Always in the Kitchen
On the weekends we are "good" and don't eat out a ton, or eat on the go, or order in, or whatever ... the weekends we are good I start to feel like I spend the whole thing in the kitchen. Between breakfast, lunch and dinner ... well the four of us got to eat. And usually the husband will make dinner for at least the grown ups one night a weekend, but this weekend that didn't happen. I cooked 'em all.
And it wasn't bad, it's just a simple fact. Friday we had the pot roast. Which was good. I messed up and left the leftovers out on the counter instead of getting them into the fridge. I hate, hate, hate when I do that. Saturday was breakfast per usual, lunch was I can't remember, and dinner was blackened chicken and lime/cilantro quinoa.
I've gotten lazy about feeding the kids new and different meals. The toddler has entered a picky stage and wants hot dogs three nights a week, or peanut butter five days in a row, or cheese at every meal. Or only fruit. And I should be doing more to get G's palette furthered along but it's just so much easier now than it was that it's been nice kind of just going along. Even if they are eating mostly "kid food" and I'm still making two meals every night.
So Saturday night, new recipe in hand, I blackened two chicken breasts and left the other just salted. I should have pounded them thin. I knew better. But I just got lazy or trusted the instructions and it was stupid. Chicken breasts only taste good when they are pounded thin. Just a rule. Kids didn't care their portions were bite sized. But I cared. Anyway I digress.
G didn't eat a ton of the chicken. It wasn't breaded (gasp) and was different (gasp) but he pounded the quinoa and the green beans (old favorite). Brother tried the chicken but mostly just ate the green beans.
The results were good so that means quinoa can become a staple. The other stuff already is. And one of them (the one that ate all his veggies and quinoa) earned himself some ice cream.
Which even that in years past was difficult to get in him. He ate two scoops last night. Such a good thing to see. I need him to eat high calorie foods with at least some good fats. I have the world in my ear so I can hear all the cries about sugar and obesity and while for one of my children I may someday have to consider counting his sugar intake and worrying ... for my oldest? Nope. His caloric intake is still not where it needs to be but he is getting so much better.
It's so far from where we were this time last year, when I was talking to the pediatrician and the specialist about helping him pack on pounds and expressing concern of our diet that was expressly limited to peanut butter and chicken nuggets. So far from where we were. No more crying. He ate the quinoa without any of the therapy tricks. Eating more at a serving. I didn't want to go to food therapy, I had heard only negative things. But maybe those folks gave up too soon? They did stop going after 2/3 visits. We went for two or three months. Maybe that's what did it. I don't know. I know I think most of it was G just maturing and realizing it wasn't so bad. He's a good kid. Just a well meaning boy (unless he's having to share something with brother). I don't think he was doing anything to try and do battle with mom. I think his younger brother does that.
This is one that we added after food therapy last summer. He got chicken too because he still isn't a fan of sauces and red meat. Everyone has preferences. I honor where I can and push where I think I can.
But really if we stay home most of the weekend (which is what we did this one) I end up spending most of my time in the kitchen. Either doing dishes or making them dirty.
But someone has to feed these crazy kids.
I've gotten lazy about feeding the kids new and different meals. The toddler has entered a picky stage and wants hot dogs three nights a week, or peanut butter five days in a row, or cheese at every meal. Or only fruit. And I should be doing more to get G's palette furthered along but it's just so much easier now than it was that it's been nice kind of just going along. Even if they are eating mostly "kid food" and I'm still making two meals every night.
So Saturday night, new recipe in hand, I blackened two chicken breasts and left the other just salted. I should have pounded them thin. I knew better. But I just got lazy or trusted the instructions and it was stupid. Chicken breasts only taste good when they are pounded thin. Just a rule. Kids didn't care their portions were bite sized. But I cared. Anyway I digress.
G didn't eat a ton of the chicken. It wasn't breaded (gasp) and was different (gasp) but he pounded the quinoa and the green beans (old favorite). Brother tried the chicken but mostly just ate the green beans.
The results were good so that means quinoa can become a staple. The other stuff already is. And one of them (the one that ate all his veggies and quinoa) earned himself some ice cream.
It's so far from where we were this time last year, when I was talking to the pediatrician and the specialist about helping him pack on pounds and expressing concern of our diet that was expressly limited to peanut butter and chicken nuggets. So far from where we were. No more crying. He ate the quinoa without any of the therapy tricks. Eating more at a serving. I didn't want to go to food therapy, I had heard only negative things. But maybe those folks gave up too soon? They did stop going after 2/3 visits. We went for two or three months. Maybe that's what did it. I don't know. I know I think most of it was G just maturing and realizing it wasn't so bad. He's a good kid. Just a well meaning boy (unless he's having to share something with brother). I don't think he was doing anything to try and do battle with mom. I think his younger brother does that.
This is one that we added after food therapy last summer. He got chicken too because he still isn't a fan of sauces and red meat. Everyone has preferences. I honor where I can and push where I think I can.
But really if we stay home most of the weekend (which is what we did this one) I end up spending most of my time in the kitchen. Either doing dishes or making them dirty.
But someone has to feed these crazy kids.
Comments