Eating out in DC with family. I'm happy to let someone else do the cooking!

 Anyone who knows me, knows I cannot cook. I don’t mean that in a “I sort of can, but not so well” kind of way. I mean, I really cannot cook.

I know many moms who love their kitchen. They swap recipes, try new ideas from Rachel Ray and wow their friends with yummy desserts and parties filled with all kinds of delicious treats. I love visiting those friends.

Well, if you head to my house for a visit, I am much more likely to order a pizza and offer you some Oreos. Lucky for me, my kids and husband have simple tastes.

I can whip up a box of Kraft Macaroni &  Cheese and throw some nuggets in the oven and they are happy. Now don’t get me wrong. I have tried, on occassion, to make something new. Sadly, it usually ends with a call to Domino’s or a run to Wendy’s. I under cook, over cook, forget ingredients, add too much, add too little..you name it and I can do it. Anything to ruin a good meal. As you can imagine, after so many meals gone awry, I don’t try too much anymore.

The truth is, I don’t want to be a good cook. It is nothing that interests me. I grew up with a mom who was a wonderful cook so I never had to learn. To me it just seems like a lot of prep and clean up and way too much work. If you ask my kids they will tell you “if mommy is cooking you need to leave her alone so she can concentrate.” They know the deal.

As long as my kids are healthy and happy I will continue to serve up the same, simple meals. Occasionally my husband will step in and take over chef duties (he is much better than me). When we want real meals, with ingredients and stuff, we’ll just head out and get a booth somewhere.

Do you enjoy cooking? Are any of your tweens interested in cooking?

My oldest child will try anything I put on his plate. If he likes it…he will eat A LOT of it. He has tried sushi, fried pickles, calamari…you name it and he will take a bite. I myself had been a choosy eater as a child so I was very excited to see him so eager to branch out and try new things. I should have known karma was going to visit me and bring me a second child more like myself…..10 times over!

Many kids scoff at veggies, don’t eat much meat or have favorite foods. My little man did not even try ketchup until he was FIVE! Yes, you read right…he was FIVE. I did what the experts say…offer it over and over until they try it. Well, this one might have set a world record. While most kids dip fries and nuggets, he would always refuse. Finally he caved in and now it is a staple in his diet. That is not to say he has tried much since then.

He has yet to take a bite of a hamburger or peanut butter and jelly. He whines when he sees vegetables on his plate and he picked off every sesame seed on a bun on our recent visit to Five Guys Burgers (it was a grilled cheese!). While I know he is healthy and that eventually he will expand his menu, it can be very frustrating in the moment.

I pledge that I will not fix him his own meal every night, but I am forced to make sure there is at least one item on his plate I know he will eat. At this point I can only sit back and wait for him to finally understand that everything new is not bad.

Anyone else with a picky eater? Any great strategies to get them to try something new? Help all of us out there struggling with these dear children.