I've been thinking about eating a lot recently. I mean, I've been thinking a lot recently about eating, as in what my children eat and the amount of time I spend preparing food. I'm on a mission to stop cooking two different meals (i.e. a kids meal and an adults meal) and have us all eat one dish, together, as a family.
Hubby does consulting and he is home most meal times, so the being together part is easy. It's the eating the same thing that we need to work on.
Elizabeth, our six-year-old, is the most adventurous eater. She will at least try most things, including escargot and frogs legs on a trip to France. If she doesn't like something she'll usually eat it anyway if she thinks it is good for her. Can't ask for anything better really.
HM (high maintenance or her majesty), our three-year-old, is an OK eater and usually takes the lead from Alexandra. Though she is still wary of vegetables and heaven forbid if there is "something green" in her pasta, such as a fleck of dried parsley so small that a even mouse wouldn't protest.
Alexandra, our five-year-old, is the issue challenge. She used to only eat "white" food: yogurt, cheese, white bread, melon and chicken nuggets. She eventually added a few purples and reds -- strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and apples, bananas and pears. But a vegetable has never knowingly entered her mouth, with the exception of pumpkin, in a pie, with lots of cinnamon and sugar.
I found this recipe for spaghetti and meatballs and thought I would try it out. I even grated a courgette and stuck it in the sauce.
On Friday (as in the First Week back in School Friday) the girls were exhausted from sitting in chairs and learning all day and we were running a bit late for swimming. I grabbed a few apples for their snack. After they wolfed it down, they pleaded with me.
Please mummy can we have something else to eat.
No, you're going swimming.
Please can we have a banana. They really must have been hungry because they never ask for bananas. All that learning must really take a toll.
No, I don't have a banana. But we're all having spaghetti and meatballs when we get home. Hurry up and go swimming and then we'll rush home and eat it all up, I said with as much enthusiasm I could muster.
It worked.
MMmmmmmmmm. Scrummy, Alexandra said patting her tummy. OK mummy!
After their lesson they skid into the changing rooms, threw on their clothes and reported back to me without any of the usual prodding.
When we got home they each ate THREE HELPINGS of spaghetti and meatballs. So did daddy. I lagged behind with two.
So ladies, share your family favourite. What do you all enjoy around the dinner table?
