Eating out with kids

[mwhip]

I think one of the things that causes us to eat out often is that my H is so damn picky. He doesn't like pasta. His world revolves around meat and potatoes. Which I'm trying to cut carbs out. Hamburger Helper hasn't been served in my house since his first heart attack after I started looking at sodium content in foods. Packaged meals as well.

He bitches a lot, for someone who doesn't cook a thing. So I get tired of trying to figure out new ways to cook chicken, therefore, giving up and eating out, because it's like, order whatever TF you want, I don't care because no one is bitching.

[cagoldi]

We take the kids to McD’s or CFA every Friday night to meet up with some of Dude’s school friends.

Pizza once a month (my infusion night).

With X having mild elopement issues and P being a toddler, it’s just not pleasant. Staying at home is easier for me. We still don’t give any of the kids tablets at this time and I can only give them so many stickers and toys before they are over it.

I try to do at least a couple nights of kid meals each week, like spaghetti and breakfast for dinner. Easy, cheap, and requires minimal effort on my part.

Have you ever done one of the cooking box kits? We tried HelloFresh and I was pleased with it. Simple to prepare and got the kids to try a few new things. It’s not as cheap as doing all your prep and planning on your own, but definitely worth it if you’re spending a lot on eating out, IMO.

[sing2phins]

Oct 3, 2019 10:36:09 GMT -6 wineallthetime said:

sing2phins , do you WANT to start eating at home more? If so, are there things you could do to help this goal? For instance, I plan 3 meals for the weekdays. I try to make them big enough for leftovers for lunch and typically one other dinner night. Nights I know I'll be lower on energy/time (like tonight) meals are super easy. Tonight is chicken sausage (fully cooked, just needs to be heated up) and parmesan zucchini. Making this sounds way easier than going out in my mind!

Just some thoughts!

"Want"??  I mean, no?  I actually really like to cook, I just do not have time.  Because Maggie's in K now, I have two pickups and the traffic is jacked around here at that time, especially on days I have to be in my office, so we often don't get home until 6:30 or after.  We get ready for bed at 7:30 at the latest, earlier if it's bath night, and lights out by 8.  I keep meaning to get stuff for the crockpot for the days I'm in my office, but it never pans out.  Also, my kids are randomly picky.  They might eat that sausage (which is a good idea because DH loves it) but no way would they eat zucchini.  We did chicken and rice in the crockpot last week, which they have had and liked before, but this time it was "disGUSTing" according to Maggie and Ben ate about 3 bites.

Mostly, it's that I feel like we *should* eat in more, because it's healthier and cheaper.  More than almost anything else, I want my kids to have a healthy relationship with food, which has been a lifelong struggle for me.  I am falling way short of that; Maggie barely eats whole vegetables, although she is getting better.  I once saw her eat 10 peas.

[cagoldi]

Meal plan for the next week:

Friday - CFA
Saturday - shake and bake pork, garlic butter pasta, sautéed green beans
Sunday - cashew chicken
Monday - DIY burrito bowls (I will also make quesadillas for the kids)
Tuesday - lasagna skillet pasta
Wednesday - chicken tenders, mashed potatoes, asparagus, cornbread

Thursday - Saturday kids are with Pete that weekend

[klong11]

sing2phins, Cadence is very picky as well. Vegetables are hard! She found a spinach artichoke ravioli she likes with alfredo, so I give her that fairly often so she is getting some veg. It's a struggle. She hates everything.

[cagoldi]

We struggle with the random pickiness here, too.

It is frustrating, but I *loosely* follow Ellen Satter’s division of responsibility. It’s my job to have a balanced meal and regular mealtimes, and it’s their job to eat it. I can rest easy knowing I have done my part. ΑNd I say loosely for two reasons: it would be cruel to impose it harshly on X with his limitations and I do let them eat something else.

Like they can’t sit down to a meal of chicken and rice and demand Mac and cheese, but if they try one bite of everything and don’t like it then they can have an apple, string cheese, hard-boiled eggs, etc. of their choosing from the fridge.

Also, that schedule is rough and leaves you very limited time in the evenings. I would probably try to aim for something small at first like one more home-cooked meal a week to start with.

It doesn’t sound to me like you’re falling short, you’re doing what needs to be done in this season of your life.

[sing2phins]

Oct 4, 2019 8:54:35 GMT -6 cagoldi said:

We struggle with the random pickiness here, too.

It is frustrating, but I *loosely* follow Ellen Satter’s division of responsibility. It’s my job to have a balanced meal and regular mealtimes, and it’s their job to eat it. I can rest easy knowing I have done my part. ΑNd I say loosely for two reasons: it would be cruel to impose it harshly on X with his limitations and I do let them eat something else.

Like they can’t sit down to a meal of chicken and rice and demand Mac and cheese, but if they try one bite of everything and don’t like it then they can have an apple, string cheese, hard-boiled eggs, etc. of their choosing from the fridge.

Also, that schedule is rough and leaves you very limited time in the evenings. I would probably try to aim for something small at first like one more home-cooked meal a week to start with.

It doesn’t sound to me like you’re falling short, you’re doing what needs to be done in this season of your life.

We also do the one bite of everything and then you can have yogurt, fruit, cheese, etc.

Also, this -- "you’re doing what needs to be done in this season of your life" -- is a thing I have thought recently, so thank you for validating it.  Next year, once Ben's in K, too, we'll be back to 1 pick up and things should be a little easier.

I probably should also be more willing to make the things they reliably like, like tacos, which is super easy because I don't have to do meat, just beans, cheese, sour cream, and tomatoes, but I get sick of it.  They would eat it every day, probably, if I let them.

I've thought about meal kits, but I know DH would balk at the cost (even though our largest discretionary spending, by far, is eating out).

[wineallthetime]

@sing2phines, all the Instagram influencers are doing the Home chef pan to oven meals. They send the pan and ingredients and you just dump it in and bake. I've never tried but they look good so thought I'd send the idea your way in case it's something that speaks to you!

[cagoldi]

Oct 4, 2019 9:43:31 GMT -6 sing2phins said:

Oct 4, 2019 8:54:35 GMT -6 cagoldi said:

We struggle with the random pickiness here, too.

It is frustrating, but I *loosely* follow Ellen Satter’s division of responsibility. It’s my job to have a balanced meal and regular mealtimes, and it’s their job to eat it. I can rest easy knowing I have done my part. ΑNd I say loosely for two reasons: it would be cruel to impose it harshly on X with his limitations and I do let them eat something else.

Like they can’t sit down to a meal of chicken and rice and demand Mac and cheese, but if they try one bite of everything and don’t like it then they can have an apple, string cheese, hard-boiled eggs, etc. of their choosing from the fridge.

Also, that schedule is rough and leaves you very limited time in the evenings. I would probably try to aim for something small at first like one more home-cooked meal a week to start with.

It doesn’t sound to me like you’re falling short, you’re doing what needs to be done in this season of your life.

We also do the one bite of everything and then you can have yogurt, fruit, cheese, etc.

Also, this -- "you’re doing what needs to be done in this season of your life" -- is a thing I have thought recently, so thank you for validating it.  Next year, once Ben's in K, too, we'll be back to 1 pick up and things should be a little easier.

I probably should also be more willing to make the things they reliably like, like tacos, which is super easy because I don't have to do meat, just beans, cheese, sour cream, and tomatoes, but I get sick of it.  They would eat it every day, probably, if I let them.

I've thought about meal kits, but I know DH would balk at the cost (even though our largest discretionary spending, by far, is eating out).

Well, because you are a great mom, it will always be something, you know?

You’re always going to be wondering if you are doing it right. But you’re doing it right for your kids, right now.

If it wasn’t eating out, it would be how do I get them to eat more/what I make, how do I get them to sit still at the dinner table at home, etc. (just last week I was losing my mind over this).

So, KOKO. You’re doing your best. If that’s really all you can muster some days then so be it! I’m not sure how much Maggie and Ben would benefit from watching you fly around the kitchen all stressed out about trying to get dinner ready in the limited time you have together.

Full disclosure: there are probably a couple times a month when I am just completely over it (usually weekends) and do turkey slices, a cheese stick, carrots, dinner roll, and sliced apples. As balanced as anything I would make, they actually eat it, and I just throw stuff on a plate.

[lahdeedah]

I was looking for a quick protein for the freezer for nights I need something for the kids. I bought the apple gate nuggets because they were on sale this past week. The kids love them- so I need to stock up for nights I’m not up for cooking or just have enough leftovers for MH and I.

M is the more picky one in my household. He won’t eat a lot of vegetables, but he will eat a few. I keep chicken apple sausages and deli meat on hand for those nights what I cook, he won’t want to eat. Also frozen carrots or corn. Those are easy to heat up. If I have fresh fruit on hand, he gets protein, fruit, and gold fish or tortilla chips as meal for him. Usually happens at least one night a week and for lunch one weekend day.

[inthekitty]

Honestly I've given up trying to get creative with food. When I want to cook I make what I want to eat (usually something healthy and vegetarian). I know the kids won't eat it, although they have to eat at least a few bites if they want anything else. Cass used to be my reliable eater, and even she is picky now and won't eat things she used to love. They have a lot of mini bagels, sandwiches, fruit and cheese plates, yogurt. They eat very few vegetables. But hey, I hated most vegetables as a kid but eat a lot now. Tastebuds change. I make sure that every meal they have includes a fruit/vegetable (they'll usually only eat carrots) and call it good from there. School has helped. Madison will eat most hot lunches so she's broadened her palate and she was my kid who forced herself to throw up when I made her eat a bite of rosemary potatoes.

[lfig]

Oct 4, 2019 9:50:03 GMT -6 wineallthetime said:

@sing2phines, all the Instagram influencers are doing the Home chef pan to oven meals. They send the pan and ingredients and you just dump it in and bake. I've never tried but they look good so thought I'd send the idea your way in case it's something that speaks to you!

We do Home Chef and I LOVE it. It’s roughly $10 a meal per serving. We do 3 meals a week and it has took soooo much stress out of dinners for me!

[wedding]

Oct 4, 2019 10:59:48 GMT -6 lfig said:

Oct 4, 2019 9:50:03 GMT -6 wineallthetime said:

@sing2phines, all the Instagram influencers are doing the Home chef pan to oven meals. They send the pan and ingredients and you just dump it in and bake. I've never tried but they look good so thought I'd send the idea your way in case it's something that speaks to you!

We do Home Chef and I LOVE it. It’s roughly $10 a meal per serving. We do 3 meals a week and it has took soooo much stress out of dinners for me!

Do you get all the meals at once? I was thinking to try it once but the free shipping wouldn’t kick in until I got four servings. Are the servings a good size?

[lfig]

Oct 4, 2019 15:09:09 GMT -6 wedding said:

Oct 4, 2019 10:59:48 GMT -6 lfig said:

We do Home Chef and I LOVE it. It’s roughly $10 a meal per serving. We do 3 meals a week and it has took soooo much stress out of dinners for me!

Do you get all the meals at once? I was thinking to try it once but the free shipping wouldn’t kick in until I got four servings. Are the servings a good size?

Yes, each week, however many meals you select comes on the day you specify. Yes, the servings are a perfect size in my opinion. But no leftovers. I can send you a code if you decide to try that I think gives you some $$ off. PM me your email address if you want it.

[Sunny41]

sing2phins that sounds like a rough evening with very little time. I've started making double of things. Last night I grilled a tin of chicken breasts and immediately froze half. I can throw them in the IP to thaw or take them out in the morning. I make double batches of chili. I started making 2# taco meat or salsa chicken. Quesadillas or tacos or nachos are easy.
Since I can't/ don't send pbj to school I do that for dinner.

If you find you are ok with eating out food but don't want to spend the money maybe stock up on freezer food that is the same thing. I just bought sliders and pre-cooked chicken skewers from aldi.

Also I hoard CFA sauce and E uses it for dipping his veggies (and fruit). #dip4lyfe

[Sunny41]

sing2phins I saw this earlier in the week but we all need to hear it