Ok here is the delema?

Question

I dont like turkey or ham, while growing up my parents forced me to eat them on thanksgiving. now that im older and i make my own decisions i dont go near the stuff.. however my wife normally makes me porkchops instead. my kids are at the age that say they dont like things but dad makes them eat it. **we try to alway make something that eveyone likes** now they are gonna see that dad gets special meal at thanksgiving. what do i do or say if the question arises.. and my twins are gonna ask.

Answer 1

Well. You could say that Turkey's really good, and Ham's very good but that today you just didn't really want to eat those. You could say you're allergic if you don't mind fibbing to your children. Another thing you could do is cut it up really good so it's barely recognizeable over those mounds of mashed potatoes and vegetables that are facing them.lol.

Eventually they're gonna have to learn though that what you do and what they do are two different things. They need to learn certain things at their age right now suck.lol and right now they are still getting the taste for things and you don't want your opinion to necessarily ruin theirs and them end up not liking things that you don't like. Have your wife also emphasise on how great the turkey and ham they are eating is.

Answer 2

You had to eat what was put in front of you as a child, and had to wait until you were "older" to make your own choices. When your children are older, they will also be able to make their own choices. Rank has its privileges.

In the meantime, your objective is to introduce them to a variety of foods, and also to make sure that they receive balanced nutrition, which is easier to do when you eat a variety of things.

I would try to be reasonable about your rules, however, so that they are required only to maybe eat one or two bites of something they don't care for, and not necessarily a complete serving. People's tastes change over time, and something they hate now may become a favorite at another time.

You can also ask for their participation in choosing and maybe even preparing the menu, so things they like are included (and maybe things they really hate are excluded).

You might also try offering a variety of things and allowing them to choose some, but not necessarily all, of the options. For example, if you're going to have porkchops, maybe they should have the option to eat pork chops, also, instead of ham or turkey. If the food is served more or less "buffet" style, where they also have the option of picking and choosing, the fact that you are not eating the turkey or ham will not stand out or become an issue.

Having said all that, parents can best teach by example. You probably should not expect more from your children than you, yourself, are prepared to do.

Ultimately, mealtime should be relaxed and enjoyable. The less you make eating or not eating food an issue, the less likely that your children will develop lasting hatreds for certain foods or that they will develop food-related disorders. Creating battles over food can generate anxiety and digestive disorders. (I know, been there, done that, still fighting the effects decades later.)

Answer 3

I see no problem with serving different meats on Thanksgiving so that everyone gets what they want. However, does your wife do all the cooking? If so, this isn't fair to her, unless she truly doesn't mind.

Suggestion: cook your own porkchops, or better yet, make a small porkroast (more communal than porkchops), and present that on the Thanksgiving table along with the ham and turkey. The first cut of porkroast goes to you.

Answer 4

This sound to me like a perfect opportunity to start you own Thanksgiving tradition. Why must we eat what everyone else is eating? I say throw a small boneless turkey breast in the oven (quick cooking compared to a whole bird) for those that must have turkey, along with some sausage and cranberry stuffed pork chops, roasted, mashed sweet potatoes, green beans with slivered almonds, good, crusty bread, gravy, home made chunky cranberry and orange sauce, and fruit salad with walnuts. Don't forget something scrumptious for dessert! (my favorite is pumpkin ice cream with angel food cake)

Answer 5

Look at some alternative ways to cook a turkey, such as frying it or something. You might find something you like.

Either that or grin and bear it. I have kids, too, and sometimes the Mrs. makes something for dinner that I don't like. I eat it anyway, because the children are watching.

Good luck.

Answer 6

I don't think you should make kids eat things they really can't stomach. But you can't ignore nutrition. Talk to them about what they don't like, and look for healthy alternatives.
As for Thanksgiving. Talk to them before hand and ask them if they want Pork Chops too. I would!

Answer 7

Explain to them that when they get older and are on there own that they can have special privledges like you but you still have to force them to eat what they dont like because they still live under your roof. Trust me my mom used to make me eat the stuff I didnt like or tell them if you dont like it then dont eat. That usually made me eat it cuz I was hungry. If worst comes to worst sit them down and explain your situation to them. They will either understand or not but your the father and they should listen. Just be firm and nice about it. I am sure they will understand. Good luck.

Answer 8

Just tell them you are allergic to turkey and ham. You have a bad reaction after eating them. You turn purple or something.

Answer 9

Kids these days...lol
You could tell them... if of course its true.... that you have them try things to see if they will like them, I hope you don't force them to eat all of it if they don't... but tell them you have tried turkey and ham and just don't like them so you have to have something else. But assure them you have tried it and don't liek it... just like they don't like ( insert anyfood they really hate) and you give them another choice.

Answer 10

Just be honest and say that you don't like it...

If the twins have eaten it before and now are trying to say they don't like it, have them taste it, then if they don't like it, don't make them eat it. But don't have mom make them pork chops too...there is plenty more for them to eat.