Re: Meals, ugh!
 

I take as many short cuts as I can with veggie prep. Mostly, I use frozen veggies. Fresh baby carrots, but I can't peel and chop. It never gets done.

At one point, I set up a folding table for school, because I couldn't handle the back and forth of using the food table. It's not great in terms of space, but more school and eating happen when the burden isn't there to constantly switch back and forth.

Re: Meals, ugh!
 

I am really appreciating this thread. I think I need to emphasize the *meal* aspect, not just food, and state and enforce my expectations for a meal. Even if it isn't every single time we sit down, but much, much more frequently than we currently do.

Re: Meals, ugh!
 

We have a hard time with "meals" right now because we don't all fit at our table.
We used to have a smaller table in the kitchen to seat two extra people against a wall, but now my MIL sits there and no one else wants to sit at a table with her, so we have one or two kids with no where to sit comfortably.
It is really discouraging.

Still, I will try to incorporate the "no one is excused until the table is cleared" aspect, as well as maybe the "no one eats until mom is ready" idea in some way. Maybe that would help bring some order and peace back to our dinnertime.

Re: Meals, ugh!
 

This helped so much at our house. Even if someone isn't hungry, they still sit at the table and converse nicely.

And it's far from perfect, believe me. But we're getting closer to the target over time. And when we go someplace else for dinner, the kids know exactly how to behave because it's the same as being at home.

Re: Meals, ugh!
 

One of my favorite books on this topic, about family meals and picky eating:

https://www.amazon.com/Child-Mine-Fe...and+good+sense


And the meal-planning philosophy I'm trying to get started on:
https://psychowith6.com/free-meal-plan-2/

Re: Meals, ugh!
 

We have 3 kids and my oldest is rarely home for dinner. And because he's not working at our restaurant, DH and I are alternating opening and closing. So when I'm home in the evenings it's meals for three with leftovers for school lunch. Bigger meals on Sunday and Monday when we're closed. Thankfully on days I open, if it's been crazy busy or we have a commitment takeout from our place is adv option.

But there are days I plan to make dinner and by the time I get home I'm just not in the mood. That's why I keep soup bones in the freezer. Or plan roast chicken. That way I have an hour of cooking time before I have to chop veggies. LOL

I used to get frustrated with trying new things and someone complaining. But when DH decided to get serious about eating healthy, he became a bit of a food Nazi. Annoying but it did have the advantage of him laying down the law about eating what was cooked. :D

Re: Meals, ugh!
 

Thank you for this thread! The instant pot has been a lifesaver for me. I have a general meal plan when grocery shopping, but I need one more specific for day to day. Too often it really feels like we either do school and enjoy outside time or we eat and have a clean house. :sigh

Re: Meals, ugh!
 

Oh I relate to this so so much. :hug2

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