To think this is a good enough dinner..

[cutthegraa]

Okay, so dinner for the family was (6 year old and toddler);

• unlimited homemade lentil soup
• unlimited warm crusty bread and butter
• unlimited cooked ham

So the 6 year old had 2 big bowls, lots of shredded ham added and few bits of bread and butter

I think that's a perfectly good dinner for a school night (especially given I work)

MIL thinks it's not enough at all....AIBU?

MIL opinion. Meh. Do go away MIL.

MiL does not have to have any. Your meal provides carbs, protein, fat and fresh veg. Sounds like a comprehensive meal to me.

Here is the funny thing. MIL wasn't there. DH had been speaking to her and I said to ask if she'd like some soup for another night. He says 'the girls are having soup for dinner, would you like some?'

Obviously she took some. And commented it wasn't really enough tea for growing children. Woman is an idiot

I've got one really fussy (but in an odd way - for example he loves unexpected things such as calamari ... or parasol mushrooms are another one... and will try a tiny nibble of anything once, he rejects most things after the initial nibble and just won't eat many staple foods which children are meant to all eat, like any type of pasta whatsoever for example...) and one of the odd things he loves is vegetable soup - as long as its chunky with a clearish broth with actual veg in it, blend it and he won't eat it....

I'd be delighted if he'd eat lentil soup, and certainly consider a big bowl of veg soup and some bread a meal.

If you post any meal on MN at least 10% of people who respond will tell you you should have more or less of something, and that you are either under or over feeding your child. There is actually no meal perfect enough to meet the approval of some posters, who live in cloud cuckoo land about realistic every day food for either children or adults and I'll eat my sock (because I don't have a hat) if their own children's diets are 100% perfect day in day out...

That aside I agree with most people - of course its a good meal.

What has it got to do with your MIL? Why does she even know what they ate? Is she staying with you? Did she eat it too? Is her actual between the lines complaint that although the kids loved it and are well fed she herself doesn't like lentils?

We have homemade soup at least once a week. Lentil, minestrone, leek and potato, or red pepper and tomato. Usually with oatcakes, crusty bread, cheese and maybe some pate or salami. Kids love it. Gets loads of veg into them and it's easy. Always fruit later on if hungry. Soup is a brilliant dinner when everyone is out working, quick, nutritious, and filling.

I make that soup, DD and I love it and happily have it for dinner, I'd not thought of adding ham so we usually just have it with some warm bread and butter.

Going to stick up for the MIL here
dons flak jacket

Loads of people don't think soup is a proper meal.
If she's not otherwise a critical old witch, I'd educate her - remind her about the carrots and onions, maybe.

When I was growing up, and my parents too, soup was what we had when money ran out. So I don't always blame people for being against soup.

I bloody love it though! And of course it's fine.

But it has a history of being for the poor and sick, so if she's otherwise OK, I'd let it go.

Sounds delicious.

We're having Dominos pizza and peanut m&ms. Covers all food groups and a bit extra!

It's fine. I regularly make lentil or minestrone soup for dinner. They both have carbs, protein and veg and then GE bread is carbs on top. My husband's 6"3 and a couple of bowls sometimes even one is plenty for him. The kids love it too.

Very tasty ! I would be happy to serve that up and eat it ! So what would MIL wish to serve up ?

Next time tell your DH to call it 'stew'.

Does not excite me one bit

And just for info we had chickpea curry last night, I assume MIL would not be happy with that either?

Delicious 😋

Sounds like a perfectly good healthy meal to me sounds delicious actually!

She is generally a bit of an idiot. I'm not saying that because she is my MIL. I'd love a cracking relationship with a MIL but we are v different. She is closed minded and follows a script in life. She never changes her mind about anything ever.

I think hearing they were having soup was just too much to bear having heard the girls had beans, toast and scrambled eggs for tea one night (DD mentioned it in passing as it's one of her favourite teas 🤣)

That sounds plenty and delicious

I should say the 6 year old is very slim but has plenty of energy and eats a varied diet. But no doubt where she overweight I'd also be getting comments about meals🙄

I wouldn't mention what we'd been eating & I wouldn't be making good parcels up for her. Not if she's just going to criticise.

It sounds lovely, nutritious & suitably filling.

It's far better than what a lot of kids will be having for dinner on a Friday night! Or any night tbh.

One of my cousins, her kids very rarely had anything other than nuggets & potato smilies. They're all older teens now, eat a good variety & are fit, healthy & a healthy weight. So I'm sure yours will be just fine 😊

I will post the recipe later, promise

We do have our fair share of frozen Friday night teas!

Sounds like a lovely meal. I wish my kids would eat stuff like that.

Well don't waste on her again then lol