OMAC for the pickiest family on EARF??
 

(My 6 yo who can't say TH and is rather dramatic, describes chores as the "Dumbest fings on EARF!" and ice cream as the "Coldest fing on EARF!" :giggle)

So I am having a VERY hard time with meal planning. I used to make one meal, everyone had to try it if they didn't like it, make a sandwich. But with food allergies and other factors, there is no meal I can make that everyone will eat. :banghead

Here's our limitations:
Dh: picky but not too bad...mostly won't eat many vegetables and def nothing raw.
Me: Dairy, egg, peanut and tree nut free. (Mostly, I'll occasionally have mayo or very occasionally cheese) I don't like fish.
Dd: Pescetarian/mostly vegetarian.
Ds1: Meatatarian, seriously, he doesn't like veggies or carbs.
Ds2: Pickiest eater on EARF! Will eat fried foods, some carbs, some ground beef/turkey. Likes a few veggies and fruit.
Ds3: Strictly dairy, egg, peanut, tree nut and red dye free. Also has texture issues. Plus normal toddler pickiness. I never know what to feed him.

I'm thinking about making a month worth of food for each family member and letting them pick what they want for me to heat up...sort of DIY TV dinners.

Is this bonkers?

Re: OMAC for the pickiest family on EARF??
 

I think I would fo two meals rather than one per person, if you could work it. 30 individual meals x 6 family members equals a ton of cooking. ;)

---------- Post added at 06:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:19 PM ----------

And maybe I'm mean but if my kids don't like supper, they can have a sunbutter sandwich or an apple.

Re: OMAC for the pickiest family on EARF??
 

Yeah, I think it's bonkers :shifty

I'd tend to revolve everything around vegetarian, with dairy and meat on the side :shrug

Re: OMAC for the pickiest family on EARF??
 

I was thinking I'd make a batch of say...spaghetti and split it up into 1 meal portions. But, yeah, if I let each person pick 7-10 dinners that is a lot. :think Bummer.

Re: OMAC for the pickiest family on EARF??
 

But if you did spaghetti with a big side of veg, and kept the meat on the side, everyone could add what they wanted, kwim? Then you're not cooking 20-11 individual meals for every meal.

Re: OMAC for the pickiest family on EARF??
 

Yes, except, dd doesn't like pasta, ds1 doesn't like tomato sauce and Ds2 just plain won't eat it.

Re: OMAC for the pickiest family on EARF??
 

AVOID DAIRY EGGS and nuts since true allergies are with those..

Fix a meat protein and a veggie protein
fix 1-2 veggie dishes
have fruit choices avaiable
add a grain or complex carb
Allow members to take what the choose make a meal to include
a protein
a veggie or fruit
grain/carb

encourage but dont force bites from this... anything else is a plus.

We do a lot of two way dishes.. Like I might steam some broccoli and carrots.. I'll also do a raw salad using both people can choose which or have a bit of booth..
I might make say hamburgers but make 4 with meat and another 4 veggie say

Deanna

Re: OMAC for the pickiest family on EARF??
 

Oh, and I try to be "mean" and not let it get to me and let them make a sandwich if they need to but then I'm paying twice for the meal (the food they won't eat and the food they will) and they almost all have SPD with taste/texture issues. They are certifiably picky. :-/

Re: OMAC for the pickiest family on EARF??
 

Pill doesn't do tomato sauce either...that's on the side, as is meat and veg :yes

:hugheart That sounds stressful.

Re: OMAC for the pickiest family on EARF??
 

Look at you switching tactics, Rach. :giggle ("She's not taking advice, how about a hug?" :heart)

I'm not trying to be opposisional...I just feel that I've tried everything. I also don't want ppl thinking I'm a push over and let my kids make all the decisions. I'm just at the end of my rope and just want my family to eat good, healthy food they enjoy.

Re: OMAC for the pickiest family on EARF??
 

You're not supposed to notice :haha

I can well imagine you have tried everything. I feel at the end of my rope with ONE picky child...can't imagine everyone in the family having something. Have to say though, this is where I think my parents had something by requiring we ate whatever was in front of us even if we hated it :bag

Re: OMAC for the pickiest family on EARF??
 

Cecilia has SPD and huge texture issues.. However with very little exception I no longer allow for an alternitive meal. :shrug3 I di for EVER and as a result shes literly would only eat like 5 things.. and the mmore she swas allowed to not try thigns the more it was proof to her they were bad... :-/
things that wre helping at least OPEN up the possibility of more foods..

1) allowing her to help cook they make it they are much more likely to taste
2) shop for it.. Alowing kids to pick a new fruit or veggie to try also helps
3) seeing a real serving but only requiring a taste.. FOr the longest time I'd say put the single pea on Cs plate and beg her to try.. shes cry fight or barely lick it and colplase like she;d been posioned... :shifty Then I started pouring 1/2 cup worth onto her plate but saying one bite please.. I think the only one was also saying see this will be sooo awful your never want more. Plus I figure shes atleast needs to see a serving size..
4) hiding but not hiding teach your picky eatter how differnt combos work why spaghetti sauce might be yummy with lots of veggies how fruit can mask some veggies how we can bake pumkins and squash ect into breads and desserts.. Before age ohh five if needed I hid things after that I felt shes was old enough to lean and understand.

Re: OMAC for the pickiest family on EARF??
 

I have personal baggage here and refuse to do this to my kids. To this day wasted food causes me anxiety and I MUST.CLEAN.MY.PLATE. :-/

I've had each of the kids make a list of all the food they like. Maybe it will help me figure something out.

Maybe a freezer full of dinner alternatives?

Re: OMAC for the pickiest family on EARF??
 

I have baggage from it too but I think I swung the other way in reaction and it has really not been a good thing :sigh