Mothership Meals and Satellite Saucers: Feed a Fever

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Feed a Fever

Late winter viruses have hit our house -- my son last week, my daughter this week.

My son, who is nine, knows a thing or two about being sick. He lies on the couch in a sleeping bag, alternately moaning and sleeping. He can swallow aspirin, asks for tea with honey, and he knows what sick foods he likes. Chicken soup that Mom is making from scratch right there as he sweats it out on the couch? Uh, no. He likes tortilla chips with lime, and bananas. Those are his return-to-eating-after-a-fever foods. Those and ... this new request.

From the couch, a feeble creaky voice: "Mom? Can you make an apple pie?"

I don't know if it was a fever dream, but I jumped at the chance. Why not? I had butter and flour, could get apples around the corner, and I would love for him to have another fever food. PLUS, I was working on a deadline and needed something to procrastinate with.

Unfortunately, he was may have been hallucinating, as he turned out to have no interest in apple pie, and I was forced to eat most of it.

My daughter is sick now, but takes after her mom, and sees no reason to let a little feverish stomach ache keep her from eating.

What do you all feed your kids when they're sick?

2 comments:

Lindellica said...: Ice cream. When she's not into that, I worry. Pedialyte pops. Hrm, I bet you could make a natural version of those pretty easily, actually.

And french fries, if she'll eat them.

She and I have been chasing colds for the past two weeks -- not getting really sick, just enough to be a little annoying. I am terrified of this flu that we have not yet gotten...

But as soon as you guys are un-contagious, sure, take me to the scary co-op :_); March 5, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Larissa said...: The indoctrination is painless, don't worry. A few quick snips and you'll see the light...

Natural pedialyte pops could be big.; March 5, 2009 at 12:31 PM

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The Mothership Method

(Or, how to sit down for dinner with your family without completely losing your mind)

It would be great if kids AND parents wanted boiled chicken and baby carrots every night for dinner. But, too bad, we picky parents want spicy, exotic, fun foods, and our kids want, well, sorta lame foods.
Here's the solution: break it down. Serve the dish deconstructed, and let everyone put their own dish together at the table. Sort of like tapas, or smorgasbord, or tacos. Or how in some parts of China you get a bowl of rice, and everything else is in the middle of the table and you take what you want for your own little bowl of rice. That way everyone gets to eat what they want, parents don't have to nag their kids, and kids get to feels some ownership over their meals. Plus, kids get exposed to the look and taste of the foods you hope they will one day love. But it's not just tacos. You'll be amazed at what can be served with the Mothership Method.

Ten Tips to Get Through Dinner Without Having A Nervous Breakdown

1. Accept That Kids Are Picky. No need to freak out on your cooking ability, or look at your kids like there is something wrong with them. It's called "neo-phobia", and it's just how they are, especially from ages 3-6.

2. Serve Meals Broken Down. Even grown-up meals like coconut curry or linguine with clams can be served in their elements, making them more appealing to kids. Grown ups can assemble their own jumble of deliciousness at their own plate while kids take on the pared-down elements.

3. Push if it Works, But Don't Nag If It Doesn't. Some kids are okay with being expected to taste everything on their plate. Others aren't. I think it's okay to push kids -- but not if you're turning dinner into a battlefield.

4. Suggest a Smell. Smelling a new food is easier than tasting it, and can sometimes provide a kid with the information needed to take that scary first bite. But don't confine smelling to new foods. Smell favorites, too, and help them develop their sense of smell by making a game out of it.

5. Don't Ask "Do You Like It?" Instead, try, "What does this remind you of?" or, "Would your cousins like this?" or, "Does this taste salty or sweet?". Asking if they like it or not gives kids too much power and ends the conversation. Besides, we don't care if they like it! We just want them to keep tasting it until it is familiar.

6. Don't Get Frustrated. Imagine being in Taiwan, or Nairobi, or Rome for the first time. Would you eat everything on the local menu? New foods are scary and gross. Our kids need time to learn about the foods that we eat.

7. No SubstitutionsThis is family dinner, not a diner. You, in all your wisdom, have provided foods that are healthy and delicious and appropriate for your children. There is something on the table for them to eat. Period.

8. No Snacks Before Dinner. This can be the hardest with our hectic schedules and hungry kids. But children who come to the table hungry are more likely to eat than cause trouble.

9. Put Peer Pressure To Your Advantage. School children are more likely to accept new foods if the alpha girls in their group accept them. Swap healthy food ideas on playdates.

10. Involve Your Kids In Cooking, Shopping, and Gardening. The more experience kids have handling and preparing a variety of foods, the more likely they are to eventually accept the foods. (But don't get upset if they help you make a complicated wonderful meal, and then refuse to eat it.)