My ds is 4 1/2 and he definitely has a say in picking the meals.
I shop to a list and a menu plan, it's actually easier for me if dh and ds choose 1 meal each for the week that they like. Dh is usually shepherds pie but ds changes his quite often. Sometimes it's oven fish and home made chips, or home made pizza but lately he's chosen zucchini slice or chicken pie. He's branching out in helping me cook and I think he likes how much grating and egg cracking he gets to do with zucchini slice!
I think it's great that he's involved in what we eat, he understands that treat foods are just that, treat foods, and usually reserved for birthday parties or special occasions and he'll quite often take a piece of fruit over a piece of cake. The more exposure to different foods kids have from young ages the better I think!
I don't cut his food up, haven't for almost a year now, unless he asks for help. We try sit together for most dinners and he does his best to hold his knife and fork the right way and cut his own dinner. We were at my Aunty's place for Easter and a family friend was still cutting up her daughters meals.... she was 6!!! Surely by 6 they should be able to cut up roast veges and turkey????
Oh..... and there's no harm in having them help with the dishes after either!!!!
Ryn, I'm interested in the tea - dinner part. By tea do you mean afternoon tea and if so what time is that...mid afternoon or late afternoon? Then when is dinner? (Sorry just a bit confused because here in Aus tea is what you eat at dinner(night) time).
I think what you're doing sounds great...kids will definitely eat a more varied diet if you involve them with the preparation. My DD is 2.5 and a bit contrary so I don't let her choose as such at the shops, but I remember when DD1 got a bit older she really enjoyed helping me to choose dinner and buy all the things for it, but not so interested in the actual preparation...it has literally been in the last 3 mths (she's 11) that she has suddenly switched on to food preparation (not for want of me trying either) but I think if you can get your DS interested from an early age then that has to be a good thing!
My DS1 is 2.5 yrs old and he loves helping me cook... he will eat a lot better if he is involved too./ he tells me things that need to be put on the shopping list as well... i think this is great and hope he gets more involved soon..
Dr Sears has a theory about allowing kids/toddlers access to the fridge/cupbaord when they are hungry - promotoes independence etc. i like this and am doing it with DS1...
I often give him 2 choices in the morning what he would like for dinner - and he chooses...
i love the idea of a whole day when he dictates what he has - will incorprate that later...
bring on the fully child cooked meals and washing up - i dream of that!
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