I love it!

Doilookfat, I understand your reluctance to try new foods with your son because of the allergies, but you have to realize that he may not be getting the nutrients a growing child needs if he subsists on chicken nuggets and ramen noodles. Is he allergic to fruits and vegetables?

I agree with what shcirerf said: you'll be surprised what they'll eat when they're hungry enough. Cooking 1 meal and serving vegetables will benefit them AND you by not having to make 3 separate (and not so healthy) dinners.

One way to get your kids interested in eating better is to get them cooking and grocery shopping with you. Make simple meals, even sandwiches and soups, salad. Have them chose a new vegetable or fruit to try each week. When kids take part in the selection and preparation, they eat a wider variety of foods. If you don't get your kids eating healthy, varied diets now, they could have your weight problems when they are adults and I know no mother wants that. Go to the library and get a cookbook for cooking with kids.

While I'm pretty much in the same mom's club as Iheartsushi and shcirerf, I can completely relate to having a special kid. I have 4 boys, ages 9 1/2, 7, 4, and 16 months. My 4 year old was a micro-preemie (born at 24 weeks, weighing under 2lbs.) He had some sensory issues relating to textures- especially with food. I can't get him to touch meat or veggies at all. He eats VERY few things, and I do fix him what I know he will eat. I've tried bribing him with ice cream or candy to try 1 bite of something, and he will turn down the bribe. What 4 year old will say no to ice cream and candy??!?! My other 3 (the baby included) are all really good eaters, and love fruits and veggies.

doIlookfat? since your son is a little older, maybe having him help you prepare some simple foods might help him to try new things?

The problem is you haven't seen my kids' gag reflux. I've seen them try broccoli and corn for example...not a pretty sight! My 12 y/o is just now starting to eat lettuce, which she used to gag on if she found the tiniest sliver of green in her food. I didn't force her to eat salad, she tried on her own one day at a restaurant and liked it. I'm hoping the 9 y/o will follow suit. I've learned, though, not to push the issue.

They do eat healthy. They like a lot of fruits, and they like to eat my favorite meal....macaroni noodles, ground beef, and a huge bottle of V8 juice. One pot meal we will all eat. We eat it at least once a week. I was hoping to find easy stuff like this to cook, and maybe even something my kids will eat too.

Do they eat chicken? I'm not much of a cook myself, but I can broil a chicken breast like nobody's business! We generally eat some sort of broiled or grilled meat, a veggie, and rice or potatoes. It's boring, but healthy. I play with the seasonings that I put on the meat, to change it up a bit.

I agree with that. I was a picky eater when I was a kid, and I ate all the junk, and ramen noodles were a favorite also. I thought vegetables were yucky. I got big...I was a chubby girl, got picked on and all that. And here I am still struggling with my weight.

I didn't really understand dieting at that age and wish my parents would of been more careful with my diet. Food was love, so they gave me what I wanted. Later I went through alot in my highschool years because of the extra weight.

I read if your fat cells get big as a kid it's harder to lose weight later, it'll always be a struggle.