do you make your family eat from all food groups?

[jewels]

My friends think that I am weird. I serve a protein, veggie, fruit and milk at supper each night. I find it weird that they can't get thier kids to eat veggies. I have done this my entire life, as my mom did this as well.

What do you do?

[Cindy]

Re: do you make your family eat from all food groups?

My kids eat veggies. They just don't eat a wide range of veggies. We may have green beans three nights because they both will eat those. We don't have to have the protein, veggie, fruit and milk every meal. They eat fruit as snacks some days and breakfast other days. I am not that organized and I guess I have learned over the years to pick and choose my battles food is not one that I feel I am really concerned about with them. They are both healthy, not overweight and eat okay in my opinion.

If I cooked like my mom we would have a dessert every night and let me tell you we would all be the size of a barn!!!

[Stella]

Re: do you make your family eat from all food groups?

not every meal, we couldn't eat that much.

but my kids were always given a variety of things to eat. they always ate what we ate.
i refused to have picky eaters.

and they grew up loving everything, one kid does not like tomato's and another does not like mushrooms. otherwise they eat everything except for organ meat.

[luvs2eat]

Re: do you make your family eat from all food groups?

We had protein, veggie or fruit, and milk at every meal when the kids were growing up. They ate just about everything and had a "no thank you" portion for new stuff and stuff they didn't like. They're grown now and eat AND COOK just about everything.

[wellsms]

Re: do you make your family eat from all food groups?

My DH made our 3 boys and now our GS to at least taste a new vegetable or new dish. I read once that a child has to be offered something at least 3 times before they know if they like something. I am pickier than any of my kids.

[Kayce]

Re: do you make your family eat from all food groups?

We had protein, veggie or fruit, and milk at every meal when the kids were growing up. They ate just about everything and had a "no thank you" portion for new stuff and stuff they didn't like. They're grown now and eat AND COOK just about everything.

I did pretty much the same with mine. I also used the taste an see. for me growing up we had to eat everything on our plate , a few foods really made me gag/ I did not do that to my kids.

DH and I still have a meat/two veggies, or salad and I try to use the color group too.

[nuisance]

Re: do you make your family eat from all food groups?

I serve a meat and 2 vegies, or 1 vegie and some cottage cheese, we all love it and I'll serve it as a side dish every so often. DH and kids eat alot of bread, and they eat fruits inbetween.

I can't serve 2 veggies same color though. don't know why. Can't have yellow squash and corn, or green beans and peas. have to have different colors. Is that wierd???

[Sabine]

Re: do you make your family eat from all food groups?

I try to have balanced meals, the times that I cook myself. Not always successful, LOL

[Sewcute]

Re: do you make your family eat from all food groups?

I also refused to have picky eaters. My kids eat everything...DD was eating sushi at the age of 2 (not the raw fish just the veggies and such). I serve 2 veggies at night, and the kids always eat at least 2 fruits a day. You would be surprised at how much a serving really is...did you know that a banana for a toddler is almost 3 servings of fruit!!!

[LaurenB]

Re: do you make your family eat from all food groups?

I serve a meat and 2 vegies, or 1 vegie and some cottage cheese, we all love it and I'll serve it as a side dish every so often. DH and kids eat alot of bread, and they eat fruits inbetween.

I can't serve 2 veggies same color though. don't know why. Can't have yellow squash and corn, or green beans and peas. have to have different colors. Is that wierd???

I don't think it's weird. I am that way too! Can't do Broccoli with Green Beans, or corn and squash together either! When the kids were younger, I always served a meat, veggie, starch and usually a salad too, and ALWAYS dessert. Even it it was just fruit, they always had dessert. If we did Burgers or Hot Dogs, I would serve watermelon, or cantaloupe, coleslaw, or raw veggies with Ranch dip just so they would get some type of fruit or veggie in!

My kids always loved Steamed Broccoli a lot. I remember them actually fighting over a second serving when there wasn't much left!! And, I always steamed our veggies with no added seasonings - just natural, and that is what they prefer today.

[nuisance]

Re: do you make your family eat from all food groups?

My kids ate almost everything, I never made them eat anything they didn't like. New things, I asked them to try at least one bite.

DS was about 7 or 8, his birthday was coming up, I told him I'd make him whatever he wanted for supper. At the grocery store he hit the fresh produce and got broccoli and eggplant! Hows that for a kid! lol

Both kids and DH had rather have veggies. DD doesn't eat much meat now even. I'm a meat and taters person myself.
And yes, one of the veggies I usually try to make a starch