Dinner-time can be a challenge

By By Michelle Blaylock, Mom’s Corner
It is not always easy pleasing everyone at meal times, especially if you have fussy eaters. Sometimes I just prepare a meal and then everyone has to deal, but I do try to make meals to please as many people in my family as possible. I do not see any point in making a meal that no one will want to eat.
For us, I have found sometimes a variation around one food works well. Here are three examples. I have some children who only eat regular spaghetti sauce and others will only eat alfredo sauce. So when I fix spaghetti I always have both kinds of sauce available. Another quick and easy way I please the most people in our family at meal time is to fry chicken tenderloins and mix them with cooked pasta (I just pick any shape I want or the kids want). I separate the chicken mixture into two oven safe or microwave safe dishes and pour either regular spaghetti sauce or alfredo sauce over it. I also sometimes add steamed broccoli or peas to the dish. This is an easy favorite at our house.
Another easily adaptable meal is tacos. Well, tacos and burritos. I provide ingredients such as taco meat, refried beans, onions, sour cream, flour tortillas, hard shell tacos, lettuce, tomatoes, grated cheese etc. John and I help younger children fix their plates. The older children are on their own. (I know. I am a mean Mom.) Also, with the addition of seasoned chicken, green peppers, and such we can also add fajitas to the list of choices.
For a quick summer lunch that can be made to suit any taste, try grilled sandwiches. I use my large griddle and make six to eight sandwiches at a time. (Okay, stop laughing, that is only one sandwich per person in my family!) I start by buttering all the bread and placing one piece on the griddle then I ask each person what they want and put the sandwiches together as I go. In our house, the sandwiches have everything from lunchmeats to refried beans to only cheese on them.
Of course, every meal can not be adapted to please everyone. There are some meals I fix that one or two people do not exactly enjoy; which is why I always try to keep peanut butter and jelly or lunchmeat handy. Thank goodness for sandwiches!!
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