Ragu knows that dinner time isn't always the picture perfect family time around the table. So they've created a great place on Facebook to find everything from tips from veteran moms on how to get your kids to eat to fresh recipe ideas.
If you are stressed out about dinner time in your house, these conversations with real moms and their struggles to get their kids to get their kids might have some great tips for you. Or at the very least, you will see you aren't alone in your dinnertime struggles.
I have to say that for the most part, I don't have an issue with getting my kids to eat. My youngest is three so I have the typical days where he might take a bite or two and say he's full but since the beginning (with my oldest son) our pediatrician has told me that they will eat when they are hungry. Don't stress about the days where you swear they've eaten nothing because they will not let themselves starve. If they are turning down all the healthy stuff and wanting just junk, that's a whole different story but if they are simply saying they aren't hungry, don't sweat it. And this has pretty much been the theory we've lived by. We don't have the clean plate club in our house like I did growing up. Since I have had weight issues for more years than I can to consider, I've chosen to let me kids listen to their bodies about how much they need. And for the most part it really makes meals much less stressful. My oldest two are skinny as can be but there are days that they out eat me. When they are more active, they crave more calories. When they haven't done much, they don't eat as much.
For me dinnertime stress comes more from the time issue. With our crazy schedules sometimes it just feels impossible to find the time to make anything for dinner. But we've continued to strive for family dinners as much as we possibly can. I just never thought those meals would be happening at 8:30 at night but that was the case many evenings when I had to run home straight from work and get my son to a baseball game without time to eat. Sometimes our schedule gets so crazy that I seem to run out of time to even get to the grocery store. I feel like a horrible mom when we are completely out of fresh fruits and veggies. But I try not to beat myself up to much and take comfort when I am able to reach for a jar of Ragu and some pasta and get SOME vegetables into my kids instead of choosing to grab fast food on those crazy nights.
Ragu wants to take away the dinner time stress for one night for your family by giving away a $20 VISA gift card to one of my readers.
Giveaway Rules
Required Entry: Visit Ragu: Mom's The Word On Dinner and come back and leave a comment sharing one tip or recipe you found helpful.
**Winner will be added to this post when selected**
Disclosure: The product(s) featured in this review was provided free of cost to me for the sole purpose of product testing and review. This review has not been monetarily compensated and is based on the views and opinions of my family and/or self. Please note that the opinions reflected in this post have not been influenced by the sponsor in any way.
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~Enter any of my other current giveaways (listed at the top of my page) - 1 entry per giveaway
PLEASE NOTE: I will do my best to mediate any problems in delivery of giveaway prizes with the sponsor, and I do my best only to represent companies I trust, however I am not personally responsible for any prizes which are not received for delivery or any other reasons.
PLEASE NOTE: I will do my best to mediate any problems in delivery of giveaway prizes with the sponsor, and I do my best only to represent companies I trust, however I am not personally responsible for any prizes which are not received for delivery or any other reasons.
**Winner will be added to this post when selected**
Contest ends 8/30/11!
US Residents Only!
Please be sure that I have a way to contact you either with a email available on your blogger account or leave your email in your comment. If I can not contact you via email, or you do not respond with in approx. 48 hours to my email, I have to pick a new winner. And I really hate doing that!
Disclosure: The product(s) featured in this review was provided free of cost to me for the sole purpose of product testing and review. This review has not been monetarily compensated and is based on the views and opinions of my family and/or self. Please note that the opinions reflected in this post have not been influenced by the sponsor in any way.
My three boys are 19,17,14 and I have struggled with getting to avoid junk and eat healthy for years! This summer I implemented "salad nite" once a week. I look for recipes or one week my youngest wanted Caesar salad so I made the dressing from scratch for the first time. Surprisingly, even my child that never has eaten salad is trying it! I'm amazed and happy that at least once a week we are eating "green" :) Oh, and spaghetti with meat sauce is pretty much a Sunday nite staple at our house...lekenny4@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteYou can use compromise as a tactic to your favor, e.g.: "Do you want to eat your spaghetti or salad first?" Just only give choices that are ones you feel comfortable giving.
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I like the recipe for Skillet Pasta and Beef Dinner. I love easy recipes that I know my family will enjoy.
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I like the Mexican Lasagna recipe!
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I like Ragú No Frying Chicken Parmesan receipe
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The Mexican Lasagna recipe sounds good!
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I love their Dessert for dinner: WHAT? Are you thinking, “never in my house”? Wait…here’s an idea that the whole family will enjoy - Spaghetti Sundaes." recipe.
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My husband has been craving sloppy joes and it's one of the recipes on their page! Didn't know it was that easy to make.
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