To turn a beef stew into beef and vegtable stew

[IceniMist]

Because 700g of meat doesn't look enough for four adults but knowing full well my 20 & 18 year old DSSs will only pick out the meat because they don't eat vegtables and complain it wasn't enough food.

[IceniMist]

Served with two nice loafs of bread because they don't eat spuds.

[gallicgirl]

I always throw loads of onions and root veg into my stews. Makes them taste better and go further.

If kids of 18 and 20 don't like what you serve, then tough! Make their own meals with their own food.

[Trills]

Beef stew should have vegetables in it, not just beef and gravy.

18 and 20 year olds should grow up.

[PercyGherkin]

I don't understand why you'd have a beef stew that didn't contain something else as well!

An 18 year old and a 20 year old should know to behave better than complain anyway, and at least understand that vegetables are not only necessary for you but economically sensible.

[IceniMist]

I always use to add root veg but stopped now I'm stressing about sitting at the dinner table and watching them pick. Not a nice family atmosphere. I need to just smile andnot let It get to me.

[IceniMist]

I added chesnuts too. I love them.

[PercyGherkin]

I see we are all in agreement!

[nocoolnamesleft]

Beef stew is meant to have vegetables in it - I always put in loads of root vegetables. But not mushrooms. Never could cope with the weird texture.

[TheFallenMadonna]

I put butternut squash into the stew I made yesterday, and it cooked down into the sauce, while still bulking it out. Always put carrots, celery, onions or leeks etc in as well. Dumplings instead of bread or potatoes. Filling enough even for my teenage son.

[BertieBotts]

Why are you stressing about it? Let them pick. If they want different food they can have a turn at cooking for the family!

I hope they are paying towards the shopping bill, by the way.

[WhatWouldBlairWaldorfDo]

Thats what goes in a stew! Or its just beef and gravy? If they are fussy let them make their own bloody tea!

There were things i didnt like as a kid/teen so my family would sit down to eg lamb, and i would have something else at the same time.

[Theas18]

Why have you raised such picky and frankly unhealthy eaters ?

I'm awaiting a mn drip feed that they are on the spectrum or something - but do they really only eat meat and bread? ( or fast food I assume)

Sorry if this sounds brusque but the generation of kids like yours who " won't" eat veg are storing up many health issues for the future.

Beef stew here for 5 would be 500g beef and loads of veg. And they'd eat it happily.

The older 2 are students and realising the financial benefits of eating lots of veg as well as hopefully staying healthy.

[IceniMist]

I guess 9 years picking stresses you out.

[WhatWouldBlairWaldorfDo]

Meant to add, i would cook my own 'extras' i wouldnt expect my parents to do it. Bloody hell they are adults!

[Theas18]

Sorry just read again thru are Step kids I guess this is the eating version of " Disney dad" .... Sorry.

Ignore me

[TheFallenMadonna]

My DD picks things out. Yesterday she picked out the celery (the devil's own vegetable). She will pick chunks of tomato out of a pasta sauce . I just let her get on with it.

[Trills]

Why have you raised such picky and frankly unhealthy eaters

Note that they are DSSs, not DSs - so there's at least 2 other people involved in raising them and the OP may not have had too much say in it.

[mumeeee]

I agree beef stew should have vegetables. 18 and 20 year old should not be so fussy. If they don't like what you cook get them to cook the family a meal themselves.

[IceniMist]

Well they only live with us 50/50 and they were fussy when I met them. I tried to intervene but it didn't work.

The 18 year old is coming out the other end of eating nothing wet or with a sauce so will have the stuff picked out anyway. Yes they have extremely bad diets. I tend to serve all our meals with veg or salad on the table and only DH me and DD will eat that.

My own DD eats alot better but is still young.

[IceniMist]

I'm waiting for DD who eats all her veggies, fruit and pulses to turn into the worst eater of them all! She is only 3.

[PercyGherkin]

100g of meat at one meal insufficient for an adult?

cookit.e2bn.org/library/1236152276/rations.original.jpg is a picture of one week's WW2 rations - egg, butter, cheese and milk. Add to that 100g of bacon or ham and (at least in theory, if you could get hold of it) as much offal as you could manage, and that's your (official) lot.

[IceniMist]

I serve 500 - 600g chicken for 4 adults and a tot and it always seems enough but 700g beef doesn't. Maybe im panicking.

[IceniMist]

What else would they eat with that Percy? Bread and veg?