How often does it frustrate you to no end, when you slave for hours in the kitchen, to produce a beautifully nourishing meal for your family, to have your children turn around and say they don’t like it!
I think I’ve lost count over the years, and my goodness, I’ll admit it’s hard to keep my cool sometimes…….
So after many such nights, I decided no more, will I spend hours making a meal they turn their noses up at, and be stuck eating it myself for the next week of lunch’s, to try and use it up!
Instead I decided to involve them in the decision making of our weekly meal planning. They each get to choose one meal a week they would like, and then we decide on a home made takeaway meal once a week too.
This will help them to feel in control of the meals that are been put in front of them, and give them a chance to explore with new foods too. (My children love pouring over our many recipe books for new ideas).
The other trick I have up my sleeve, is to make deconstructed salads and have it all on a big board in the middle of the table, along with any other things we’re having with our meal. The children then feel in control of what they’re eating, and have fun building their own meal.
I also find its a great way to role model what healthy eating looks like ? when they see us piling our plates with all of nature’s abundance, why wouldn’t they want to experience that too……….
I like to chop up lots of different ingredients, so even if they only choose half, they still have a real variety on their plate.
And even better yet, get them in the kitchen chopping all the ingredients with you. If they’ve chopped and prepared them, they’ll be more likely to want to turn around and eat them ?
So when you’re next writing your shopping list, sit down with your children and get their ideas.
Spend time looking at recipe books together.
Get them in the kitchen chopping ingredients with you.
And most of all, make it a fun experience!!!!!
Leave A Comment