CCN Meals

Making it work for the whole family

If I had a dollar for every time someone referenced a picky family member or a child as their excuse not to pour into their health; I wouldn’t be sitting here today. Honestly, these family members are just the opposite of our excuse; they are the reason we want to be the best version of ourselves. I don’t want to guilt you into taking care of yourself; I want to remind you why you started in the first place. It blows my mind when people say they “wish they could join, but their husband is too picky.” First, nobody is more picky than my husband! Second, it isn’t about him, it’s about YOU! I’m not trying to start any family problems, but maybe help build some boundaries around a really important topic. And it’s because I’ve seen and heard it all that I can speak on this topic. So here it goes…

Let’s dive into the meal that causes this divide and discuss what you can do about it. The dreaded dinner! Dinner… in a perfect world, is everyone sitting up at the table with a beautiful table setting and glasses filled with lemon water and napkins in our laps. I picture us laughing and connecting. I picture discussing our days and our hopes and dreams. I picture the children behaving and enjoying what’s on their plates and the spouse complimenting the chef. This beautiful picture only exists in my dreams, but we attempt it at least once a week! It just doesn’t look like this.

Sometimes, if I’m honest, it’s even served on paper plates. I share this because expectations are a huge part of feeling successful. Expecting the perfect picture at dinner time will shatter our hopes and dreams, and we will become discouraged and maybe even quit. I love the quote, “Let’s trade in our expectations for appreciation.” When we appreciate our family's acceptance of parts of what we’re offering, it’s a more peaceful experience.

Change takes time. It can be daunting if your husband or your children are not on board. But just because you were ready for life changes doesn’t mean they were. Let’s be reasonable with the concept of change. Even small changes add up over time! As we dive into making mealtimes work for the whole family, let’s chat about our communication styles. No one way will work for everyone, but at home with your family, in the safety of your four walls, is a great time to try these things.

“Ok, everyone, it’s dinner time. We will sit together and try out the meal I worked hard to prepare. I’ve even had a taste, and it’s yummy.”

“Okay, kids. I know this might not look like your normal dinner, but I’m excited for you to try it and explore real, nutritious food flavors.”

“If you’re willing to try everything on your plate, I’ll allow ten minutes on (fill in the blank).”

“This is an important meal and a special time our family gets together. Let’s share it with a great attitude.”

“I love taking great care of you guys. One way I love to do it is with the food I cook. But before I cook it, I have to shop for it. Before I shop for it, I have to plan for it. It’s a lot of work, but I’m thankful to do it for us all.”

Ok. I know I’m not necessarily the child expert, but one thing I’ve always done has been an open book with my kids. They will not disrespect a meal I worked hard to prepare, and I will share the work it takes with them. It’s a communication style our whole family has adapted to. Our kids also give me honest feedback on the meals since they’re usually taste testers. Fortunately, they have very sensitive taste buds and can help me dial in ingredients, herbs, and spices. While I don’t always appreciate constructive criticism at the moment, I do in the long run. Feedback is an excellent tool for communication. When the family offers you feedback on a meal, listen and adapt where appropriate.

I know some of this may seem obvious, but it’s always helpful to have reminders of how to make this work. It will enhance our experience and keep us on track for the long haul. And if you’re a mama to young children, it could positively impact their entire lives.

Back to the subject: Making it work for the whole family. While it’s great to have communication tools about meal time, it’s also great to devise meals that work for the entire family.

For instance, my kids will eat Caesar salad day and night. While it’s not my favorite option, it’s still a salad I can choose the ingredients and serve and know they will eat. When salad is our vegetable with dinner, we almost always have some version of Caesar salad. This is just one example, though. Below, I will share several meals that can be prepared in the same way and dissected differently according to different family members’ preferences.

1. Taco Night – I offer my family shells and cheese as traditional tacos for taco nights. They have a side salad and beans and rice. I eat mine as a salad with no shells and avocado instead of cheese. Similarly, you can do this with quesadilla night… ready-made orders!

2. Campfire Packets: Lay out the ingredients in bowls or plates. Offer an array of colors and challenge them to make theirs bright. Everyone gets to choose what they eat.

3. Sheet Pan Dinner – We do this with chicken and turkey sausage. We roast many different veggies with the sausage, including sweet and red potatoes. The kids pick what they want. If they do not wish to have enough starchy veggies, I make them include fruit for dinner.

4. Stir Fry – This creates a little bit more of a mess, but it’s still the same meal for everyone. Cook your protein (chicken, fish, etc.) in a separate pan. Make your grain (rice, quinoa) on the side. Either roast or saute your veggies or cook your family's favorite veggies separately. They can serve up what they like.

5. Burger Night – This is one of my favorite nights. You can make turkey, beef, and even veggie burgers as options without much extra prep. You can stuff your burger with extra veggies without affecting the whole family's meal. You can serve it on a bun or a lettuce wrap, and everyone can add the toppings they desire.

These five options are the same meal, with different serving styles to help you with your healthy eating excuses. We are here for you all and look forward to creating a safe and happy meal space for the whole family!