Having three children and working full time- many parents can relate to work/school night headaches. One of my most common annoyances was my children incessantly asking me what was for dinner. Like every.freaking.night. That meal seemed to mean the world to them- which maybe was a good thing, but it left me feeling like the family cook night after night, and my motto is to feel part of the family like everyone else! 

A wonderful trick, in general, with children- is to give them choices. But the choices are ones you’ve already made. It sounds a bit confusing but it’s not at all! When they get dressed in the morning, put out three different outfits for them that YOU already approve. They feel empowered because they are technically making the choice about what to wear, but you’ve already made the choice for them.

The way to apply this to dinner is simple.

• At the beginning of the week/Sunday, buy your family’s groceries, to include foods you want your children to eat. Think healthy, what they like (or you want them to try), and variations on both the kinds of food and how much time is needed to prepare them (and can they help you do some cooking?). Also keep in mind your schedules for the week. If there’s soccer practice or a chorus concert, maybe you want to add hotdogs and carrots to the shopping cart, eg.
• Take a piece of paper and make two columns, label them- mains and sides.
• Under each heading, write all the food you’ve bought that fits into the category. Mains would be things like baked chicken, pasta and meatballs, macaroni and cheese, hotdogs, or pot pie (IF you’ve decided you’ll make it one night you have time). Sides would be things like any veggies (lots of potato options- fries, mashed, baked…), rice, applesauce or other fruits, breads.
• Put the list on the table with a calendar for one week starting with that night (Sunday). Tell your children that they can decide what dishes will go together, AND what nights you will eat them (remind them of the schedule). They will fill in the calendar, until every day is completed. Keep in mind, you might have some weird combinations, but that’s part of the fun. 🙂
• Hang that on the fridge and you’ve done it!!

When they ask, ‘MOM, WHAT’S FOR DINNER??!” You calmly say, ‘you should know, you made the menu!!”I hope you try this and it comes in handy, especially when school starts up again and things get crazier!