Picture it: A small town in southeast Minnesota on a Wednesday afternoon. You’re a wife and busy working mom of three kids. It’s that time of day when you’re deciding what’s for dinner. You stare into the cupboards, check out what’s in the freezer, browse the fridge and Google “What should I make for supper?” Finally, you scrape together a plan to make three different meals – one for yourself (because you’re doing Whole30), one for your husband (who would gag on a Whole30 meal) and one for your kids (who won’t eat anything you put in front of them).
In one moment of sane clarity, you throw up your hands and declare, “This is ridiculous!” Sound familiar? Making multiple meals had been my life for awhile, and I finally decided to do something about it-I needed to UNDO the bad eating habits of my kids.
One Meal Wonder
My goal? Make ONE meal for supper that we would all eat. So, I did some investigating and asked our pediatrician a few questions at our recent well-child appointment.
Me: “Is it unreasonable to expect my kids eat what their dad and I eat?”
Ped: “Your kids should absolutely eat what you and your husband eat. They are old enough to move away from toddler food (chicken nuggets, mac & cheese, fish sticks) and onto grown-up food like lasagna, soup, meats, and veggies,”
Me: “So, if my kids refuse to eat what I give them, is it okay to let them skip a meal?”
Ped: “No, a child should not skip a meal. They should not go to bed hungry. They should eat what’s on their plate whether they like it or not.”
Me: “How in the world am I supposed to win this battle?”
Ped: “Set-up expectations. Tell them before the meal begins what they need to eat: even if it isn’t something they like. An eight-year-old should eat eight big bites of everything on their plate. A five-year-old should eat five big bites of everything on their plate. So on and so forth.”
Me: “Hmmmm….okay, then.”
Our pediatrician turned to my kids and told them, in no uncertain terms, that they need to eat what is given them. My oldest, thankfully, took her words to be Absolute Truth.
The Pilot
Later in the week, my husband and I set up clear expectations that the kids were to try everything on their plate. We explained that they need fruits, veggies, and protein in order to grow healthy and strong. We even planned a meal around the things we knew they would tolerate and they were not allowed to leave the table until they tried everything.
I was prepared for battle.
On the menu for our first “eat what you get” meal:
- Pulled pork with a Whole30 compliant rub. Cooked in the crockpot.
- Homemade 100% whole wheat buns nearly fresh out of the oven.
- Fresh organic strawberries.
- Diced, roasted sweet potatoes seasoned with salt and pepper.
- Optional Baby Rays or Famous Dave’s BBQ sauce for the pork.
The pork would be the greatest challenge. We provided plenty of BBQ sauce and gave realistic servings. The bun would be the easiest since my kids (thankfully) like whole grain food. The strawberries are hit and miss. I cannot understand why strawberries are sometimes undesirable. They are pure delight for crying out loud! The sweet potatoes we have to call “sweets” because our oldest child cannot stand white potatoes. They make him dry heave. What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.
It was like Christmas for grown-ups when at the end of the meal each plate was clean. I couldn’t believe it. Out strategic planning had paid off.
The Long Game
Now, after a few weeks, we’ve since had equal parts wins and losses. The new rules are the new normal. My oldest son who likes meatballs and hamburgers, but normally refuses to eat spaghetti sauce with ground beef, ate eight big bites of sauce (with his nose plugged). My second son who hated apples is now eating an apple a day after I eliminated all processed snacks from the house.
For some meals, I’m still too tired to wage a battle, so I cheat and make pizza. Somehow that feels like a win ’cause we’re all eating one meal, right?
I’ve noticed that my grocery list has changed considerably and now includes lots of whole foods and grains. That’s not to say we ate only junk prior to this campaign, but I would say we’re on our way to being a whole foods only family. Of course, that means I’m baking/cooking a lot more, but it’s become my “mom time.”
I realize breaking this habit is going to be a long-term commitment. We’ll take baby steps and make lots and lots of small changes, but I know we’ll see positive results and happy, healthy kids.
Mommas, if you have any tips, PLEASE share them in the comments. I’d love to hear from you!
