they turn their nose up at. They are quirky as all get out. I don't know the answer. I think it varies with each kid. But know this, you aren't the only one who battles this issue..

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My wife read that 'French kids eat everything' book in preparation for our upcoming first child - one of the things it said was not to use food (particularly dessert) as a reward for any type of behavior, good or bad. That encourages emotional eating down the road.

A bit of a different perspective, but interesting nonetheless.

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some dear friends just moved back from France and their kids in school got an hour for lunch and had a balanced meal no nuggets or pizza, say what you want about the frogs but they got that right.

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I don't subscribe to force feeding.

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It would be a last resort, but I certainly think it has benefits for some kids.

I don't "hate" anything. I'd never refuse to eat something that someone serves to me even if it's not my favorite. I'm up to try anything, and I truly enjoy almost everything anyway.

That is 100% due to my parents making me eat what was for dinner.

That said, I think you can do it without forcing the kids to eat it. Just tell them they're welcome to not eat it, and they will get to have another meal when breakfast comes.

I think fixing something else for the kids on a regular basis encourages pickiness.

It all comes down the kids really. Some are going to be whiny and picky regardless. I was forced to eat what my parents cooked and I'm not picky at all as an adult. Your cousins were forced to eat, and they are all picky. So it is a wash.

I agree that making it fun and using positive reinforcement for trying new things can go much farther. I almost feel like never letting kids know that "eating vegetables" is a thing that there are songs and TV shows about would be better. If they think it's just part of normal life, they'll think nothing of it. But if they are having songs and stuff shoved down their throat about eating veggies, they're going to catch on that it's clearly not something they should like

I've noticed a lot of people feed their toddlers nuggets and pizzas and fries.. and then try to switch to "adult" meals when they are elementary age and can't figure out why the kid doesn't like it.

Also, a lot of people suck at making veggies yummy.

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Neither one of my two kids will eat mashed potatoes. Are you kidding me? Mashed pafrickin tatoes was my favorite food on Earth when I was a kid. I can force them to eat it, but they don't like it.

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I hated potatoes in any form until about 21 years old. My parents tried to sneak McDonalds hashbrowns or fries and pass them off as non-potatoes, but I knew.

I don't think there is a "right" answer for all kids in general. If you give it your best efforts and try as much as possble to stay away from or limit the easy fast foods, you're ahead of the game and it can be a game. It's very hard with two working parents and trying to get kids fed at a decent hour and on a budget.

Cooking on weekends is what I do a lot of the time for worknight meals or early prep work can help, but everything takes time.

Baking a turkey breast or whole turkey on a weekend will supply a few meals. You can make a variety out of turkey meat like many other meats. Look up recipes for cooked turkey meat and you'll find quite a few that aren't time consuming but are good.

I think pizza can be a good meal. I don't care for the frozen ones, but it can be fine to buy the premade thin crusts and let the kids put what they want on it, including some veggies. It's like decorating a cake to them. We did that for a birthday party once where all the kids made their own individual pizzas. They loved it and we surprised by some of the veggies they selected, but colorful makes a pretty pizza!