What To Do When You Feel Like A Mom Fail In The Kitchen
Mom Fails
We’ve all been there.
What do you do when you feel like a mom-fail in the kitchen?
When your kids only eat 5% of what you just spent 1 hour cooking? Or would rather go through the drive thru than eat your home-cooked meal? I remember sweatin' it up in the kitchen for what felt like forever, only for one of my kids to ask for an apple instead. Yep, an apple.
Mom Fail Loading…
It happens to most of us! It can especially be a thing if you've recently gone plant-based and are experimenting with new family meals and ways of eating. Here’s some tips on how to handle feeling like a mom-fail in the kitchen:
Don’t take it personal or internalize it: This is tough because it’s natural to initially get hurt feelings. Remember, sudden change can be tough for children. Try to slowly ease them into vegan life by replacing a few entrees or meals at a time, not all at once. Start by going meatless for 1-2 days out of the week. Figure out which plant-based foods they do like and focus on making meals with those ingredients. Once they see that it’s the new way, they’ll adapt quickly.
Use your failure as a teaching moment: Everyone fails! It’s important that we show our children that us parents are human and that we fail too. Sometimes meals don’t come out as expected, but that’s ok. Showing our children that we can fail gracefully and still stand strong is a valuable life lesson. You can also help them reframe their response when you fail. For example, if your kids’ go to is “Ewww, ickk, this is yucky!!” Guide their words in a more positive, more constructive direction. “I love that you are expressing your feelings. But ‘icky or yucky’ doesn’t tell me what you don’t like about this meal. Try saying ‘I don’t care for this.’ Can you tell me why you don’t care for it?” It’s also good to show them that you have feelings too. Be honest if they hurt your feeling. Read books to about expressing their feelings. Also, try to limit snacking before meal times and let them help make the meal or set the table. When they’re involved in the process they’re less likely to trash it!
Failure in the kitchen
It’s happening.
Stay firm on your boundaries: If you spent a ton of time in the kitchen and the food is edible, stand by your meal. Don’t offer to make your children additional food simply because they don’t like it. Reiterate: “This is our meal. This is what’s for dinner,” so that they understand that you mean business. Consider their feedback about what they may and may not like about the meal and do better next time. You can even ask them to select one food item on the plate that they will eat, and focus on that. Or focus on an entirely different subject altogether different, just keep introducing the food to your child. Remember, a child needs to be introduced to a food up to 30 times before they truly know whether or not they enjoy it. Yep, it’s a steep, slippery, possibly food on the floor hill to climb, but don’t give up! It’s worth it.
Know your limits: Recognize your limits and honor your own time in the kitchen. If you know that you have to keep meals simple AF-do it. Need your partner’s support? Ask for it. Need a takeout break or want pre-made meals this week? Order them. Do whatever keeps you mentally sane, so that you’re happier and remain in a good space overall, especially if the meal criticism comes flying your way.
Everyone fails.
How do you respond when you have a mom fail in the kitchen?
Thanks for reading! For more resources for busy moms who want to lead healthier, plant-based lives: Follow me @getmommafied on Instagram, and subscribe to my bimonthly Mommafied Note.