Updated: Dec. 17, 2020
Originally Published: April 23, 2017
For some inexplicable reason, it seems like a cardinal sin to throw a box of cereal at your kids every night and declare, “Dinner’s served!” But honestly, I’m teetering on the brink of just letting them fend for themselves if they want to eat anything at all—because I’m utterly drained from watching them push my lovingly prepared meals around their plates, claiming to be full, only to hear them whine for snacks half an hour later.
They have no idea how much work goes into feeding a family. It’s not just about stirring pots at the stove; it includes the agony of meal planning, where I desperately try to come up with options that are somewhat healthy but won’t end up in the trash. I know they’ll devour anything beige or artificially orange, so it’s tempting to whip up dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets and neon mac and cheese every night, knowing they’ll clean their plates.
But then mom guilt hits me hard—thoughts like “vitamin deficiencies” and “obesity epidemic” flood my mind. So I find myself endlessly scrolling through Pinterest, hoping to stumble upon something nutritious that doesn’t end in disaster. I remind myself, “You have to include a vegetable!” But seriously, are cucumber slices anything more than crunchy water? Does tomato sauce even count?
I try to broaden their palates by introducing them to new foods; they’ve been served risotto and radicchio, quinoa and kale, mashed cauliflower and butternut squash. I’ve smothered various dishes in cheese, pureed them into soups, and even tossed them with pasta because, let’s face it, kids will always eat pasta.
I go to great lengths, hoping one day they’ll prefer the good stuff over the processed junk. But even after a few minor victories, it usually ends up the same: a couple of polite bites (we call it a “no-thank-you taste”), some nibbling, and a lot of picking out items they deem “too squishy.” I often find myself shaking my fists in frustration, shouting, “You’ll eat a booger, but you won’t eat quinoa?!”
And it gets worse. Their picky habits leave me with a pile of leftovers that—let’s be real—are only good for a couple of meals. The amount of uneaten food I’ve guilt-shoved into my mouth instead of the trash has easily added 15 pounds to my waistline, at least.
As if that’s not enough, I get to clean up after the meal I painstakingly planned and prepared, only for my kids to treat it like a plate of toenail clippings. It’s a real kick in the (figurative) gut.
Despite my exasperation, I stick to my usual eat-it-or-starve policy. It won’t hurt them to eat decent, unprocessed food once or twice a day. If they’re hungry enough, they’ll eat whatever I put in front of them—newsflash: it’s not always going to be pizza and fries (which would be awesome, but I digress) and juice that looks like it came from a Smurf.
So I’ll keep searching for recipes that strike a balance between health and deliciousness—there must be a sweet spot somewhere between kale chips and mozzarella sticks. Even if they never appreciate the effort that goes into dinner, I won’t give up on convincing them that what I’m cooking isn’t as disgusting as they pretend it is.
But that doesn’t mean I can’t vent about it in the meantime. I mean, if they can eat boogers, they can learn to nibble on a whole grain or a vegetable.
For more insights on family life, check out our other blog posts on home insemination kits and parenting strategies at intracervicalinsemination.com. You can also learn more about the process and resources available for those looking to start a family at Make a Mom or find excellent support at Drugs.com.
Summary:
Navigating the world of family meals can feel like an uphill battle, especially when kids refuse to eat anything but processed foods. Despite the challenges of picky eaters and the guilt of wasted food, parents must continue to offer nutritious options while maintaining a sense of humor. The journey involves experimenting with new recipes and hoping that one day, their taste buds will mature.