How to get kids to eat a good dinner
I am often asked how I get my kids to eat good food – especially when there are so many of them! Well, it’s really very simple. First, you have to stop thinking there is such a thing as a “picky” eater. Picky eating habits can’t be allowed or coddled! That being said, I don’t try and feed my kids seared halibut with sauted asparagus, either.
By making healthy meals with good, simple familiar foods, you are much more likely to get kids to eat. Also, and I know for some this can be hard, but you have to serve the same repertoire of foods. Yes, I know it can be boring. But really, if meals are familiar, kids will eat them.
For example, we probably make the same ten meals in a variety of ways. So, if I say we’re having stir fry for dinner, my kids know what that means – usually a meat and veggies sauted and served over rice or pasta. The same is true for quesadillas; pizza; lasagna; pasta bake; etc., etc. I’ve varied the ingredients for all of these items – but the “theme” remains the same.
Now, of course, there are a couple of things that a child or two just doesn’t like. Lydia HATES mushrooms in all forms and cooked carrots. I love mushrooms, though, so she gets to pick them out – and she opts for fresh carrots on nights we have cooked ones.
Liam hates chicken. So on nights we have chicken, he can either eat vegetarian – or if chicken is the main component of the dish, he can eat leftovers from the night before.
I also make sure that the kids help out with the meal – whether that’s by helping me shop, cook or clean-up. And truly, if you aren’t hungry, you don’t have to eat or “clean your plate.” Just don’t expect any treats later – anyone still hungry after not eating, can eat more dinner or a piece of fruit!
Don’t let your kids dictate what you eat as a family, but make sure your meals are family friendly!
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I agree with you that kids thrive on predictability, and you know what? It makes my job easier, too. Every time I try to get too creative or exotic with a meal, I get a row of turned-up noses. So, like you, I offer variations on a handful of the same basic dishes, and sometimes jazz it up a little for myself. Or I offer a few different options, and each child can pick two (so they either get, say, meat and veggies or veggies and rice or rice and meat…etc). I’m not willing to be a short-order cook, but neither do I want mealtimes to turn into a battle, so I serve up healthy options and let the kids pick and choose.