I have found that many parents fall in one of two categories–either they are of the “I’m making one meal and if you don’t like it, you can make yourself a peanut butter sandwich” camp, or they are in the short-order cook camp–preparing a different meal for each member of the family. I am not here to pass judgment, only to share an observation and I am wondering–which camp are you in?
I am somewhere in the middle…I am definitely not willing to stand in the kitchen and prepare four meals to order–but I also do try to take into account everyone’s preferences and cravings when I am preparing a meal. I try to get something in there that each person likes and then, if they are not into it, they know they can make themselves a sandwich or something to eat–but that I am only preparing one meal. In the house I grew up in, you ate what was on your plate and you finished it all–no options or accommodations. I also know parents who are far to the other side and will prepare a separate meal for each family member–asking them each what they want and cooking accordingly. I am not quite clear on the logistics for this one–how do you get everyone at the table at the same time if you are preparing separate meals? I imagine if you have a very small family, it is easier to make accommodations and adjust to individual cravings and tastes. For a large family, however, it seems a person would be in the kitchen all day to accommodate all those special requests!
Where do you and your family stand on this one? Are you a short-order cook–taking orders and preparing meals to order, or are you in the eat-what-you-get camp? Is there anyone else who would confess to being somewhere in the middle?
See Also: The FOOD Blog