How do I get my kids to want more home cooked food?

Question

as opposed to Fast Food? If it's not fast food they pretty much don't want it. My husband's cooking, they would probably pick over, but mine, some time they refuse! Everybody that's tried my cooking loves it, and even my kids, when they do eat would compliment my dishes...but what do I do when they don't want anything home cooked...Yes, I cook foods that they like, and try to keep it simple at times for their liking. This is really concerning me. I want them off the Fast Food line and more in line for health home cooked meals. They're both normal weight kids and so are my husband and I...so what can I do before I lose this battle? Should I buy a little toy for every dinner time meal...just like the happy meal? jjk.

Funny thing is they do help us cook, but my younger I have to be very careful with him, he's a bit silly as well as he might try to do something scary for extra attention...So usually I have to prepare dinner when he's asleep. He's a riot and keeps me going! :) But they do help us...thnx for te advice you guys...appreciate it!

Answer 1

Nice little joke at the end. :]
Limit the times they are allowed to eat fastfood have them choose to go out only once a week and by voting so no problems occur. It sounds like they are addicted, it doesn't have to be just sugar, or caffene that someone can get addicted to. Trust me I know, I was additcted to Ramen for three whole months and it ruined my digestive system, if you limit the time their body wont have to rely on it much.

For the homecooked meal,have them vote on a meal they want every day, they get to enjoy what they like and you won't have to fret if you cooked the right meal.

Answer 2

Just don't let them have fast food! =P It sounds like they're little kids so the only way they could get to the fast food is if you or your husband takes them. It sounds like you're a good cook so if they don't want to eat your food, tough! If they skip a home cooked meal because they want fast food instead, let them skip it! It won't kill them to skip a meal and don't feel bad about it because THEY chose it, you're not punishing them. They are choosing their own consequences. You're just trying to be a good mother and I commend you for that. Do not give into them, they may complain, they may whine, let them. They'll get over it and eventually eat your food. They have to or they'll starve. =P *laughs* I may sound mean but this will work. The key is that you can't give in and give them the fast food because they wouldn't eat yours and now they're hungry. Offer them some more home cooked food if they're hungry! They'll learn. I'm 16 and the oldest of 6 children and I've babysat them on an almost daily basis since I was 12, so I know how their minds work and how to make them do what I want. LOL Best of luck to you! =D

Answer 3

*grin* You might want to ask this question in the parenting section too.

Personally I would sit them down and have a talk with them about health issues. Tell them you know that eating fast food is considered "cool". If they are old enough, have them watch "Supersize me." At the very least tell them: "The bottom line, they're a business, no matter what they say, and by selling you unhealthy food, they make millions, and no company wants to stop doing that." (quote from the movie) Let them think on why they get toys at fast food joints - so that people come back, despite the fact that their food is less than stellar.

After the talk make a pact - something like "no fast food for a month" in trade for a treat. And when going out, try to go to "classier" restaurants, places that carry vegetable dishes on their menue.

The movie "Ratatouille" might also be an incentive to rethink their attitudes about food...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Size_Me
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratatouille_%28film%29

Answer 4

no honey...what you have to do is let them get hungry and not succumb to their pleas for fast food. My kids will eat happy meals every day if I let them too. What you have to do is feed them at lunch...and then dont let them SNACK between then and dinner. If your kids are like mine, they will be claiming that they are starving to death by the time dinner comes and eat whatever I put in front of them. Even my oh so picky 7-year old son....

When my kids have acted funny in the past I actually printed off pictures of kids who are REALLY starving and let them take a look at that. I make them see they are fortunate to have food to eat and they should thank God instead of being ungrateful.

Best of luck!

Answer 5

well back in the day my mom would have said eat what's on your plate and like it or go to bed hungry but i haven't been able to do that with my child. so i work out a schedule where we eat at home on certain nights and go out like once a week.
i don't think i would want to provide a little toy at every meal, but whatever works for you. maybe you could have some kind of system where if you eat mom's food without complaining then we go out once a week.
i don't know if you can "make them" want more home cooked food until they go to college and realize they miss it......

Answer 6

This is going to sound mean, but don't give them a choice. My kids because of my own fault used to do that, well I can't afford to take 6 kids out every night to eat, so I corrected that problem since I caused it, I made dinner and if they didn't eat then they had no other options but to starve( As my kids would say)But they do get hungry eventually. I just wouldn't give in. They tried to get dad to side with them, but I stood firm, and now they eat everything!! So it's up to your resourcefulness, firmness and consistency. They will eat when they are hungry.

Answer 7

let them have fast food every friday and home cook the rest of the week and if they say they dont want to eat it just refuse the fast food and say it is this of nothing and if you wanna go hungry be my guest. if they do choose not to eat for a long time like if they go to bed without eating then i would suspect something.

Answer 8

I lie my butt off. I have boys so this is easy. While they're at school, I put a roast into the crock pot with vegies. When they get home, I tell them I had to hunt, kill, skin, and clean the dead animal they are eating tonight. They gobble it up without question. LOL Or I make up something totally gross to call it. It's funny but it really does work.

Answer 9

kids can be the toughest critics when it comes to food. but the first thing you should remember is that YOU are the boss. don't let your kids dictate what they can and can't eat. if its like that for meals, then it will eventually be like that for other aspects of your lives (bedtime, toys, etc.). Making dishes you know they like and having simple foods are a good start. Also if you make the food fun it helps them to be interested in it. You can make pancakes shaped like mickey mouse, buy the fun shaped chicken nuggets, use cookie cutters to cut toast....things like that. be creative-thats the key. but also don't go out of your way to make their food different from yours. they need to learn that they should be grateful for the food you provide for them. my parents used to make us sit at the table until our plates were clean, even if it took hours. a few times of that and we learned to eat what we were given instead of wasting our nights sitting at the table. if u dont want to go to that extreme, just tell them that their dinner is what you made and if they don't want to eat it, then they don't have to. but they dont get anything else instead. if they are stubborn enough to not eat it, then a night w/out dinner will surely show them that you are serious and they will think twice about refusing your food. good luck.

Answer 10

Try fun things that reminds them of fast food. Mini burgers, chicken nuggets, little pizza, tacos, subs or whatever fast food they like. After doing this for a while you can sneak in other things.
always have dippers (something to dip whatever food in.)
Have dessert sitting on the table for them to see and make sure its something they adore.