Cauliflower cheese

[CauliflowerCheeseMeal]

DD (aged 7) wanted just a bowl of cauliflower cheese for tea tonight. She’s had sausage, mash and peas at school for lunch so has a lighter evening meal. I offered sandwiches, crumpets, crackers and beans with toast/bread she insisted she wanted the left over cauliflower cheese from yesterdays roast dinner.

It feels weird to me to have that for tea, but I think I might be UR? She had it warm (microwave). It was basically cauliflower in a cheddar cheese sauce topped with mozzarella and breadcrumbs – I made the sauce myself so know there’s nothing bad in it.

She’s eaten the lot. But I still feel weird about it. Tell me I’m UR and overthinking it

Overthinking. Be glad she’s eaten it. My adult daughter had an eating disorder and I would gladly let her eat anything. Anyway it’s nutritious and tasty

@changenamepainagain It's so kind of you to think of another career outlet for me. Why hadn't I thought of it myself?

But I think I will stick to posts on MN for the moment. Especially when they are relevant to the OP's question.

As for being unhinged...well, I'm not sure which of us deserves that label the most. me, for posting something you feel is outside of the OP's question, or you for picking on one poster (out of many here) for suggesting how someone's child could eat more healthy meals.

Maybe you haven't read every post here ? If you do, you will find many comments about the quality of the 'tea' the OP gives her child.

For a slightly less healthy and more wicked cauliflower cheese, use crushed cheese and onion crisps for the topping instead of breadcrumbs. Or a mixture of the two.

perfectly fine (not every day) yummy

but Broccoli cheese is much better (had it 4 yesterday's main meal)

Cauliflower cheese, made traditionally, @CounsellorTroi doesn't have any topping.

Never heard of anyone putting breadcrumbs or mozzarella on it.

The only think that's traditional is another sprinkling of the cheese used in the sauce, either strong cheddar or Gruyere.

I think if you are having it as a main meal rather than a side dish, a topping is justified.

I would eat cauliflower cheese everyday. My DP doesn’t eat it so lots of leftovers for me in the week of just cauli cheese for tea 😋

@Clementineapples

I don't think I deserve a medal for trying to give my kids the best upbringing possible.

Yeah the best upbringing equals eating dinner together 🤣
Forget the fact that you know nothing about the op or the fact she sits and eats a sandwich when dd has a meal, you keep trotting on your high horse lol

You really aren't getting my point, are you?

Yes, it's a proven fact that eating together as a family has many positive outcomes for children. The best upbringing absolutely would involve family meals. No, that's not always possible, but it should be something that parents try and make happen if and when they can. Just like reading books to them and making sure they get plenty of exercise and fresh air. None of us are perfect parents, but I think we should all try to be the best parents we can be.

I'm not sure the OP having a sandwich while her daughter eats her main meal counts. Maybe it's just as good as eating the same meal together, I don't know. But that doesn't answer my question which is why the OP does it this way. (She may have a good reason, just like she may have a good reason why she thought crackers would be a better meal than cauliflower cheese, but she's not answering these questions.)

@Anonymous48 I'm not sure you're coming across the way you think you are. Might be better to stop digging.

We get it. Unless we eat the same meal at the same time as our children, we're not as good as you. Enough.

@Anonymous48 when i was growing up I was lucky to have a SAHM but DS and I ate at 5pm, with DM joining us for a cup of tea. My DF got home at 8 pm so she would dine with him. its just logisitics. I didn't mind in the least as she still sat with us as we ate, and discussed our day, just as the Op does.
With my own children I tried meals at the same time, but also imagined family outings skipping through fields of flowers reciting times tables in French together, neither of which were realistic.
The OP is clearly doing a good job here and just wanted a little reassurance.

The best upbringing is having time and love. There’s a million reasons why families can’t eat together and it’s really not important. Child is fed, mum sits with her, far more important things to be concerned with when bringing up kids.

Maybe it's just as good as eating the same meal together, I don't know.

Why would the foodstuff matter?

It's a fab meal, one of my favourite.