for women with kids, do you make homemade meals every night for dinner?

Question

what about dessert? do you ever make boxed or frozen meals? do you think that's bad? Its just me and my three kids and they prefer chicken nuggets, fries, mac n cheese, taquitos, pizzas, hamburger helper, etc... rather than a meal I put great effort into. I feel guilty, but Im just wondering about you other moms. Honest answers, please.

Answer 1

Home cooked meals every night. HA! That stopped long ago.

There's no need to do that every night. As long as you arent feeding them hot pockets or ramen noodles every night to where they arent getting what they need, who cares how long it took you to prepare it?

The taste of the meal and the joy they get out of it does not have anything to do with how hard it was to make or how much time you put into it. A kid is equally happy and as healthy with chef boyardee ravioli as he is with the homemade spaghetti and spag sauce that you made from scratch.

Now, I am not going to say that doing this every once in a while isnt good. When I have the time, I love to be able to make a great huge meal for my family. It makes me feel good. But like I said, they dont care either way. As long as they like what they are eating.

And it's not just a 'mom' thing. When I am late at work, or even when I have had a bad day, or my husband just feels like doing a little extra, he makes dinner. Granted, its usually spaghetti or chicken..something that doesnt involve TOO many ingredients. :o) but its still much appreciated

Answer 2

When my children were small I cooked just about every night. Getting a pizza was a big deal. But I didn't cook fancy every night. Mac and cheese was always a good choice doctored up with some hamburger meat and with pork and beans on the side. Kids loved it and it was quick and easy after a full day of work. I thought hamburger helper was a great invention. I did not use these things every night but there are only so many hours in a day and if it meant I got to spend an extra 10 minutes helping with homework or just listening to what the kids had to say it was worth it to me. Don't feel guilty about not cooking the great meal every night kids will give you enough to feel guilty about without that.

Answer 3

Of course I do. It's really important to put the effort in for healthy nutrition for all of you. Doesn't have to be anything fancy, and lots don't take a lot of time. I rely a lot on what I call "oven meals" - stuff I can just throw together in a casserole and let cook for an hour or hour and a half, and they probably take less than a half hour to prepare meat, potatoes, rice or noodles, and veggies or salad. Cooking also saves money - lots and lots of money - you would be amazed. We don't usually have dessert right after a meal, but usually a few hours later - so it's bedtime snack too. Can be something homemade, but also fruit is good - fresh, canned. Try organizing your shopping and your afternoons so you can do this. Guaranteed after a few weeks you won't go back to your "old ways" - then the junk food you have been eating can be a "treat" on those days when you are too tired to cook.
It's also really important to get your children used to a variety of all kinds of foods, especially vegetables. I have a son who just adores asparagus, eggplant and spinach - all because I introduced him to them when he was young.

Answer 4

I do make dinner every night. My grocery cart has very few packaged foods in it, b/c there are so many additives and preservatives. Forget elaborate meals, but for much less money and just a little more effort, I can make, from scratch, easy things like lasagne, burritos, rice and stir fry, cubed steak and mashed potatoes, chicken sandwiches on whole wheat, pan fried chicken with green beans, etc
If you'd like I can give you some recipes for meals that will take you just a few more minutes than heating and prepping the packaged stuff.
A friend of ours whose a pediatrician swears against using a microwave to prep kids foods, so we don't even heat up our meals in the microwave any more. Kids are easy to please with easy fresh foods that are not only good for their growing little bodies, but it's also A LOT more econimical leaving money for mom to treat herself to a regular manicure or even massage!! After all when mama's happy everybody's happy!!! ;o)

Answer 5

This is an honest answer. I try to make some home made meals and take Fridays off to go out for dinner. We have take away once a week and Dinner out on Fridays. And the rest of the week I print out recipes from all recipes to plan meals. I love cooking, but when I am sick I now that my husband will prepare junk and he is good at it...LOL

Answer 6

Do not feel guilty. You can try to feed your kids the good stuff like vegetables and things but they are not always going to eat it.
I talked to my pediatrition about it and she said, just continue to offer the good stuff and if he doesn't eat it don't let it frustrate you, he is obviously getting the nutrition he needs from whatever it is he is eating anyhow, and that later when their older and they see their friends trying healthy foods, such as salads and things that they will try it to because thats what the trend is at that moment. She said its like a kid that you just can't get on a roller coaster, you try and try and nothing, then he goes on a school trip and his friends are all getting on the roller coaster, guess what, he will too, because he's not going to be the odd man out and get back to school and everyone think he's a chicken.
It will happen eventually just wait for it.
You a good mom as long as they are getting 3 square meals a day.

Answer 7

I do about half and half like this weeks menu is

Monday - Spaghetti, green beans, garlic cheese toast
Tuesday - Pizza, fruit salad
Wednesday - Beef stroganoff, asparagus, dinner rolls
Thursday - Taco Salad
Friday nights is family fun night so we do pizza rolls, nachos, corn dogs, etc... whatever the kids want
Saturday - having a party for the OU vs Texas game so it will be hamburgers, hot dogs, hotlinks, potato salad, baked beans, chips, roasted corn, and more junk
Sunday - Chicken Alfredo, salad, red and green peppers w/zucchini

Answer 8

I usually try to cook healthy 4 - 5 days a week, then there is pizza night and going out night.

The prepared foods, although convenient, pack a lot of preservatives and sodium and fat. There is a Trader Joe's in my area and they carry a lot of health conscious convenient dinner items and deserts.

My kids like home made chicken, broccolli and ziti, home made tacos, chicken breast sandwiches, spaghetti & meatballs, chili, shepards' pie and steak tips w/ rice and veggies. Left overs are my favorite.

Desert is usually an ice cream or popcicle.

Answer 9

You are what you eat....and at the end of the day you are killing them.I cook every night my kids love their veg and a lot of the time i use garlic ....neither of them have been sick with vurus or colds for about 10 yrs...they are now 12 an 14.Take away is a treat as per is dessert.Can you imagine your and your kids arteries in 10 yrs or so...ppl die from heart disease etc....read up on it and set an example.My 14 yr old whines in the supermarket if i dont buy fresh brussel sprouts. Sure it takes getting used to but a little of each veg on their plates an seeing you eat it things will change over time...involve them in the cooking they will love eating their own creations and if they prefer their veg raw so be it as long as they are eating healthy they will be healthy.Oh and cheaper too...

Answer 10

girl dinner depends on mood and time I cook the things you've mention but it's usually on the weekends that I let them enjoy .Don't feel bad about how they eat just start making sure that you cook home cooked meals at least 3 to 4 times a week.and when they have what they prefer just add a vegetable or two to balance the meal out.