Should I throw in the towel?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The more mature way is to call a family meeting and say "Everyone complains when I make our regular standard meals but also complains when I go rogue and make fancier meals. So since your complaining is both rude and unproductive, you now each have to present two meals you'd be happy to eat. You have until Thursday at 8pm to provide these. If you don't you forfeit your right to share your opinion of any meals made for you. Beginning with our next meal, nobody is to say "ew" or any other disparaging comments. If they do, they will be required to cook dinner for the entire family the following night. See you all back here Thursday at 8pm with your meal ideas."

This. Verbatim. Practice the speech. Give it. Live it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m sort of at my wits end and don’t know how to proceed without appearing hysterical or petty.

I cook basic/traditional/comfort foods, everyone is bored. I get more fancy/exotic, everyone complains. I ask for input, everyone draws a blank.

Today, every. single. person. came to the table and gave an audible “ew” over what I had prepared. Even DH.

I’m done. I plan, shop for, cook, and clean up dinner every day. In our sharing of household tasks, cooking is mine, so if I strike over this it will seem hysterical, petty. Is there a more mature way to handle this, or should I just throw in the towel?

I'm impressed you even made it this far. I gave up around when DS was old enough to talk (complain). Now I mostly cook Trader Joes frozen meals (put them in a frying pan, done in 5 minutes). I get the ones they like over and over. If they don't want to eat it, I tell them to make their own food. I keep plenty of PBJ and hot dogs and so on so that they can always find food they are capable (potentially, at least) of making themselves, and won't starve to death.

[Anonymous]

Can you give yourself a break for a few days, enjoy time out of the house and let them sort out the meals? Then decide how you want to proceed.

[Anonymous]

Eh, I don't make a big deal out of all this. "Eww" does not faze me at all. I tell my teens: "you want to cook?" and then I don't hear a peep out of them for the next few meals When my husband cooks his meat-heavy dishes (ribs, or meatballs) one too many times, I just don't eat a lot of it and fill up on something else on the side - which is also what he does whenever I make curry, since that's not his favorite thing. I believe I did actually say "eww" out loud for his most recent ribs (he cooks them too fast and they're still super fatty and chewy, which negates the entire goal of ribs!), which was rude! But he's like me - not a sensitive type. He got over it after giving me a disapproving stare

[Anonymous]

My SIL once served something her DH and sons clearly didn't like on sight. She picked up their plates and emptied them into the trash. Then she said "You're cooking the rest of the week."

They did. They also apologized for being so disrespectful. And the next time she tried something new, they found reasons to like it.

[Anonymous]

Drop your spoiled, ungrateful children off in a poor neighborhood in the middle of nowhere without money, food, or a phone. Let them work their way back to you. When they do, they'll have at the very least a modicum of appreciation and respect for you and the meals you provide.

[Anonymous]

I purchased some menu plans from a website and sit down with my family and go through them together at the beginning of the month. Some are freezer meals I can make ahead and pull out, some are crock-pot meals, some are more "traditional" come home and cook type of meals. Everyone gives input, and I put it on a calendar on the fridge so everyone knows what's for dinner. If someone doesn't like something, there's boxed mac and cheese and chicken nuggets or ramen if they want to make it for themselves.

[Anonymous]

If my husband didn't immediately jump on my kids for saying ew, let alone saying ew, HIMSELF, I would be mad.

That is a serious rule in our house no one comes to the table with that level of rudeness. You don't have to eat it but no one disrespects the work of someone who took the time to prepare food.

I like PPs speech but if your DH is saying ew I think you need some more general communication guidelines to pass out.

[Anonymous]

I am definitely on team OP. If they don't like the meal, they can plan, shop for, and cook the next meal to their own taste.

However, I'd like to know what the family classifies as "boring", as well as the "ew" meals.

FWIW, my family is pretty nice to me. There are times they don't like what I make, but the kids are teens now and they know how to use a stove.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone.

The “ew” meal was baked ziti, the ‘ew’ was because they are sick of it, but it’s easy and, like I said, I was given no other suggestions, so… (To make my life easy I do themed meals, so Monday is always pasta, Tuesday is always Mexican, etc etc.)

Today I cooked something I will enjoy (enchiladas!), and I don’t really care at this point if they won’t.

[Anonymous]

We each pick a dinner for the week. The other three nights (we have two kids), we are either out of the house and therefore eating something on the go or we'll scape something together (I usually have the things to make multiple basic meals like spaghetti, tacos, etc.).

Maybe you could also try making meals with pieces? For example, if we do fajitas but a kid wants a bowl with rice and beans and cheese, that's fine. If another one wants to make nachos, that's fine too. The ingredients are out and you can do what you want with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m sort of at my wits end and don’t know how to proceed without appearing hysterical or petty.

I cook basic/traditional/comfort foods, everyone is bored. I get more fancy/exotic, everyone complains. I ask for input, everyone draws a blank.

Today, every. single. person. came to the table and gave an audible “ew” over what I had prepared. Even DH.

I’m done. I plan, shop for, cook, and clean up dinner every day. In our sharing of household tasks, cooking is mine, so if I strike over this it will seem hysterical, petty. Is there a more mature way to handle this, or should I just throw in the towel?

I followed my mother's meal planning which was "Woman's Day" which has a pull out monthly menu plan. I never had lucky eaters because I think they instinctively knew I wouldn't put up with it.

Menu planner was put on refrigerator for all to see. Try it. Makes life so much easier.

[Anonymous]

OP cook a nice meal for one and eat it while serving a can of spaghetti-os to everyone else.

I'm serious. You have to withdraw the goods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe try a meal service too--like hello fresh, Martha and Marley or Dinnerly. I think Dinnerly is owned by Martha and Marley but is marketed as being more family friendly. It might shake things up a bit and get you out of your rut. I do these periodically when I'm bored with the usual and can't think of anything on my own.

It's also fun to do breakfast for dinner once in a while too--pancakes or French toast, eggs, fruit.

You can spin classics and make them slightly different--like stacked enchiladas instead of labor intensive regular enchiladas, or lasagna casserole instead of layered, teriyaki chicken on quinoa instead of rice and add a bunch of extra veggies to it--sliced bell peppers, broccoli, pineapple etc. Grilled cheese with ham and thin sliced apples or pears with gouda instead of cheddar or American.

I feel like the point of OP's post flew right on over your head.

Op doesn't need your ideas. She already said when she does try to change it up, they complain.

The point is her family has terrible attitudes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe try a meal service too--like hello fresh, Martha and Marley or Dinnerly. I think Dinnerly is owned by Martha and Marley but is marketed as being more family friendly. It might shake things up a bit and get you out of your rut. I do these periodically when I'm bored with the usual and can't think of anything on my own.

It's also fun to do breakfast for dinner once in a while too--pancakes or French toast, eggs, fruit.

You can spin classics and make them slightly different--like stacked enchiladas instead of labor intensive regular enchiladas, or lasagna casserole instead of layered, teriyaki chicken on quinoa instead of rice and add a bunch of extra veggies to it--sliced bell peppers, broccoli, pineapple etc. Grilled cheese with ham and thin sliced apples or pears with gouda instead of cheddar or American.

I feel like the point of OP's post flew right on over your head.

Op doesn't need your ideas. She already said when she does try to change it up, they complain.

The point is her family has terrible attitudes.

feel better?