How do you deal with children that always moan about dinners

[Helpmeiiam]

Im fed up of it and ds is only 5! Yet nearly everyday he whines and moans about dinner no matter what it is. I always cook things I know he will eat so it's not like im forcing him to eat things he doesn't like. For some reason it's triggering me as soon as he asks what's for dinner, I start getting wound up because once I've told him I know he always starts 'nooooo I'm not having that, blah blah blah.

How would you deal with it?

I've told him it's family meal time and he has what I make but I'm on repeat. It's draining me

I got my kids to use the phrase "this is not to my taste" if they didn't like something. I think they quite liked using a grown up sounding phrase and I found it amusing when they said this. This was topped when we observed a little boy who was offered a pickled gerkin say "I don't have a love of pickles." Obviously this became the go-to phrase thereafter!

Try not to take it personally. I found it helpful to remind myself that this is a normal thing and my child was behaving in an age appropriate manner rather than deliberately trying to annoy me.

I used to have DD say, "it's not my cup of tea". It's so cute, people don't mind

Have you thought about planning the weekly meals with the kids? Give them a selection of ten meals and get them to choose 7. That way, you get to make sure there is good balance nutritionally and they feel like they have got what they want.

This is what I go with. "You don't have to eat it, but you won't be rude about what's been cooked for you".
I don't mind being told she doesn't like a particular thing, and then I'll keep that in mind for future meals, but I won't have "urgh yucky!" when dinner is served/she's told what it is.

I promise things will get better (ravenous 20+ year olds).

What's for dinner...? FOOD. And walk away 😀

That is cute!

I'd think many adults who also get tired of whinging would respond warmly to a child who said this.

It's a win for everyone.

DD5 does this and it is very annoying. We just say ‘oh dear, never mind, you don’t have to have anything to eat at all’ and ignore any future protests. She either eats it or goes without. A slice of toast with butter and a piece of fruit before bed will be offered, but that’s it.

DD2.5 tries to copy her sister’s moaning, but she likes her food too much to really object.

One of mine had porridge for tea for a week.
Stopped the moaning and whining.

I just said, sorry it is food you like but can't be your favourite every day. And then carry on.

There's always one of mine (at least) complaining. They each chose a few favourite meals and they know there will be one of those each week. But they still moan.

I say
Eat what you want leave what you don't but that is all there is.

Every day. About 10 times. So fucking boring.