Beans for Dinner Anyone?

i always try to make cheap meals that i know the kids will like,so as not to waste food,i always make my kids try stuff and if they really don't like it then they don't have to eat it,coz when i was younger my mum made me eat some revolting things,and i always said that i'd never do that to my kids

When my husband and I first got married, his 12 year old brother came to live with us so he could finish school before moving with his parents to California. As newly weds we had a limited budget for food. I cooked supper one night and the brother decided he didn't like the beans I made. I told him fine, then he would have nothing because I could not make separate meals for each person. He went to bed crying (yep, a crying twelve year old)because his mother ALWAYS made him something special. I let him cry and refused to give in. He came out saying he was ready to eat what I made, so would I heat it up. I said no. I had worked all day and was not going to make a second supper. He ate it cold. To this day some forty years later, my beans are the only ones he will eat because I make them special. The special ingredient? An iron will that refused to give in to a kid. His mother never could figure out what that special ingredient was.

We always had ours with rice as another said, but no I do not think you are being bad, how old are your children? I think that no matter an age that they should be explained to.. Not in a scarry way, like we are broke, that makes them worry about going to be living on the street. In a suttle understanding way, like money is tight right now, I love you and want the best for you, your health is very important to me, these beans help your bodies grow they are very healthy and also they are helping me by being affordable to do something I want to do in taking care of you, meaning feeding you.. We are not completly poor and sad, but true can get some help with food. This is how I explained this to mine, along with other things. I have not treated them as adults, but have keep them in the loop. Mine are 11, 10, & 5 the older 2 are boys, and this method has helped in so many ways. They don't hesitate to come talk to me about anything, my 11 son started puberity and to most boys, comming to mom would be hard, but he came right to me. He values my thoughts and opinions. Heading into ruthless teenager years, this I am thankful for. For I think with their help and our love together that they won't feel they haft to rebel as I did as a kid. I felt my mom never talked to us about things, my dad stcreamed at us all the time and expected to say I'm sorry and it all go away. My mom didn't talk to us about anything, we was all girls and when I started I thought I was dieing. So, I decided that I'd give my kids, the truth, talks, explainations, choices, thoughts, ideas, things they can use in the future. Something I did also when they was like 2-5 and didn't really understand to get them to eat green beans and water, is I told them the super heros loves it, and that they dropped them off for them. The funniest thing and I hated coke for it was, we walked into Walmart and I had convinced the kids, that Batman and Superman drank Dasani water you know with the blue label. There was this coke robot, Keep in mind coke makes this water too, my baby he was almost 3 says to the robot, he don't like coke, the super heros drink water, it makes them strong. This robot insist on telling them, NO THEY DON'T they drink coke, I said no they use to drink Dasani water, but I'll get my letter of advice in to make sure they try some new spring water. I was so mad someone should never argue that horriable fact with a child, he could tell it was important for their health. I hope this helps you and don't worry, you are a Great Mom, seaking out to find your answer. That is what makes us Great, is we put forth effort to learn to give them more love.

It sounds like your kids are spoiled. There are probably too fat anyways so missing a meal would not hurt them and probably make them appreciate the food that they do have. If you want to be their short order cook go-ahead to make them something different, but I think you are foolish in caving in to their demands and being manipulated.

You could make something IN ADDITION to the beans, I'm thinking, maybe to at least give them a little more variety. Or give them 1/2 a plate of beans, and 1/2 a plate of something (cheap) they like. Or a second course that they like. By the way, ramen, spaghetti, mac & cheese, and home-made chilli are also all really good cheap ways to provide dinner for your family! (I'm a college student - hence I have some experience with trying to make cheap meals). I do think it's important that they eat what's in front of them, though (unless it's something truly disgusting - like liver & onions or something!) even if they don't necessarily like it. Sometimes it's just tough love, right?

My son really does not like beans just in a bowl. However, if I put them on a hot dog bun with or without a hot dog and throw some cheese on it, he is all for it. I say give them a little variety to spice it up a bit and serve it less conventional and see if that works. I would never cook a separate meal for my kids but I certainly don't mind sweetening the deal a little. It is a bit more work for me but really saves a ton of time fighting at the dinner table.

If kids are not eating, you must try to make something more. Not just beans. Something more with veggies like simple carrot, cabbage, broccoli or something that is affordable for you. In my house we make about 2 veggie side dish and if they did not like one, they can eat the dinner rice with the other. I am against children not eating and refusing to taste a dish. My kids eat what I make and so I am happy. In case, they do not eat dinner, I would ask them to eat a banana or drink a glass of milk before bed. No special cooking for them alone!

you are so right that beans are healthy!But it's the same that the kids don't like them in China.I like them,anyway.Maybe you could try nuts,although it would be a little bit expensive...your children might like that.

I think you should let your kids spend some time with my 2 1/2 year old daughter...she is by no means fussy...she loves her beans - she would've loved to have been at your place for dinner, I think it's one of her fave foods...she even likes green beans (fresh ones too)!! My suggestion is the same as what some others have written & try to mix the beans with something they like or make it fun for them so they will eat something. Hope it all goes well with whatever you decide to do.

I'd make the beans sweet, kids usually love sweet things. also if they don't want eat send them to bed hungry they'll appreciate food the next day. you can always tell them that if they don't eat it for dinner that they'll have it for breakfast, see how fast they'll eat it then.

Beans are good for health and they make the dish tasty as well.I love beans and anything prepared out of it,here i must admit whenever mom prepares anything with beans i finish it more and often my brothers complain that nothing is left for them.I guess your kids are not used to it,tell them it is very tasty and healthy and convince them to have it.Never tell them it is because of budget problem you go for it.In beans there are different varieties like french beans,double beans.I like all varieties.

LOL beans i love them with mash and sausages it was one of my favourite's. I really had forgotten about them till i seen your post. I don't think your mean at all beans are a tasty nutritious food you should be happy there eating them. I remember when I was younger and money was tight much tighter than now and all we would have to eat was potatoes and if we didn't eat them we got nothing lol goes to show how times have changed :)

Beans are seeds that contain everything necessary to bring a new plant to life, so they are nutritional powerhouses for us as well. They provide vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals, and are very high in fiber. They are good sources of the essential fatty acids and are the best plant source of protein. Most supermarkets carry a wide variety of dried and canned beans. They are equally nutritious. Dried beans are usually more economical, but they take longer to prepare. Canned beans are more convenient. It's your choice. Try them in these easy recipes.

i love beans... but at night!!! mmmmm, no thanks. those are not good for stomach... at night i rather to have some fruits... specialy apples, these are not too expensive and it`s better some fruit than something your kids`d like.

If they don't like it, I say send them to bed hungry. It's not like they are allergic, they just don't want to eat it. My dad had beans and cornbread for dinner five nights a week growing up. They were poor. They ate it and were thankful for it. My mom made dinner for us plenty of times when my sister and I were younger, and if we didn't like it, we didn't eat dinner. And it didn't take us long to start eating what was in front of us.

i don't think its mean at all. When my kids were younger, it was what I served when I served it. If they didn't eat then they didn't get a snack. They didn't get anything till the next meal. They had to at least try a bite of it before they said they didn't like it.

hi crys7881 hi again,.well I have never seen kids who didn't like chili so grab a few things and turn the beans into chili con carne which should be delicious with good old cornbread, just throw in some tomato sauce and chili spice, and stir and yell chili kids come and get it. If you have a little hamburger, cook it,and stir it in the beans and tomato sauce and chili, and you are good to go for chili con carne. sure beats the beef and veggie stir fry we had here for dinner at Gold Crest they use rice as the good low cost healthy fare, wish they would serve chili I am so tired of rice I could s cream. now chili everybody loves good chili. even kids.

That is a tough one. I know if I made something like that my kids would never eat it...at least 2 of them wouldn't. There have been times when I have made something and told them that in some places this is what people eat everyday! And, what would they do if there wasn't anything else to eat? I have to agree with some of the other posters and say make a little rice but include the beans with it. Who knows they just might like it.

Hi crys If your kids, does not like beans, then try with something else which they like and that vegetables is within your means. Try greens, carrots and sprouts which are cheap and nutritous and easy to cook.

hi crys, beans are good we know. you are right to give them beans. no consideration of tight money, they have to eat beans for beans are healthy food. i know some people do not like eating beans. but can they imagine that beans are so delicious if they are in hunger and have no something to eat. and one more tip for you that you can make beans in more ways.