Is anyone else basically running a restaurant at dinner every night?? 😩

[Momylola]

Dinner at my house has been a straight-up circus lately. One kid just announced they’re going vegan, my youngest is deep in that “plain pasta or chicken nuggets, nothing else” phase, my husband acts personally insulted if I put leftovers on his plate, and my middle one can’t do dairy. So I’m over here squinting at food labels like I’m trying to crack a code. Most nights, I’m running three short-order menus and just hoping at least one person actually eats. I cannot be the only mom barely hanging on here, right?

Between picky eaters, allergies, diet trends, and the grocery list that never ends (and is crazy expensive), it honestly feels like I’m running a diner, minus the tips or any help. How are you all handling this and not losing your minds? Hit me with your survival tips, or just tell me I’m not alone! Moms, I’m all ears.

I think you’re right and it’s an AI post actually.

Also make sure the vegan has an adequate source of protein, don’t just let them have carbs and veg without meat or they’ll be starving, particularly if they’re a teenager. If they don’t like beans and lentils then they can forget about being vegan!

How old are the kids?

Your best bet is to resign as the family cook.

Husband and vegan child can make their own food. If the younger one is 10 or over, they can boil themselves some plain pasta and put some chicken nuggets in the oven.

In your shoes, I'd make my own dinner and adapt it so it was dairy free for the middle one. Anyone else who wants it is welcome to a portion. If the younger one is still small, they'd get some plain boiled pasta on the side or toast/cereal and fruit if I was feeling lazy.

How old are they?
Dairy intolerance fair enough but your DH refusing leftovers, I would not be putting up with that for sure!
I have 2 pescatarian , 2 eat everything so we usually eat veggie/fish 4-5 nights a week then the other I will make separate meat/veggie dishes with the same sides.
Wouldn’t be making separate for everyone. Sometimes tweak a little like microwaving some frozen peas for DD instead of the veg everyone else is having but that’s as far as it goes.
Teens can take turns to cook for the family.

If I were you I would work out 5 meals that work for everyone and rotate, and batch cook some basic tomato pasta sauces that will do vegan and dairy free to use in emergencies.
Some nights do a roast/vegan alternative with sides everyone can have

Four boys and a fussy husband. We mostly do things that are easy to adapt, so pasta, with options of pesto, tomato sauce or tuna, or any combination. Fajitas, baked potatoes, roast dinners. Basically anything that individuals can pick and choose their extras. It is a fucking ovary-ache though!

100% AI.

My three kids all eat different things and one has a dairy allergy. I try my best not to make a load of meals and just put one meal on the table for the kids with at least one thing I know they’ll eat each on the plate.

They are still very little and eat at 5 so me and DH make our own dinner later at 7.30 once the kids are in bed - no way I could eat as early as they do and I like spicy food etc and things the kids wouldn’t eat.

Balls yes it’s 100 percent AI.

I cannot stand it when family members come and stay and have changed to veggies after decades of not being veggies! They find it cheaper and I find it disingenuous.

Nope, never did this, never would

id make a dinner everyone can eat, if they choose not to then 🤷🏼‍♀️

What makes people think it’s A1? Someone once said that about a post of mine and I had no idea why they thought that

I’m a French cliché and in our house there is one meal and everybody eats eat. We never did « kids food » even as toddlers nothing was off limits. We are all allowed a few strong dislikes, they are still on the menu but you are allowed to take it out from your served plate. And DS with autism has a sensory issue with the mousse texture - fair enough. But that’s it!

One meal here, eat it or go hungry.

We did that too @Myskyscolour

you mean fritatas and pasta bakes are hard ...Glad I had the granny that I had RIP to teach me some female and housekeeping common sense

Nope, we eat the same things, DS has always had what we have, there are a few things he doesn't like but nothing major, he doesn't like really spicy things , but he's building his tolerance! Tuna nicoise salad last night, DH cooked tonight as I had a lot of work travel so got back late, they had sausage tray bake, no way I would've put the oven on. Tomorrow I'm making homemade made kofte with flatbreads, salad, feta etc, Ds won't have tomato in his as he only likes cooked tomato but he'll have everything else. He's ND and it shows in other ways but he's pretty good with food

This 💯

4 kids
1 meal cooked every mealtime.
They ate it or went hungry.

Now all adults who are happy to eat anything.

I’m in the same place ! One coeliac dd, one arfid only eats two meals dd, my hubby just likes traditional meat meals and I’m trying to eat plant based for some health reasons. Sometimes dinner can take hours to make. It drives me insane

I cannot understand why women do this

Same in our house. I’m not cooking more than one thing. Eat or go hungry. My husband would never turn his nose up at leftovers, that’s the behaviour of a man who wouldn’t be getting a meal cooked for him again. Can’t believe you put up with that.

Tell your husband he's on dinner duty until the end of July. He gets to plan, shop for, and cook for the whole family seven days a week for six weeks.

You'll be surprised how quickly he begins to love and appreciate leftovers.

I am serious about this. Stop the madness.

Your husband in particular needs to stop treating you like the hired help.

The kid who is now vegan can fend for him or herself too. Or wait until he or she has moved out and can fund and maintain their chosen lifestyle all by themselves.

Amen to that!
And when you're finished, thank the cook for her time and effort, and set to washing up and cleaning the kitchen for her.

OP, you need to teach your entire family manners.

Thanks. I can’t even imagine how much tougher it is dealing with ARFID. I looked it up, and honestly, it sounds way more complicated than what I’m dealing with. My husband works long hours, and my oldest is only 13. Based on all the answers since tonight and your advice, I know I’ve got to get tougher about having them help out.

Now the dairy thing is down, but the vegan stuff is still a struggle. I’m just so tired of hearing my husband and our oldest argue about it. He just doesn’t get it. Right now, I’m just doing what I can, one meal at a time.

Yes, so much! She is okay with trying out things. We talked about nutrition, but it takes sooo much time to find the right replacement that tastes good!

Absolutely not. How selfish and entitled are your family?

I home cook one meal per day from scratch, with wide variety through thr month including about 10% veggie.

For anyone who wants something different, there is always home made bread, cheesees, salad and fruit.

Anyone old enough to decide they are veggie or vegan, is also old enough to cook for themself.