Good Morning Friends,
Making dinner is a daunting task just itself. Add picky kids and it makes it even more of a daunting task.
This year we are sticking to a schedule. We are going to get our picky eater to try more foods, and like them.
Creating a Schedule
Print out a calendar sheet, or use your phone and come up with several meals. Let your child pick some of the meals. So for example I chose to add spaghetti, egg casserole, and chopped cucumber salad. Aria chose lava sandwiches (grilled cheese), and taco soup. If you are trying to go the healthy route like we are replace items in the recipe with healthy substitutions. Like for grilled cheese we use wheat bread or ezekiel bread with almond cheese or a lighter cheese like provolone.
This not only helps kids learn how to plan a menu, it also shows them if I try these foods I get to have some food I like. We do this weekly, and shop for the week ahead.
Just print this sheet off and laminate it. That way you don’t have to waste paper and ink printing a new one off every week.
Shopping for Ingredients
We like taking Aria shopping with us so she can see how to shop on a budget. This prepares her for her life away from home. We show her how to find the best price for the item needed. Would three smaller bags on sale still be better than the big bag on sale.
She knows how find ingredients to the dishes we will be making. We are currently working on how to teach her to find the right produce.
I know it is sometimes a nightmare dragging kids to the store, and it won’t always be sunshine and rainbows but it will help them in the end.
Preparing the Meal
With the meals your child has chosen have them help you prepare the meal. Show them how to follow a recipe, use measurements, and proper hygiene. Washing hands, and surfaces to keep from cross contaminating. I mean isn’t that picture below the perfect example of clean prep? Luckily this meal is just for us so I don’t mind Aria germs.
Teaching your kids how to properly prepare meals will serve them well for college, or marriage. It was one of the greatest gifts my parents gave to me was the knowledge of the kitchen they gave to me.
From middle school on my mom would have us plan a meal, and prepare the meal. I learned how to prepare chicken, how long to cook it for and how to keep from cross contaminating the surfaces.
So from day one I was able to shop, budget, and prepare meals for my family without relying on take out or boxed food.
Some of our favorite meals as a family:
-Spaghetti
–Peanut Butter and Banana Roll Ups
I have a board devoted to family recipes we have tried and liked (here).
How do you get your family involved with cooking? How do you get picky eaters to eat new foods?
