Guest guest Posted January 3, 2010 Report Share Posted January 3, 2010 I confess that we do eat a fair amount of Morningstar Farms products (every 2 days or so). I actually bought coupons on Ebay for $2.00/1 and consequently brought the store price down to .86!!! I saved over $50.00 with those coupons~! Mostly because I am frustrated with my son's attitudes towards food (notice I said that I am NOT frustrated with him, just the situation). when I do make good soups, etc., it seems so hard to find something that he will like and want to eat. We do eat healthy but it's more like a combination foods, not cooked items. For example, vegetarian chili (canned) on whole grain buns, organic carrots, oranges, and water. That would be a typical meal. It's rather frustrating really. At ten years of age I can't play the " here comes the choo-choo " came with the spoon! I can't make him eat. And I don't want it to turn into a punishment/ power struggle kind of thing. I know there are theories of child behavior but I have been mostly unsuccessful following through on anything much to my chagrin. I am trying to reform! I think I probably just need to get the confidence/support to go with a plan. Anyone care to correspond with me and HELP??!! He has always been vegetarian so meat is not an issue. I think we both quite bored with my 'bag of tricks/recipes'. I am willing to try new things. It's just very frustrating when I take the time and effort and he turns up his nose! Or worse yet, the recipe doesn't come out like it says it shoud. It's just the two of us so I don't exactly have feedback from another adult on this on an ongoing basis. Isa A. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2010 Report Share Posted January 3, 2010 We use the 3 bite rule. You must try 3 bites of what is on your plate; if you don't like it, you fix yourself peanut butter and honey on whole grain toast with a kiwi or apple.  Have you tried involving your son in the process? Go to your local library and pick up a copy of Pretend Soup; it is a great kids cookbook (I think from the Moosewood people).  Here are some meal suggestions; let me know if you would like any recipes. Many of these can be cooked and frozen in meal sized portions  pot pie tofu " fish " sticks with baked sweet potato fries lentil tacos lentil sloppy joes peanut noodles squashed macaroni stuffed peppers stuffed mushrooms quick stirfry mushroom stroganoff fondue lasagna sweet potato burritos ________________________________ Isa <casagalore Sun, January 3, 2010 4:43:28 AM Re: processed soy products  I confess that we do eat a fair amount of Morningstar Farms products (every 2 days or so). I actually bought coupons on Ebay for $2.00/1 and consequently brought the store price down to .86!!! I saved over $50.00 with those coupons~! Mostly because I am frustrated with my son's attitudes towards food (notice I said that I am NOT frustrated with him, just the situation). when I do make good soups, etc., it seems so hard to find something that he will like and want to eat. We do eat healthy but it's more like a combination foods, not cooked items. For example, vegetarian chili (canned) on whole grain buns, organic carrots, oranges, and water. That would be a typical meal. It's rather frustrating really. At ten years of age I can't play the " here comes the choo-choo " came with the spoon! I can't make him eat. And I don't want it to turn into a punishment/ power struggle kind of thing. I know there are theories of child behavior but I have been mostly unsuccessful following through on anything much to my chagrin. I am trying to reform! I think I probably just need to get the confidence/support to go with a plan. Anyone care to correspond with me and HELP??!! He has always been vegetarian so meat is not an issue. I think we both quite bored with my 'bag of tricks/recipes' . I am willing to try new things. It's just very frustrating when I take the time and effort and he turns up his nose! Or worse yet, the recipe doesn't come out like it says it shoud. It's just the two of us so I don't exactly have feedback from another adult on this on an ongoing basis. Isa A. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2010 Report Share Posted January 3, 2010 Hi Isa, You know, that meal you described sounds perfectly good to me! I mean, sure, homemade chili and homemade bread and some elaborate side dishes and wonderful dessert from a pretty cookbook with backlighted photos would be maybe nice . but some of us don't have time like that. :-) And I'm talking from the point of view of a WAHM working part-time, with a full-time working partner and one kid . I think single parents are amazing and have no idea how you do it!!! I can barely hold it together with help from my partner in the evenings and weekends! You are amazing and should not at all criticize yourself for what sounds like a wonderful meal to me!!! :-) As an example of how we cook - I usually cook a good, from-scratch meal once a week, we eat it left-over another time in the week, we buy a homemade meal from a friend who has a cottage business making vegetarian Indian food, and then the rest of the week is a daily match up of whatever veggies we have either steamed, roasted or made into some sort of raw salad, paired with a grain (pasta, rice, polenta, bread, etc.), and whatever else everyone needs by dinnertime - a protein, fruit, etc. It's easy and fast and we've come up with some meals that everyone likes and I can live with the nutrition vs. convenience. :-) And lunch is left-overs or sandwiches or frozen or canned foods, for the people at home - anyone out of the house usually ends up buying some or all of their lunch (as we do for dinner a couple times a week). Breakfasts are quick things - fresh fruit, cereal or oatmeal with soy or cow milk, or toast or waffles with peanut butter or whole-fruit spread, and whatever else sounds good that morning - nuts, raisins, juice, etc. Our 5-year-old has turned celery into a breakfast food . okay, fine with me. :-) Some great recipe sources are the Vegan Lunchbox blog and book - we totally love her tofu " fish " sticks with lemon juice! In fact, I should make those this week . :-) We also got a good cookbook for our vegetarian niece about teen-friendly vegetarian/vegan recipes . I can find out the name if you like, I can't remember . but it has some good variations on mainstream recipes that are recommended for teens to make themselves, so I'd think you and your son could do them together and maybe add to your recipe repertoire. Oh, and if it helps at all, kids in our family and friends circles often go through an " eye rolling " phase around 10-years-old, where any suggestions from parents are met with eye rolls . it's not you or your cooking . it's being 10 that brings that on. :-) Just know that a kid won't starve to death . they will eventually eat something . and it might have nutritional content, as well. :-) Good luck!!! Lorraine On Behalf Of Isa Sunday, January 03, 2010 2:43 AM Re: processed soy products I confess that we do eat a fair amount of Morningstar Farms products (every 2 days or so). I actually bought coupons on Ebay for $2.00/1 and consequently brought the store price down to .86!!! I saved over $50.00 with those coupons~! Mostly because I am frustrated with my son's attitudes towards food (notice I said that I am NOT frustrated with him, just the situation). when I do make good soups, etc., it seems so hard to find something that he will like and want to eat. We do eat healthy but it's more like a combination foods, not cooked items. For example, vegetarian chili (canned) on whole grain buns, organic carrots, oranges, and water. That would be a typical meal. It's rather frustrating really. At ten years of age I can't play the " here comes the choo-choo " came with the spoon! I can't make him eat. And I don't want it to turn into a punishment/ power struggle kind of thing. I know there are theories of child behavior but I have been mostly unsuccessful following through on anything much to my chagrin. I am trying to reform! I think I probably just need to get the confidence/support to go with a plan. Anyone care to correspond with me and HELP??!! He has always been vegetarian so meat is not an issue. I think we both quite bored with my 'bag of tricks/recipes'. I am willing to try new things. It's just very frustrating when I take the time and effort and he turns up his nose! Or worse yet, the recipe doesn't come out like it says it shoud. It's just the two of us so I don't exactly have feedback from another adult on this on an ongoing basis. Isa A. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2010 Report Share Posted January 3, 2010 Hi, im going to sound pretty harsh here but i have a strict, dont make a second meal rule with kids! Your son can't hate everything so ask him what he would like for dinner and he can help prepare it. I think food refusal is a stubborn thing. While i don't make another meal i do give options for dinner and also i give an option...if u dont eat dinner you can go to bed. It usually gets at least half eaten. Also a favorite piece of fruit as dessert as a reward. Mind you my son is 3 so i imagine a ten year old is harder, but when it comes to food i think being a bit strict pays off. Best of luck! Ange On Mon, Jan 4, 2010 at 3:45 AM, robin koloms <rkoloms wrote: > > > We use the 3 bite rule. You must try 3 bites of what is on your plate; if > you don't like it, you fix yourself peanut butter and honey on whole grain > toast with a kiwi or apple. > > Have you tried involving your son in the process? Go to your local library > and pick up a copy of Pretend Soup; it is a great kids cookbook (I think > from the Moosewood people). > > Here are some meal suggestions; let me know if you would like any recipes. > Many of these can be cooked and frozen in meal sized portions > > pot pie > tofu " fish " sticks with baked sweet potato fries > lentil tacos > lentil sloppy joes > peanut noodles > squashed macaroni > stuffed peppers > stuffed mushrooms > quick stirfry > mushroom stroganoff > fondue > lasagna > sweet potato burritos > > ________________________________ > Isa <casagalore <casagalore%40msn.com>> > <%40> > Sun, January 3, 2010 4:43:28 AM > Re: processed soy products > > > > I confess that we do eat a fair amount of Morningstar Farms products (every > 2 days or so). I actually bought coupons on Ebay for $2.00/1 and > consequently brought the store price down to .86!!! I saved over $50.00 with > those coupons~! Mostly because I am frustrated with my son's attitudes > towards food (notice I said that I am NOT frustrated with him, just the > situation). when I do make good soups, etc., it seems so hard to find > something that he will like and want to eat. > > We do eat healthy but it's more like a combination foods, not cooked items. > For example, vegetarian chili (canned) on whole grain buns, organic carrots, > oranges, and water. That would be a typical meal. > > It's rather frustrating really. > > At ten years of age I can't play the " here comes the choo-choo " came with > the spoon! I can't make him eat. And I don't want it to turn into a > punishment/ power struggle kind of thing. I know there are theories of child > behavior but I have been mostly unsuccessful following through on anything > much to my chagrin. > > I am trying to reform! I think I probably just need to get the > confidence/support to go with a plan. > > Anyone care to correspond with me and HELP??!! > > He has always been vegetarian so meat is not an issue. > > I think we both quite bored with my 'bag of tricks/recipes' . I am willing > to try new things. It's just very frustrating when I take the time and > effort and he turns up his nose! Or worse yet, the recipe doesn't come out > like it says it shoud. > > It's just the two of us so I don't exactly have feedback from another adult > on this on an ongoing basis. > > Isa A. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 4, 2010 Report Share Posted January 4, 2010 I'm wondering if he is getting too many snacks in between meals. This may make him come to the table not very hungry, so passing up on the food is a viable option. I'd limit the snacking between lunch and dinner. And don't make a bunch of special meals...that will encourage the behavior. In our house, the kids get served what I make for dinner that night. If they don't like it or turn their nose up to it, they can have a bowl of cereal (I only buy healthy cereals). That's it. And if they don't eat their dinner, it's fruit or toast for dessert, no other options. I won't make them eat the food, because I don't believe in that. But I encourage them to at least try one bite to see if they like it. Often times it turns out that with one bite they end up liking it. Even if they act like they don't like the dish, I continue to cook it and put it on their plate. It's amazing how many things took a dozen times being on their plate, untouched, before they finally ended up loving and eating it every time. It's likely a phase, so I wouldn't push either way, but certainly limit the snacking before dinner and options instead of the dinner you have made. Jacqueline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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