Monday, March 17, 2008

Meal-time Solutions For A Harried Mom

Scenario One

Problem: They didn't like the turkey/potato/green bean casserole. (Too much thyme, perhaps?)

Solution: Add broth and some milk and call it turkey chowder. (I might have even poured off some of the original sauce, hoping to make the flavor milder.)

Problem: They recognized it and still didn't like it.

Solution: Put it in the freezer and get it out a month or so later. Add more milk and thickening, and cheese so it's a thicker, richer turkey chowder.

Result: They didn't seem to recognize/remember it and although it wasn't a great hit, they ate it. Score: Mom - 1 Kids - 0

Scenario Two

Problem: Little Mr. Two-Year-Old is still really picky about what he eats. If he doesn't like it, he would often rather just go to bed hungry. :-( And, now that I'm so busy with Baby and all, I sometimes even forget to offer it to him later. And, he's a bit on the scrawny side.

Solution: If he doesn't like what we're having, I offer him a bowl of oatmeal (I sometimes even keep some cooked in the fridge to heat up when he needs it.) He's been eating it with great enthusiasm. When I tried this awhile back, it seemed like after eating oatmeal for a few meals, he was more ready to eat what we were eating. I guess we both win on this one!


I'd love to hear some of your challenges and victories (or defeats if you want to share them) with feeding your family.

5 comments:

rachelslab said...

Yer a sick woman! Sorry, I just wanted to copy what you put on my blog. I can't believe Jo would rather eat oatmeal than your cooking! But yeah, different chokes for different folks or whatever.

Anonymous said...

Ya know i kinda remember your mother going through the same thing with you and Sheldon--i just remember her trying sooo hard to get you to eat at lesat something!! I don't remember that oatmeal was her remedy---but if it works----ewww--- but go for it! {I hate oatmeal--you're grandma made us eat it all the time}

aunt ruthie

Sabrina said...

I feel your pain! Isaiah is so picky. For months he wouldn't even try anything he didn't recognize or didn't think he'd like. We would just let him down and let him go play until he was hungry. I think half the time he just wasn't hungry. He used to eat two packs of instant (plain -gag) oatmeal every morning. when I stopped letting him eat that much for breakfast he seemed to do better at other meals. he is doing much better now, but I really don't know why. Maybe he's growing up!

Anonymous said...

some days i find myself racking my brain for a meal plan that everyone will not only eat, but enjoy. my last winner (with the disclaimer that matthew was out of town)? mashed potatoes and fruit salad. yup. and they all devoured it with great happiness. once i got over the unorthodox-ness of it, i enjoyed it quite a lot myself. :D

elise said...

Have you tried the "choo choo" game with him - it always works with scotty :-)

I tried the honey mustard chicken tonight and it was a hit! thx