I dread this question. I dread it when I am trying to figure out what to make but I can’t come up with any ideas, and I dread it when everyone in my household starts asking at once. I know if I name the food I’m preparing, someone will customarily say, “Eeewwww!” or “I don’t want that,” or some variation thereof. It doesn’t matter if it’s something everybody likes (which represents few things), at least one of my little darlings -or my big Darling- will not be in the mood or will have had the exact same for lunch.
I’ve gotten to where I study those school lunch menus carefully, but it doesn’t matter. Sloppy Joe’s day will instantly turn into hamburger day without notice, if I’m making hamburgers for dinner that night.
Since there are so few things that everybody likes, I make those items often. Perhaps a little too often, as I realized recently when my five year old asked, “Are we having that again already?”
Sometimes, adoring mommy that I am, I make more than one thing for dinner. I don’t mind doing it once in a while, especially if it helps use up leftovers or something, but it can get a little old. I have actually rushed around so much trying to put assorted meals on the table at the same time to please everyone that I have forgotten to make something for myself. It’s just silly!
Still, I don’t force my kids to eat things that they have at least tried and honestly don’t like, so I guess I’ll have to dream up some magic dinner that everybody loves or stick to being a short order cook.
Oh, I also have one other trick. When they ask, “What’s for dinner?” I just say “food.” That way, nobody can complain about the evening’s menu, at least not before the food reaches the table. If it’s any item that is reasonably within their tastes, they’re stuck with it. It’s too late for me to start over once everyone is seated and dinner is on the table. Pretty smart, huh?
Well, maybe it was a good idea at first, but they’re onto me now. Usually at least one of my dear hearts will counter my answer generic answer of “food” with, “Not that again!”