Day Six*

Adult Menu

• smoked brisket (leftover from Memorial Day; it was slightly undercooked so I re-heated it in a slow oven with some dark beer and that tendered it up nicely)
  
• red potatoes (parboiled, then chuffed up in a hot pan with some butter to form a nice crust)
  
• fresh green beans (simmered with onions, bacon and a lump of brown sugar)

Girl Child
Tried a potato and didn't like it. Tried some brisket and didn't like it. (We gave her props for trying them, though.) Passed on the green beans altogether. Ended up eating some deli turkey slices, whole wheat bread and margarine (Smart Balance -- no trans fats!) and raw baby carrots.

Boy Child
Initially passed on everything except the brisket, which he agreed to try because it smelled good while it was cooking. He liked it okay and ate a decent-sized piece. Had some bread and carrots like the girl. Then we convinced him to try a potato, which he LOVED, and he had a decent helping of those. The least healthy thing in the whole meal, but hey, he TRIED SOMETHING NEW! And liked it! So YAY!

* Days 4 & 5 were a Memorial Day picnic at my folks' house and the leftovers thereof. I don't even remember what the kids ate, nor do I care, because I didn't cook any of it.

Day Three

Adult Menu

• leftover meatloaf
  
• Pillsbury crescent rolls
  
• leftover salad

Girl Child
Passed on the meatloaf and had deli turkey instead. Ate rolls and salad.

Boy Child
Also passed on the meatloaf, but had a little pile of shredded cheddar cheese instead. Ate rolls and salad.

Day Two

Adult Menu

• meatloaf (I know, but my meatloaf is YUMMY)
• mac & cheese
• salad

Girl Child
We told her meatloaf tastes kind of like a hamburger so she agreed to try a teeny tiny bite, but she didn't like it. Oh well. She also ate two helpings of mac & cheese and a big helping of salad.

Boy Child
He wanted nothing to do with the meatloaf and had deli turkey slices instead. He also ate two helpings of mac & cheese and a bunch of salad.

Day One

Adult Menu

• tilapia, pan-sauteed in olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper (finished with seasoned sea salt, for those who like it)
• Uncle Ben's garlic butter rice (one of those instant thingies in a package)
• steamed broccoli

Girl Child
She agreed to try the fish, so I put some on her plate but then she didn't try it after all. For her protein, she had some deli turkey slices. She ate some rice and broccoli.

Boy Child
While the fish was cooking he said he'd try it, but when it came time to fill his plate he wanted nothing to do with any of it. He made himself half of a peanut butter sandwich and ate a handful of raw baby carrots. We told him that wasn't enough to get dessert, so he made and ate another half of a peanut butter sandwich.

Introduction

I have no one but myself to blame for the fact that my children would not touch with a ten foot pole approximately 99.5% of the delicious food items many other children happily consume on a daily basis. Yes, internets, it is all my fault. I am one of THOSE MOMS. The ones who cook separate food for the children and adults in the household.

You see, as an idealistic new mom (you can go barf now, I'll wait) I was determined that mealtime would not be a struggle. No food battles in my house, yo! And so if one of my adorable little tots tried something once and hated it, I never served it to them again. Likewise, if they tried and liked something, it became a staple in their diets. This is why I have two children who regard things like homemade soup and fish in non-breaded-stick form as poison that will cause their guts to EXPLODE RIGHT THERE IN THE DINING ROOM.

But that's all about to change. Since my kids are older now (10 and 8 years of age, respectively), I've decided that if they don't like what the adults are having for dinner, they can make their own. It has to include protein and a veggie, but apart from that they're on their own. This plan goes into effect on the first day of summer vacation.

Which was today.