I used to be all about meticulously planning meals and saving recipes on Pinterest. There was a time when I genuinely enjoyed cooking and presenting meals on pristine platters with oversized utensils. But that was before my children learned to talk.
Before having kids, I imagined myself gracefully preparing a perfectly roasted chicken with rosemary potatoes, all while my home smelled like a gourmet eatery. Little did I know, I was raising three little food critics with ever-changing tastes.
One moment they’re raving about tacos—extra cheese and my special seasoning are a must! My oldest devours taco sauce like it’s the best thing ever, and I feel victorious, thinking I’ve struck culinary gold. So, I head to the grocery store, excitedly stocking up on taco essentials for the following week. But then, after another taco night, I hear, “Tacos suck!” My teens tell me they’re tired of them.
Frozen pizza and chicken nuggets go through the same cycle. One minute, they’re satisfied, and the next, they’re longing for something more sophisticated. Recently, my son asked for steak and potatoes, only to complain that the steak was “too chewy” and the cheese on the potatoes “didn’t melt right.”
If you think your kids will eventually outgrow their picky eating habits, think again. If yours have, congratulations! I’m too exhausted to ask what your secret is, because I’ve discovered a far better approach.
Now, I hit the grocery store and stock up on a variety of items—from frozen meals to fresh produce. I ensure we always have staples like bread, rice, and pasta. During dinnertime, my kids can choose and prepare whatever they want.
I’m done trying to create meals that they might complain about. No more slaving away in the kitchen only to have them say it wasn’t as good as last time or that they no longer like it. I refuse to eat leftovers over the sink anymore, feeling like I’m throwing money away.
Essentially, I’ve given up trying to please everyone’s tastes because it’s impossible. My dreams of a Martha Stewart-esque kitchen are long gone. My kids are capable of making their own meals. They know they might want pizza in the morning but change their minds by dinner, and they need to figure that out, not me.
We still sit down for dinner together, which I cherish. It’s a time for us to connect, and I look forward to it. However, it’s much more enjoyable when I’m not on the receiving end of complaints about the garlic bread being too hard or the pasta not being cooked right. I’ve stopped trying to impress them with meals they’ll only reject after a couple of bites.
Now, I simply prepare the essentials, set a time for dinner, and make whatever I feel like eating. We’ve dubbed it “Whatever Night,” and it has become a nightly tradition. It’s absolutely liberating, and I can’t recommend this approach enough.
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