Recipe(tried): Dinnertime Rules

Rachicakes,

I have had similar problems, but the solution was not different recipes, but different rules. For years, my husband would not be in the mood for whatever I was cooking, and suggest going out. I put a lot of meals into the refrigerator and then eventually threw them out. Not surprisingly, the kids acted the same way, but of course everybody wanted something different, so dinner was an ordeal.

I eventually got him to recognize that the time for he or the boys to make meal suggestions was before I went grocery shopping. Once the meal is cooked and served, the appropriate response is "thanks for making dinner". Once he realized that he had to model the behavior he expected from the kids, life became much better.

I ask everybody for dinner suggestions once a week, and everybody gets something they really like during the next week. If you just cannot stand the meal that is served, you can prepare something for yourself 1 hr. AFTER dinner is over. I take suggestions for improving recipes, but not whining and complaining. I'm trying to collect a month of recipes so that nobody gets tired of their "favorite" meal. Hope this helps.