It was 2 months before the due date of my third son. I was nesting away in the house by myself.  I was trying to figure out if I was having another boy or a girl (we never found out) and if I should give all the boy clothes I’d been hoarding for 5 years away or just put them in the baby’s dresser.  Suddenly, amidst all these cute outfits I panicked. I was worried I would forget what to feed my other sons once the baby arrived.  I was even more concerned about what my husband might give them if I was otherwise occupied.

I tried to calm down thinking to myself, that I am a dietitian and I can do something about this!  I immediately created some meal plans and posted them on the fridge (yes, I used to over prepare for projects and papers in school too).  Then if I forget what to feed them it will all be written out and my husband will have no excuse for giving them endless meals of KD.

I sat down, took a piece of paper, made 3 columns and started writing the kids favorite protein choices down one column.  Then I matched each protein with a suitable and palatable carbohydrate.  In the last column I got creative and mixed it up with fruit and vegetable choices.

Why am I telling you this story now 21 months after Ian was born?  Because I still refer to this list several times per week.

Have you ever come home after a long day and just can’t think, let alone plan a meal for your kids?  This happens to me often.   I am very glad I made that list.  Basically, it just prompts me in the right direction of what I have in the fridge, what goes well with what but most importantly what the kids will eat.  By the way, sometimes I prepare something different for Richard and I while other times I will prepare a family meal.  It depends on my mood and what I feel like eating, since I am the family cook.

For children’s meals, my suggestion is to make a list of all the foods your kids love.  Add a few new ones that you would like them to try then create a chart.  Be sure to include a protein, grain product and vegetable for supper. Why not get creative and serve a fruit in place of a vegetable? Match the new foods with 2 others they will definitely eat.  Don’t fret if they reject the new food, they will need to be exposed to it many times before they will actually eat it. For the time being they may just eat the 2 other foods on their plate.  That is okay! Have fun with your match ups.  Depending on if your kids had enough milk products during the day you may need to add a glass of milk to balance the day out.  Otherwise get in the habit of serving water.

Caryn Roll

For more information on eating healthy or to see more blogs by Caryn, go to www.montrealnutrition.com