Keeping a large family happy

[dede]

Hi all,
I have been cooking a lot of different main meal recipes since having the TM in January. I have always found it hard to make meals that everyone likes and nothing has changed. I wish we all were born with the same taste buds and all liked the same foods. Would make life so much easier.
But saying that I have found quiet a few recipes that everyone likes enough to cook them again. But then I have made other recipes that some love, some like, and some just refuse to eat. I'm not one to cook two different meals for different people each night. Its either eat what I cook or have a sandwich.
I like to find meals that at least 4 out of 7 love so I can make them regularly. We had Chilli con carne last night, I really enjoyed it but the other 6 were not keen at all. so out the window that recipe goes.
  Oh well I am still enjoying trying new recipes. We don't know if we like them until we try them.
I don't seem to have any problems with biscuits, cakes and desserts though. Just main meals.

[faffa_70]

Know exactly what you mean!!

I just keep trying new recipes and if there is a real rebellion to it then it just never makes it back to the table even if it is one that I would like to have from time to time. The things you forgo for your kids!!!

When I am organised enough to menu plan I seem to have less problems as I try to include more often than not at least 2 meals I know everyone will eat, and then a couple of new ones that I think everyone will eat and then maybe one or two (if I feel like pushing my) luck that I am not so sure about

I don't know whether having such a diverse age range in the 5 kids is helpful or not - think they can all whinge the same about food lol

[judydawn]

The kids may not appreciate it just yet but variety is the spice of life and I love the way you girls continue to try and serve up different meals, not knowing if they are going to be accepted or not.  Keep at it girls, you are doing a great job.  I know of a little lad who will only eat chicken nuggets or potato chips out of a packet - that is all his mother gives him and I find it horrifying. I'd like to have him for a week - on second thoughts maybe I wouldn't 

[dede]

lol Judy, I wouldn't bother. You have been there and done the children thing. Why would you want to go back.
I get frustrated when the kids used to like something then for some reason they change their mind and don't like it any more. Oh well I guess we cant all like the same things. And I must admit if I don't like it myself then I wont even try it. Although I do make a few things for lunch boxes that I don't like but I know that others like, but I don't need it for my lunch box.
I really don't like when they take one look at something and say yuck before they even try it, but
I really love when my 4 year old calls me a chef cause he loves what I have cooked. He thinks everyone that has a TM is a chef.

[judydawn]

My girls were very good eaters so I find it hard feeding people who don't like this or that and won't even try it. The grandchildren are pretty well into everything too - you should have seen Master 2.5 tuck into Chilli Con Carne the other day. It certainly makes life as a Mum easier - having said that I was a shocker of a kid myself and was very fussy so I got off lightly when my kids didn't take after me

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

I'm not one to cook two different meals for different people each night. Its either eat what I cook or have a sandwich.

Gosh my kids would love that option.  They love sandwiches! 

[Debbiebillg]

In our house, it's eat your dinner or eat fruit !  They'd have it over me otherwise in no time at all. I have 3 boys (6, 4 and 2). Mostly though I avoid this by cooking the things they like. My kids are strange, they would prefer veges or salad plain. If I cook a stirfry or similar, they pick out the meat and won't eat the veges, so it can make things a bit boring at times, but at least I know they get their veges. I am also cunning with them in that they get their veges while I'm preparing their meat portion, and hence they don't get their meat until they've eaten their veges.  This is probably why when I serve them a dish with meat and veges (not hidden veges), they pick out the meat lol. In saying this, lasagne is a huge hit in our house and I hide veges in it.  One of their favourites is curry, I quite often cook up a batch of yoghurt chicken (from the forum) and freeze in batches for them and we have a spicy version of butter chicken.  My eldest however can take it quite spicy, and pinches ours frequently. My husband is a shift worker so having meals on hand in the freezer is a godsend.  I can't manage cooking anything elaborate with the 3 kids on my own, so we rely on pre-frozen meals.  It's what works for us. 

[obbie]

I wish my son who is 5 would eat more veges, but he doesn't.
My daughter eats heaps of veges and salads.
They both have alot of meat, fruit, and youghurt though.
I made chicken nuggests at home for him.

 I have tried to disguise veges in cakes, but not much success.

keep trying i guess.

Robyn

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

To be honest my kids didn't eat their vegies very well until I removed all alternatives. I am very strict about eating meals, but it is paying off. My eldest son would be a very fussy eater if I enabled him to be. 

[Moo2]

It's a pain trying to please everyone and still keep things healthy. Life would be so much easier if I could serve chocolate each night. Wouldn't get a single complaint. 

[Debbiebillg]

Moo2, my kids would go along with that idea for sure.  Maybe we should find a way to hide veges in chocolate lol.

[brazen20au]

we have actually had times when ryan has starved himself and made himself sick because he doesn't feel like eating (even though the food on offer is stuff he likes and has requested) so combined with his food aversions and rora's GF needs it makes things quite stressful in our house!!!

[Moo2]

Maybe we should find a way to hide veges in chocolate lol.

Hmm, I wonder if they would be fooled if I just colored everything chocolate??

[dede]

Had curried mince tonight and everyone loved it. Yay. One to add to the regular list.