Why Don't My Kids Like My Food?!
And other questions that have no answers... (+ Your Weekly Meal Plan!)
(Photo by Signe Birck)
A few nights ago, I was standing in the kitchen, chopping carrots, celery, and onions for soup. My 5-year old Grayson was sitting at the counter, listening to an audio book, and my 8-year-old Evie walked over to me and said “What’s for dinner, mom?”
I braced myself and replied, “Tuscan White Bean Soup.” (Before I continue - let it be known, this is one of my all-time favorite winter meals. Brothy white beans with rosemary and thyme, Swiss chard, and prosciutto. It’s delicious.)
“NO!!! NOT THAT!!!!!” she cried, face contorted into a look of disgust. “I HATE THAT SOUP! I’m not eating it! I’m making mac and cheese.”
I took a deep breath, turned on the stove, and glugged some olive oil into the pot. “Evie, that’s what we’re having for dinner,” I replied, “You don’t have to like it. But we’re not making mac and cheese.”
“But that soup is disgusting! It’ll make me barf! I’m not eating it!” (The drama!)
Grayson chimed in. “Evie, I don’t like the soup either, but I’m still going to eat it.” (Bless him.)
The protests continued as I sautéed the veggies and added in the prosciutto and herbs. The kitchen filled with the fragrant aromas of garlic and rosemary, and I stirred in the white beans, chicken stock, and Parmesan rind. While the beans simmered, I rinsed and chopped the Swiss chard to stir in at the end.
I took deep breaths and thought to myself: Why do I go through such effort to cook wholesome meals for my family? My kids clearly don’t appreciate it. They would just as soon eat pizza, burgers, and mac and cheese every night if I’d let them.
Y’all, if any of this feels familiar, just know: you’re not alone. This is my life A LOT of the time. Meal-planning, grocery-shopping, cooking, serving, and cleaning up. And all of my effort is often met with a “yuck.” (By the way - this is one of the reasons I love teaching cooking classes so much. I’m reminded that people actually like eating my food! Ha.) On the flip side, when I make a meal that my kids love - which does happen every once in awhile - it literally feels like winning a James Beard Award.
So why do I put in all of the work only to hear whines and complaints? Well, there several reasons. First of all, I like eating healthy, homemade meals (and so does Brandon). I enjoy the cooking, the flavors, and the way I feel when I eat wholesome food. So part of it is selfish! Secondly, I’m playing a long game with my kids. My hope is - if I continue to cook and serve a variety of foods, and get them involved in the cooking process - that their palate will grow. I’m pretty sure at their ages, I wouldn’t have loved a soup with Swiss chard, and now I love all the veggies, so chances are, at some point they will too. And finally, I want to build in that ritual of gathering around the table each night (or at least most nights). I want us to eat together, to talk about our days, and to have that time to connect. It truly is a labor of love, and I applaud each of you that are on the same journey of trying to feed a family.
Honestly, that’s why I’ve created this newsletter. As a tool to encourage and equip you on what I know can be a really challenging - and at times discouraging! - path. So keep up the good work. I’m hoping it will get easier eventually, but in the meantime, we can encourage each other along the way.
Mamas: if you have any similar stories you want to share, send them to me! And tell me if you have any tips on developing healthy eaters!
XO
Anna
P.S. I forgot to share the ending to the story! I told Evie she needed to eat some of the soup - she didn’t have to eat all of it, but if she wanted dessert (she really wanted a cookie), she had to eat at least half. Grayson ate most of his bowl and said he actually liked it, and Evie ate half and survived. (There was also baguette and cheese and apple slices so they ate that too.) Brandon and I ate our bowls, had seconds, and there was still some leftovers for lunch the next day. So at least that was a win!
Also: I gave her my cookbook and asked her to pick out a couple of soups that she did like, and said I’d be happy to make those in the coming weeks. She chose Roasted Tomato Basil and Potato & Leek, which helps me with my meal-planning.
Weekly Meal Plan: January 14-20, 2024
It’s COLD here right now, so I am leaning into all the cozy foods: white bean chili, steak tacos, a satisfying quinoa bowl (made out of roasted veggies, leftover roast chicken and chimichurri) and an easy flatbread ricotta pizza with spicy greens.
Here’s your weekly menu + recipes!
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