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anitamarie
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| Posted: Feb 11 2009 at 10:53pm | IP Logged
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Do you have everyone eat the same thing?
Do you short-order cook?
Do you make one thing and if someone wants something else they have to cook it?
We are at the tipping point between allowing everyone to choose what they want and making the choice for everyone. It is getting easier now that some can make some things for themselves, but it still seems to take us a long time to prepare/eat/clean up from those 2 meals. However, this could just be an adjustment to having everybody here for all 3 meals. Older children attended school until Fall '07. Just wondering what you all do.
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Lori
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I am more flexible in the mornings with breakfast...cold cereal, hot cereal, yogurt, fruit, breakfast shake...I'll usually propose something, and then have those who will ask to choose otherwise.
Lunch I'm more standardized, with some options for sides.
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Angi
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Breakfast here - all they seem to ever want is cold cereal.
Lunch - I cook what most people will eat. I make sure that there is no more than 1 item that eat person will not eat. Other than that, my philosophy is "you get what you and you don't throw a fit."  I learned that from the K teacher when my oldest went to school.
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JodieLyn
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All of the above. There's days that I'm feeling in a good mood and not rushed and will let kids pick variations and/or leftovers and/or make their own special thing.
And other days that I'm feeling overwhelmed and short on time and I make pb&j for everyone no options. 
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folklaur
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Breakfast - cold cereal, hot cereal, pop tarts, etc - it's simple and they can have whichever they want.
I don't usually "cook" for lunch either. Sandwiches, cheese crisps, (well okay that is cooking but not really, kwim?), soup, homemade 'lunchables', leftovers from dinner, etc. So - again, pretty much we all eat what we want when we are hungry. We don't have "breakfast time" or "lunch time" - unless we are going somewhere and I want them fed beforehand or it is like Saturday and Dad is cooking a big breakfast, that kind of thing.
But we are a family of grazer type eaters so we have lots of grazer type food anyway - yogurts, applesauce, cheese cubed up, falafel, hummus, hard boiled eggs, fresh fruit, fruit cups, granola bars, etc, etc...
I am sure having only two kids at home allows us to have this kind of freedom that maybe wouldn't work so well in a larger family situation.
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Angie Mc
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We all eat the same meal, but many of these can be modified. For example, breakfast is often oatmal or toast. If it is toast, then each member can top it as he or she pleases (well, maybe not the chocolate sauce .) If lunch is sandwiches, they can make the sandwich according their taste and preference. Short of that, I try to make meals that are pleasing to all - and easy to clean up!
Love,
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Sarah M
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I used to let everyone pick their own breakfast, but I felt like I was in the kitchen f-o-r-e-v-e-r. So now we all eat the same thing. If someone doesn't like it....too bad (a bit cold-hearted, eh?). I follow a menu so that we have something different each morning (Mon- muffins & fruit, Tues- toast & yogurt, Wed- waffles or pancakes, Thurs- cold cereal, Fri- french toast, Sat- scrambled eggs & bacon, Sun- cold cereal), so no one gets too upset if what we're having isn't a hit. I also feel like we eat better breakfasts this way. Same thing for lunch- I follow a menu (I change my menus each season) and everyone gets the same.
Breakfast is at 7:30, lunch is at 12:00. We light a candle, say a prayer, and eat family-style every meal. My kids are all little, so this works great for us.
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Barbara C.
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We do individual breakfast because everyone is up and hungry and different times. DD#2 is the early riser, usually around 8:00. Most mornings she just wants a cup of juice, but some mornings she is really hungry and will plow through a PBJ sandwich or two slices of toast with peanut butter, fruit spread, or cream cheese.
I am usually not hungry until at least an hour if I wake up, but I really like to start with a cup of coffee or hot tea (decaf). It just kind of warms me up.
DD#1 sleeps until about 10:00. If she really gets into something first thing, then she won't be hungry for hours. If she doesn't or if I try to send her up to get ready for the day, then she suddenly is starving. I usually offer her fruit, toast, or cereal. Sometimes we compromise on something else that doesn't require cooking like PBJ, lunch meat and bread, peanut butter crackers.
Due to the erratic breakfast schedule we tend to graze through most of the day. Sometimes I'll make one big lunch item like macaroni and cheese or fried bologna if I think everyone will be hungry. Otherwise they mainly eat things that don't need to be cooked, just prepared. I've learned that if I'm making it for one to offer it to the other, or the other will ask for it just after I've put all the ingredients away.
I cut off snacking an hour before dinner, though. We all usually eat the same thing for dinner together.
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Barbara
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folklaur
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| Posted: Feb 12 2009 at 4:37pm | IP Logged
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Barbara C. wrote:
We all usually eat the same thing for dinner together. |
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us, too. 
(and I am really glad I am not the only grazer-no-set-eating-schedule-and-menu-person.)
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Michaela
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| Posted: Feb 12 2009 at 5:24pm | IP Logged
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I prepare our meals the same as Sarah and Angie.
I used to short order cook for breakfast or lunch, but it encouraged picky eating. My children would turn their nose up at dinner because they didn't pick or like what was being served.
Now they look at the posted menu and see what will be served. If they don't like it, they will eat it, but also know their favorite is coming up.
Monday
Breakfast - oatmeal (choice of raisins, pb, applesauce add-ins)
Tuesday
Breakfast -- French Toast, fruit cocktail, milk
Wednesday
Breakfast -- oatmeal (choice of raisins, pb, applesauce add-ins)
Thursday
Breakfast -- pancakes, applesauce, milk
Friday
Breakfast -- Oatmeal (choice of raisins, pb, applesauce add-ins)
Saturday dh cooks his choice --usually
Breakfast -- rice, polish sausage, eggs, vel cheese, toast
Sunday
Breakfast @ Church (buffet style -- their pick)
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ALmom
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We almost always have a limited choice - but occassional flexibility. I like us all to eat at the same time so I am not in the kitchen all day. It also makes sure that we all eat something for breakfast. I try to have boiled or deviled eggs ready, then cereal is always an option. Dinner leftovers are also acceptable if I have not planned to use them for lunch.
Lunch - mostly something leftover from previous dinner but sometimes chicken salad, tuna or something quick and convenient.
I have a sense of tastes and try not to have stuff the same person doesn't care for consecutively or try to have acceptable choices. Ie if I am using leftovers it often is a hodgepodge of the last weeks dinners and may be enough of one thing for 2, enough of something else for 3, etc. On those days, promptness in arriving on time for lunch merits an earlier first choice. 
Janet
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Angie Mc
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| Posted: Feb 13 2009 at 11:27am | IP Logged
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Like Micheala, I post the menu which helps as she describes.
Sunday: Nice brunch.
Monday: Whole grain - choice of toppings
Tuesday: Toast - choice of toppings
Wenesday: Big breakfast! - French toast, waffles, pancakes, omlettes, casseroles - choice of toppings
Thursday: Toast
Friday: Whole grain
Saturday: Self Serve (we're often going different directions so we most often just grab some fruit, yogurt, and a granola bar or the like.)
Lunch and dinner follows a similar format but offer more variety. We either have leftovers, a quick meal, or a cooked meal (like Sarah, we alternate these based on what foods are available and other seasonal considerations.) We make decisions weekly based mostly on our ever fluctuating evening baseball schedule.
A few more of my favorite tips:
We have the "good enough" meal. In other words, this meal may not be your favorite but is it "good enough?" Does it fill you? Is it good for you? Is it budget friendly? Is it convenient? Is it easy to clean up after? Added to this we also have a very short list of true food dislikes that we respect for each member of the family.
At a family meeting or at some time when the family is gathered, ask them to help fill in the menu for the week.
Love,
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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Mary G
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For both breakfast and lunch, the kids make their own (based on what's available); VERY occasionally, I'll mandate eating something (or not eating something ), but that's rare. The older ones help the younger ones and they clean up after themselves. On Sundays, dh makes breakfast for all  (big 'ol stack of healthy pancakes, bacon, eggs, etc) and we're usually out on Sunday afternoon and either pack sandwiches or pick up something.
During the week, breakfast and lunch times are usually when I'm on the computer or starting laundry or prepping for the day, so it works for us for now anyway.
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sewcrazy
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I get up with my dh and oldest at 5 and make breakfast, waffles, or egg sandwhich, or oatmeal usually. When the others wake about 7:30 I just warm up what I made earlier. If a child doesn't care for what was made, they can have cold cereal.
On the days we are home, lunch is left overs. On the days we are out and about, we pack lunch boxes with sandwhiches, fruit and chips.
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dawn2006
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I also found that short-order cooking meant I was in the kitchen all day. Like AngieMc I tell the kids "it doesn't have to be your favorite, it just has to fill you up." We also have special diet in the house. So.. to answer the original question:
Breakfast: hot/cold cereal;protein and grain;tacos
Lunch: PB&J w/chips every.single.day
Dinner: protein/veggies
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Dawn Farias | wife to Ariel | mom to Gabriel 9, Daniel 7, Elizabeth 5, and Michael 3 | blogger at Be Absorbed | native Texan but currently living near Seattle
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Dawnie
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We eat family-style for all 3 meals. I would be cooking or preparing food all day long if I allowed everyone to eat whenever they were hungry. If they say, "But I'm not hungry!", I tell the kids, "This is our meal time. Our next meal will be served at ___o'clock. I will not be preparing or warming up this meal again."
For breakfast, I usually make oatmeal, boiled eggs, toast, and sometimes a yogurt & fruit smoothie. I need the eggs for protein and I make some for my oldest dd, too. The other 3 kids eat the oatmeal fine. On non-school days, I will sometimes make waffles, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, or breakfast burritos. It's usually oatmeal, boiled eggs, and toast, though.
We eat lunch at noon. I make sandwiches and offer fruit on the side with chocolate milk. If we have a lot of leftovers in the fridge, I will offer a choice of leftovers instead of sandwiches.
I've found that it's just not practical in my family to let everyone eat whatever they want/whenever they want. They can have fruit or something healthy for a snack between meals if they get hungry. But I just don't have time to be preparing 3-4 different breakfasts and lunches at different times every day. Not to mention that we school around the dining room table, so the table needs to be cleared off for meals. And meals (or snacks!) need to be cleared off the table for school!
Dawn
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Stephanie_Q
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Angie Mc wrote:
For example, breakfast is often oatmal or toast. If it is toast, then each member can top it as he or she pleases (well, maybe not the chocolate sauce .)
Love, |
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That is too funny - I made eggs and toast a few days ago and told the kids they could choose what they wanted on their toast...and without missing a beat my 5yo shouted out, "Chocolate!"
We usually have oatmeal for breakfast and vary the flavor: brown sugar & maple syrup, cinnamon raisin; cinnamon apple; and peaches and cream are typical - the last two are easy for us because we chopped and froze a TON of apples and peaches last fall. I put oats, water and "flavor" in a pot at night so all I have to do is "warm it up" in the morning.
We've been struggling with lunches, though...and I actually came here to get some ideas - I know you all have talked about this before. What do you eat for lunch? and Lunches? and Lunch Ideas!! and Ideas needed for breakfast and lunch are a few I found in my search...
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Sarah M
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Dawnie wrote:
| Not to mention that we school around the dining room table, so the table needs to be cleared off for meals. And meals (or snacks!) need to be cleared off the table for school! |
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Us too, Dawn- and this makes a big difference, doesn't it? When we did a free-for-all, I would have *someone* at the table eating *something* from 7am until 10am most days- and then by 11 the 7am-breakfast-eater was ready for lunch  . That really threw a monkey wrench in any table-work. Things go more smoothly now that we eat at set times.
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anitamarie
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Just wanted to say thanks for your input. You've given us great stuff to ponder as we attempt to "streamline" our lives. Sorry it took so long to get back to say thanks. We are about to start a basement finish project that will have us in even more chaos than usual, and that's been taking all our "spare" time.
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: How do you do breakfast/lunch?
