It’s clear I don’t make enough variety for dinner. Each night I make a protein, starch and veggie. Sometimes I even throw in a salad. However, it never fails, Natalie and Henry will eat all their food, possibly even seconds and then hit the cupboard looking for something to finish off their meal. There might even be food still in my pans, but they want something…. different. Sometimes it’s fruit other times it’s chips and salsa. So I’m trying to figure out if I need to add something to the meal. Any suggestions? I’m avoiding dessert and bread so there aren’t empty calories sitting around, but maybe these two need empty calories?
(c) 2016 Leighann Marquiss
Comments (10)
If they have high energy they probably do need some empty calories.. Look at the diabetic diet to see what foods digest slow and try to incorporate some of those. The diabetic diet is a great meal planner of healthy foods..
I’m with you… exact same thing happens in my house!
a bread basket, with whole grain rolls, or bread slices, will fill the gap, it is brought out when the plates are nearly finished off, so as not to become a substitute for the meal, this works for teen boys who need something more to round out the exact.same.dinner.plate we have here: protein, starch,veg (boring! glad to know I’m not alone)
Ha I vote some homemade rolls and some butter, empty calories but oh so good right out of the oven! Life is too short not to enjoy some fat and carbs.Oh Ah hem and in moderation. LOL
My Dad always finished off his meal with a peanut butter sandwich.
My boys fill up on cereal, right after a hearty supper.
Fruit, whole wheat bread with peanut butter or apple butter or pear butter are on our list as well! If the kids are active, they will burn these stuff off faster than us mom’s and dad’s. 🙂
Our son loves salsa and chips as well. The crunch factor is important I think with a little salt. Popcorn works here as well.
I am the same way with dinner. But then a little while later I need that “something else” too. Popcorn or dry cereal is usually my 8:00 snack after DD is in bed. But then I hear “Do I smell popcorn?” from upstairs and have to promise to save some for her snack the next day! LOL
Happens at our house too – like the end of dinner is a signal to go find the finishing snack.
I do often put out fruit while getting food finally ready – and the really hungries will start with that – seems to take the edge off – and gets the fruit down.
And a fruit dessert, and hot bread aren’t the end of the world. Here, at night the ice cream almost always comes out before bedtime. Whatever, as long as no one is excessively heavy or thin, that may just be the way they eat.
Jason and my kids are the same…might just be the way the boys grew up??
Stephanie