Spin-off on the dinner complaining

[Mrs.H]

Complaining is such a regular event at our house. I've tried a variety of things. Some help, some don't.

So here's my question - do any of you let your children help plan the menu? I haven't tried this, mostly because I'm a control freak by nature, but I'm willing to give it a try. Maybe if they knew they each had one night to choose what they'd like for dinner, it would be better. What are your thoughts?

[MarieL]

I don't let my children help plan the menu. Occasionally, they will say, 'We haven't had _____ forever" and I'll tell them that some time in the next week we'll have it. Usually it's something like mac and cheese or pizza, something I don't willingly put on the menu.

[Robbie]

I don't let my children help plan the menu. Occasionally, they will say, 'We haven't had _____ forever" and I'll tell them that some time in the next week we'll have it. Usually it's something like mac and cheese or pizza, something I don't willingly put on the menu.

Ditto. If I asked for help in planning, we'd be eating the same things over and over again. I do let them help prepare and they eat more willingly when they've prepared dinner.

[foogball]

This is our idea, we've done it a couple times, but will have it be regular once they get older. Wednesdays we have a "kids recipe" night. But the idea is in the am they pick the recipe out of one of the kids cookbooks, we go buy the ingredients, then they help us make it. The rule is they can't double up on the same recipe in a month. Hopefully, this will get them enjoying a variety of food, but have fun too! But I pretty much make them what they will eat right now. It's not a lot of variety, but I am working at introducing things here and there

[Mrs.H]

Brilliant, Molly!! That the kind of thing I was thinking might work for us. I might give that a try. Maybe on Saturday night, when we'd have plenty of time to shop during the day.

[LandJ]

Since there's only just the two of us AND I'm in school and rarely make dinner there's really no issue in this house. When I do make dinner it's typically one of the super suppers and I do let J pick which one he wants out of the freezer. But if I really do make a REAL dinner Jesse almost always helps. And he loves to help my Mom cook at her house where he is three nights a week for dinner. He doesn't get to pick the menu over there, but since he helps make it he likes to help eat it.

Oh, plus he's the least picky eater I've ever known. And remember the post about me not making healthy choices and had to serve peas? Yeah...apparently the issues in this house belong to me not the 5 yo! LOL!

[tasha]

They pretty much get to pick what they have for lunch everyday.

tasha

[lrmc]

I try to do a kid friendly dinner a few times a week.

We might have breakfast for dinner, finger foods, or other kid friendly foods.

The biggest thing for me is to break out of the rut I've been in lately with dinner.

[SusanL]

No, we don't- if we did, we'd eat meatballs and pizza all the time . We try to have things we know they like on a regular basis though. I like what you do, Molly!

[Laura1]

Well honestly I only cook when school is in session. I do not cook in the summer unless it is on the grill. Well yes, I like to get everyones input of what they want to eat. I will make a couple of things if they want something else and I want this. I am the one who is the fussy one!!