Tell me if this sounds familiar…it's just about dinner time and the kids come into the kitchen to help set the table for Family Meal. As they sneak a peak of what's prepared you can already tell, the outlook isn't good. Fidgeting around the decision is made: they don't like it. Oh no.
Don't panic. This has happened to me more than a hundred dozen times. After the pleading, begging, and tearing my hair out, to get my kids to eat a balanced diet, I finally came up with something that more or less works. Even this fails, I have a handy cup of yogurt standing by and will explain below.
So, what's the big secret? Simple. Find out what your kids like and dress it up. I am not talking making trains of carrots or radishes. I'd love to, but honestly don't have the time. I am talking take the basic ingredients of what they like and add just a neat twist that helps them be more adventurous. For example, if they like baked potatoes, slice it up and drizzle with say sour cream-or if you know that's a no go- provide little bowls of butter for dipping. Make the potato fun.
And, without a doubt…instead of bringing them into the kitchen only after the meal is prepared…bring them in before you even start. I have found that if I get my kids to participate along side me in the kitchen, they take pride and ownership in what we're making. It's far harder for them to refuse sampling the food they helped make. But with every rule there are exceptions and I don't get it right all the time. And that's when ready meals are key. So that's that look like real time? Say, you sit down to a meal and the kids just aren't eating (it's too green, new, odd, funny, touching the other food, you can imagine).
That's ok. I can be picky too sometimes, though I hate to admit it.
So what do you do? Give them the option to go to the fridge and pick out a yogurt. Or something that's already made and ready to eat. Not you go the fridge. Them. Don't fuss, scream, or be upset. Take a deep breath. It's not personal. And when they come back to the table, talk about the next meal and what might be really fun to prepare together.
And eventually you'll find a nice balance where everyone is eating, participating and making the very most of it.