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Meal planning for a "mixed" family
Categories: Food
Meal planning, day in and day out, can be challenging under any circumstances. My personal challenge is planning for a husband and one child who are meat lovers, two other children who are long-term, committed vegetarians, and myself (neutral). Oh, and did I mention that the meat loving child doesn't care for beans, eggs or cheese? When the children were very small, I served meals on a take it or leave it basis, and it worked very well. But it takes more moxie than I have to disrespect the food identities of teenagers. Over the years I have worked out a few strategies for dealing with the situation, so that I don't go insane. My best meals are "make your own"--everyone puts together his or her own meal at the table, or just before finishing. For example, make your own burritos. All fillings are served at the table in one of the millions of bowls that I have, so each person can customize his or her burrito. I also have a supply of 9" cake pans perfect for make your own pizza night. Other times I will prepare a meal up to the lowest common denominator and serve the meat on the side, for example vegetarian chili with ground beef on the side. Is anyone else in this situation?
Mom of Nine says,
I am SO impressed as I don't think I would have the strength to afford so many options as mealtime! I think your "make you own at the last minute" option is brilliant but I would guess there aren't too many cookbooks out there that cater to this approach. Hey! Perhaps you've just found a niche in the cookbook market! :)
Jan 9, 2009 11:49 AM
Commanda13 says,
I used to have to do this and sometimes make three different options when I had housemates with food restrictions. I had a housemate who couldn't have any carbs, so no sugar, flour, beans, soy, dairy, etc. And her son was lactose intolerant. I'm so enjoying living on our own and only cooking one dinner for my family! But anyway, I do understand how rough it is and my sympathies are with you! I found a recipe for split pea burgers that's really yummy. Not sure if your bean hating kids would like it, but I thought it might pass by them. Would they eat spanikopita? "Make your own" type meals are definitely the way to go with such diverse tastes. Sandwich night? Soups? Potato Leek soup is good and a crowd pleaser. Pasta with veggies? I've made a pasta primavera recipe over the years that even picky kids could pick the zucchini out of and just eat the noodles. My biggest problem lately is that my son is an onion detective and insists on us picking them out.
Jan 9, 2009 02:38 PM
Bootstraps says,
I have a picky meat-eater who only eats carrots, apples and oranges for her fruits and vegetables. I just discovered, "Deceptively Delicious," a cookbook by Jerry Seinfield's wife, Jessica. It features sneaky ways to get vegetables and legumes in your children's diet by pureeing vegetables and adding them to your ingredients as you prepare them. Think cauliflower in scrambled eggs or as breading on chicken nuggets. Or, sweet potatoes in pancakes. My daughter has eaten more cauliflower over the past two weeks than she'd like to know, but I'm much less stressed about her getting her nutrients, and we can eat the same things. The book includes a great recipe for chocolate chip cookies that use garbanzo beans! I bought the book at Reny's on sale.
Jan 9, 2009 04:08 PM
GeriNurse says,
The timing on this subject is too funny! Tonight at dinner I took a paper plate and wedged it into pie sections with a magic marker. I asked the 3 children in my life and my husband to name off two of their favorite meals that EVERYBODY enjoys. (The baby makes 4, but she is still on breast milk) I wrote a favorite meal in each section. I plan to add an arrow I can spin, whatever meal it lands on is "Whats for SUPPER" that particular night.
We are primarily vegetarian with one herbivore, I add meat on the side when I can. We almost always cut up fresh fruit or carrots, etc to accompany what ever the main meal is. Funny.........there was some debating on the meal but no one had any trouble at all coming up with Favorite desserts! :)
One of my favorite tricks is when I make home made pancakes or waffles I add 3 Tblsp of flax seed flour to my batter. It is a great nutrient and actually gives a light nutty taste to the final product.
Oh and um.....I have an onion detective too :)
~K
Jan 9, 2009 08:44 PM
Commanda13 says,
Speaking of my onion detective, the other night, when I gave him a double chocolate chip cookie, Drew asked me suspiciously, "Are there any onions in this? Or tomatoes?"
Jan 10, 2009 09:44 AM
GeriNurse says,
Oh those Onions detectives!!!! That gave me a chuckle. :) Don't you love it when you remove all the onions form something ( or so you thought ) and they say..."Nah Uh Mom, there is one right there!" Of course they find that last one and only onion and its usually a speck of what was an onion, but by golly....it is or was an onion and they found it!
Jan 10, 2009 04:11 PM
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