aggravatedThis is cross posted so sorry for the dorky writing.
Okay so my problem is two fold. First part, as a foody, I am having a really hard time with getting my kids to eat foods that I like. It's hit or miss, as in they sometimes like sushi, sometimes don't, sometimes like different things, sometimes don't. But for the most part, they have become picky. Part of it is because they are with their dad every other week and he prepares foods they don't like but forces them to eat it. His partner is Mexican so they eat a lot of Mexican food, but also things that are not necessarily "child friendly" i.e. Seafood chowder.
My kids are 5 and 7. They have always been exposed to different foods and have always eaten well and a variety, and we try to stick to whole foods, with no preservatives (or as close to as possible). But I am getting more and more frustrated that EVERY meal time they have a problem with what I make. I know a lot of it is normal kid resistance, but what they do is don't eat, then have a fit if I try to make them eat it later, (like before bed when they tell me they are starving) or try and make them eat some of it before they can get down from the table. They eat a snack after school, and maybe sometimes it is too close to dinner. Do I make dinner time later? Do I stick to my guns and make them eat the foods that I've chosen, and if they don't eat it, then that is what they eat later? They ALWAYS want to eat something before bed. And they never want to eat their dinner.
Second, I am so exhausted single parenting that I just don't have the energy to fight them. And knowing that their dad is a hard ass, makes it harder for me to do the same. So this is the parenting part of my question. Coping with kids, and meals and routine when you are fighting a not very nice person, and constantly changing routines.
My 7 year old complained saying I never ask them what they want to eat. So I asked him what he wants to eat. He just shrugged. But on prompting, said, tacos, pizza, spaghetti and meatballs....all normal stuff, but you can only eat so many tacos and spaghetti! I am trying to open their repetoire of foods they eat, especially coming from a family of chefs and food lovers! I also want meal times to be enjoyable family time. I've gotten them involved in cooking, and it doesn't guarantee they will eat it. Unless it is pancakes or omelets (my 7 yr old learned how to make them).
What works for you? Do you have a specific meal time, and a specific snack cut off time? What do you do if they don't eat their meal? Do you get your kids involved in menu planning? How much say do they have versus what you the parent would actually enjoy eating? Am I just going to have to eat what I want on the days my kids are not with me????
Oh another thing. They like most kids are picky about veggies. One won't eat cooked veggies at all, but will eat raw which is fine by me. The other will eat some cooked, but mostly raw as well. Anything that has veggies mixed in (like peppers or mushrooms) they hate. I can sometimes hide it depending on the recipe. But do I just leave them to raw veggies, and keep my cooked portions separate to add in later? Oh and my 5 year old hates meat. Except sausage, or any kind of meat that is disguise-able....Sometimes he will eat chicken, but never red meat or pork. He is off fish now too.
Sorry for the long winded question!
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