What is your goal when providing a meal for your child?

[carebear83]

I'm interested to know different people's answer to this question: What is your goal when providing a meal for your child?

[Artandco]

Fulfilling hunger.

[Psycobabble]

Think art has summed it up

[Woodenmouse]

Getting a toddler to eat something!!

[SpeakNoWords]

Providing something reasonably nutritionally balanced that is also likely to be eaten.

When we had just started weaning, there was an additional goal of including a wide variety of foods as well (colour/texture/flavour etc).

[OhGoToSleepPlease]

That they'll eat it is generally my goal.

We eat fairly healthily & think we have a good balance so whilst I'm confident that they're being appropriately catered for nutritionally, this is not necessarily at the forefront of my mind. I'm more of a try & keep fuss & tantrums to a minimum at the dinner table person I think

[AuldYow]

At least 2 of their 5 (or is is 7 ?) a day but mainly that they eat it sensibly. I usually have one hanging half on and half off a chair and another re-enacting the day and I don't want to hear erghhhh I don't like this that or whatever. I've bothered my head to make it so do me the courtesy of eating/trying everything. I only give smallish portions so they're never outfaced and can go back for seconds.

The DCs are 9 & 11.

[TheSunnySide]

to get him to eat

[seeyounearertime]

That they survive

[Cakescakescakes]

That he eats it. DS has autism and has an incredibly limited diet. Calories are king here and take priority over nutrition in most cases.

[Scotinoz]

Ideally? Nutrionally balanced, and diverse in taste/texture etc to educate their palates.

In reality? Something they'll eat. I'd rather they ate Nutella on toast that nothing at all 😕

[LizzieMacQueen]

So that they'll eat a reasonable amount of food - day to day aim.

So that they don't develop any food issues - long term goal.

[blueskyinmarch]

My overarching goal over the years that i have been feeding my DC is to ensure they didn’t die. That is the number one priority. Nutrition, variety etc comes second to that.

[HappyNevertheless]

When they were little
Eat a balanced diet
And then eat a variety of foods with a variety of tastes
Feed the mind and heart (aka emotional connexion) by sitting around at the table. The one time when we are all there together able to share events/problems/sucesses.

Now that they are teenagers (or nearly)
Same as before
Plus learning about where food comes from, the different quality (eg all honeys aren't the same), difference between mass produced and not mass produced, local artisant foods etc etc. In effect that they learn not all foods are the same.
Develop some their taste buds to be able to feel the difference in more subtle taste in foods.

[JimmyGreavesMoustache]

all depends when you ask me
probably 6 nights out of seven it's to give them something appetising, nutritionally balanced, and varied.

on the seventh it might be to throw some freezer food at them so that they don't starve and I don't have a nervous breakdown in the 10minutes we have between getting in from work and going back out for swim training.

[Felco]

Protein, veg, as good a carb content as he'll eat.

To have a good laugh around the table, too.

[carebear83]

Thank you all! This is very interesting - any more?

[dementedpixie]

Why do you ask? What's your goal?

[imwithspud]

To provide a healthy meal that they will also eat! Something that's become a little difficult with dd1 more recently.

[Ihatechoosingnames]

Getting them to eat something so they're no longer hungry. If it's healthy then that's good. If it isn't so healthy then obviously that isn't so good but meh

[OldBeanbagz]

I aim to provide a nutricious meal that they'll enjoy eating. Most of the time it works though last night they commented that the curry was slightly hotter than usual. I was trying to sneak it up to my level

Some days i even get help with prep and cooking (14 & 11yo DC) and i'm looking forward to them cooking for me and DH.

[corythatwas]

In the long run, to keep them alive and healthy and get them used to the idea of nutritious food. In the short run, to maintain a precarious grip on my temper.

[CuntTrollingRs]

A cunning ruse to get our 4 teenagers to sit down and chat with us several times a day.

[CassandraAusten]

In order of importance:

1. Encourage a healthy relationship with food - eat when you're hungry, stop when you're full, don't use food as a reward / punishment / emotional crutch.
   

1. Provide a reasonably varied, balanced, nutritional diet - protein, veg, limited processed food etc - but not get too hung up on this. Mine eat lots of biscuits, ice creams too.
   

1. Cook something they like (mine are good eaters so this isn't a major issue for me).
   

1. Encourage nice table manners.

[MintyBojingles]

Maximum food in toddler, minimum food on floor.

[MrsA2]

My focus is to get some veg into the 1.5 year old. (She ate everything during weaning but is seemingly anti-veg at the moment). I constantly strive for more variety too but, in reality, think we actually do ok ish at that. And for her to eat nicely with her fork/spoon. That's hit and miss for sure...