To think my kids should eat the same as me and dh?

[Iwillsurvive1]

So we have friends staying with us who find it absurd (their word) that I expect my dd1 (8) dd2 (5) and ds1 (2) to eat the same meals as me and dh and don’t cook separately for them? I work full time and get home at 4:30 so I cook 1 meal like spaghetti bolognaise, shepherds pie, lasagne etc that we all eat together at 6 ish when dh gets home. My ‘friend’ thinks this is too late for the kids to eat (they go to bed between 8-8:30) and that I should make them something quick and easy so they can eat at 5 before me and dh, she also thinks I should let them choose what they want to eat even if they all want different things but I think this would just make them fussy eaters which I never have a problem with at the moment, obviously if I know they don’t like something I won’t make them eat It like if me and dh have fish or curry they will have something like fish fingers or chicken nuggets something that me and dh wouldn’t want but why would I cook them something different every night? So AIBU?

Eating at 6 is not late at all. Your friend is bu to interfere with your family life. You should just nod and ignore.

I thought the same Travellingmamma curry night is definitely a family night here. Kid food nights are usually when DH and I have steak or a take away, as a treat for us rather than because the children won't eat it.

Your friend is being unreasonable by interfering. I have always cooked the same for my kids and it’s much better if you can sit down at the table at least a couple of times a week to eat as a family.

Seriously... Where do people meet these "friends"???

Travellingmamma I hated curry until I was about 14 for some reason. Refused to eat it. More fool me.

My 2-year-old loves it though.

It sounds fab. Introducing them early to home cooked food eaten in a convivial atmosphere. Perhaps your friend is a tad jealous.

You’re friend is bat sh*t crazy!!
No way does a child have the mental capacity to make that decision. Also it’s a complete waste of money, electricity etc

Nothing wrong with all eating together as you know!!

I DO do kid meals some days, but that’s because DH gets home quite late on weeknights, 8pm. If my DH was there in time for a 6pm meal, We’d eat together more often ;)

My 19 month old will only eat things me and my partner are eating with a few exceptions... If she sees my husband eating something she has to have it too!

Saying that I end up cooking myself very different things than them as I don't like spicy and strong flavoured food. I'm the fussy one in the family 😅

It a mix here - most nights it’s all the same but some nights different for the kids. For eg last night I did Thai for me and DH. Kids don’t like Thai food particularly so I did half of the meat with a curry sauce for them instead. Occasionally if DH is gong to be later home (or if the pleas of hunger are sufficiently dramatic 🙄) then they’ll have theirs earlier but usually it’s all in together.
Whatever works for your family is the right way so YANBU.

Feed the children something rubbish and nutrient empty while the parents have something home cooked and yummy? That sounds like sound advice .......not.
Your way is the best
One dinner one lot of washing up children who eat normal
Real family food..
win win but ignore your friend

Children learn by behaviour, so it is good to all sit down together and eat as a family. They will develop healthy eating habits and sometimes there may have to be slight adaptions, with spice etc. Always good too to help children become involved in cooking and educating them in nutrition.

All said and done you do what YOU feel is best for your family

I WISH my DD would eat the same meals as us but she only goes between nuggets, pizza, fish fingers and pasta.

Please tell me your secret OP!

YANBU.

No, I agree, You are NOT being unreasonable.
You should all sit down together, and "Eat Right"
No eating in the Living room either.
You sit at the Kitchen or Dining room together as a Family, and eat Right.

I WISH my DD would eat the same meals as us but she only goes between nuggets, pizza, fish fingers and pasta. Please tell me your secret OP

Easy, you just eat nuggets, pizza, fish fingers and pasta too. YUM

never cooked separately for DD - they've ate the same as us since 6 months old - just used a bamix to make it smaller - and cut out salt completely - and always eat at 645 / 7pm. It's some weird English thing that children have to eat fish fingers / chicken nuggets at 5 and then adults have proper food at 7

OP hallelujah for you, a family member cooked like your friend- 4 different meals most nights, I had my son and he ate what me and hubster ate, my kitchen is not a cafe, I had 2 choices as a child - eat it or don’t! Same applies to my family
Your friend must have more time than sense or no children!

Ignore your friend comments !
Im.with you , i work FT and dont eat till 6.30 - our dd is 2 and eats with us - this way were giving her broad taste in everything ! Shes not a fussy eater and multiple allergies . It madness to do separate.meals after a full.working day - yr friend must have more energy than i do !!

Eating good food, as oppose junk - no brainer. Eating cr8p - why? It’s a phenomena of our gereration, and I don’t know when these parents think their kids will change their eating habits because I know teenagers who still eat little but chopped and formed chicken shapes 😣but ultimately non of your friends business! Assume you didn’t return the compliment and say that her feeding her kids junk that is contributing he child obesity problem is obscured to you!

Your way is definitely best & one I would choose if I could. Both myself & dh work full time & both get in around 6.30-7ish so kids have eaten before us, however, as they don't go to bed til 8-8.30 we don't end up eating until really late.

Hi, I cook everybody’s dinner at approx 4pm so it’s ready for 4:30/5pm because the kids get hungry super early! Then at around 6:30/7pm the kids have supper if they’re hungry. This works great for us because I used to try to get dinner done by 6 and it was a nightmare kids kicking off screaming, hungry and tired( you can imagine right) so I switched it up and it’s been great ever since. I find it better for my slimming world diet too to eat earlier in the evening as I feel so bloated if I eat after 6pm. Fortunately at the moment I’m studying and not working so I’m able to do this but obviously parents who work until 4/5pm it must be very difficult to juggle family life xx

P.S my husband is inthe merchant navy so not home very often when he is home he naturally fits in around my schedule. I am looking forward to going back to work full time but I’ll find it difficult to juggle meal times etc and child care so I’m making the most of being home right now xx

I can understand eating separately if eating about 8pm but 6pm is fine.

YANBU We cook the same for dd (nearly 5) most of the time unless as you say you are having something they dont like (sea food etc) then we do something else for her and thats when we would let her choose but 99% of the time its the same as we eat! I think it gives them lots of variety if they eat what parents eat. Good on you