I am always amazed at people who eat like this--especially when they have children. I would be starving for some real cooked food. Also gets me when people cook enough to serve about half the people there to eat. Years ago we spent several days with a friend & thought we'd starve to death.

 

So..what is their triubles ??:huh:No job or money or is it they just figured you would bring food stuff and they wouldn't need to feed you or spend their money. Do they always live like this and what did your son say when (or if) you asked them about the food situation.

 

Rockpile,
Oh goodness I know you have made such efforts with good eating habits yourself...what an awful experience! One person's idea of plenty is not mine either! I believe in a full pantry, freezer and fridge. I am sorry you weren't prepared but I have been there too! I mean you did ask in advance? Frustrating!

My one daughter doesn't cook....I do when I get there! I bring bring what I can after arriving unprepared just once. My other daughter cooks wonderfully but never has enough despite what she thinks so...contribution is necessary there also . I think the hard lesson here is to always bring your own healthy food and perhaps by sharing yours she may learn something. At the very least you are backing up your healthy habits and don't have to eat junk food.

 

Sounds like time for cooking lessons for DIL...maybe a cookbook with really simple meals in it.
So sorry you had to deal with that. I hate it when I go visit someone and they don't have decent food (or enough for everyone) to eat.

 

Is your son interested in learning to cook? That may be best for him esp. since he has high cholesterol. My son cooks from scratch, my DIL does not cook and has no interest. I could never get my DD interested in cooking. Her husband is a good cook. She has recently started to cook more but should have paid attention while growing up. She called me once from the store, said she wanted to cook a roast and asked me what she needed. I said "a roast"...just couldn't help myself. My husband cooks but pretty much likes to fix breakfast. I take care of the major cooking/canning, etc.
I always figured if at least one person cooks in a family, that's good enough. If no one cooks, then it is a problem that I'm not sure how to fix.

 

Ok they have plenty of money for food.I don't think any of them know how to really cook.Our DS will ask us over for BBQ. Never any Vegatables Plenty of Meat and Beer.Like I told my wife that just isn't a Meal to me as matter fact it makes me sick eating this way.I guess the only thing to do is bring plenty of Fruits and Vegatables when we go.

I've alway had to have my Meats and Vegatables but in the past I enjoyed too much plus plenty of Fats,Starches and Sugar.

I really don't know how to approach them on this to where they will listen.

big rockpile

 

Ok they have plenty of money for food.I don't think any of them know how to really cook.Our DS will ask us over for BBQ. Never any Vegatables Plenty of Meat and Beer.Like I told my wife that just isn't a Meal to me as matter fact it makes me sick eating this way.I guess the only thing to do is bring plenty of Fruits and Vegatables when we go.

I've alway had to have my Meats and Vegatables but in the past I enjoyed too much plus plenty of Fats,Starches and Sugar.

I really don't know how to approach them on this to where they will listen.
big rockpile

Give 'em time. They might come to a decision about healthy eating on their own. That happened to my kids, now age 36. They used to eat nothing but pizza, day and night. Or chips and salsa. No veggies. No fruits. One day I went to visit them and here they are eating a healthy meal complete with everything. I ask: what's up? I think they had a Moment of Revelation about Aging and Health. They must have decided they weren't going to live very long eating the way they were. Hey, now they don't even want to eat my homemade cookies anymore - maybe just one - cuz there's fat and calories etc. in them!!

 

You're right, Rockpile. Just load your vegetables and fruit in the truck with you next time you go to supplement what they offer. The children would enjoy them, I'm sure. And maybe they'll start asking mom to get them at the store.

 

A few years ago we gave a new daughter in law a cook book for Christmas. She says what do I need this for? lol Cooking wasn't in her life.
Maybe your son and wife should watch a show called, You are what you eat. That would get them.

 

How far away are you? Can you grow a little extra to bring with you?

I think the key is to come and teach the little ones how to do it. Make it fun.

Bring a tomato plant in a pot and teach the kids how to water it. Once they have learned how a plant is like a pet and get the excitement, they may want to do more.

Since they eat dips, how about bringing sliced carrots, grape tomatoes, brocolli, cauliflower--you know: whatever you have in the garden or is very cheap at that time at the market.

If you teach the young ones to appreciate a good meal, they will clamor for more!

 

Yep, I like MidTNmama's idea. What a strange lot they are. Next time (if there is one), plan to take food; healthy food. Plan on doing the cooking and speak up - "Were you planning on a lunchtime meal today? Otherwise we brought stuff to make if you'd prefer."

 

I am already praying for a DIL that knows how to cook for my 14 year old son, He has to have his "country supper" as he calls it. He loves butter beans, peas, corn bread, corn and a meat item! He will always say "mom, I love it when you cook me a big country supper" But I am also teaching all my kids to cook, right now he cooks supper 1 night a week and my DD cooks 1 night a week.

 

BBQ's and long visits are a great reason to bring a dish. You don't have to bring a grocery bag of items but if you make a big bowl of salad with the works or take what you need to make stuffed peppers or whatever it is you happen to like. Then when they "cook" their meal put yours together also and just add it to the table. If you don't make a show of it but just treat it like a gift to the host for having you over than it should go over fine. Do it often enough and they might even start to like what you make or bring and start learning how to make it themselves.

Nothing to bring up really. Just take a dish because you're grateful for the invitation.

 

I've seen studies where they look at the hearts of 18 year olds who have died from accidents. They already see alarmingly high levels of plaque on the artery walls of these kids. I remember as a teenager, I would go to McDonalds and order two DOUBLE quarterpounders WITH CHEESE, and not think anything of it. Now, I don't eat like that, and have actually lost about 17-18 pounds since Thanksgiving. It's scary how our country eats.

 

Ok they have plenty of money for food.I don't think any of them know how to really cook.Our DS will ask us over for BBQ. Never any Vegatables Plenty of Meat and Beer.Like I told my wife that just isn't a Meal to me as matter fact it makes me sick eating this way.I guess the only thing to do is bring plenty of Fruits and Vegatables when we go.

I've alway had to have my Meats and Vegatables but in the past I enjoyed too much plus plenty of Fats,Starches and Sugar.

I really don't know how to approach them on this to where they will listen.

big rockpile

Hey BRP- how about just giving your son and/or DIL a reminder of your former eating habits, and that is why you have to eat as you do now !! Tell 'em you've got to have more than chips & dip ! Ask what you can bring. Take control of the situation. Not tying to offend you, but "MAN UP" !!!

 

how about a gift subscription to a good cooking type magazine that is really simple..that will come on a regular basis..and maybe your "plant a row for the hungry" should go to your son's family this year?

 

another thought...say take over some say rhubarb with a recipe and a few needed ingredients and ask if they would like help preparing it..and make sure they are seeing how it is done..some people just have no clue

 

I don't think the problem has anything to do with knowing how to cook. I keep telling my kids "if you can read and follow directions you can cook" that's how I learned, nobody "taught" me, although I did teach them growing up. And yet, their cupboards and frige have nothing in them but crap. I couldn't prepare a meal in either of their houses unless I brought the ingredients, and they're all in their late 30's. The frustrating part is that is NOT how they were raised. I've always grown a garden, canned and made "real" meals when they were growing up, still do.
Groceries come up here once a week on the barge. If that barge is one day late the store shelves are empty of milk, eggs, fresh produce, and very few have food stored at home. I can't imagine what would happen if the barge didn't show up at all and I just don't get it!
The silliest situation was when I was invited to friends for a holiday dinner "down south" and my friend panicked because she'd forgotten to "buy some mashed potatoes"!!! I'd never heard of such a thing, went to the store, bought a bag of spuds and made up a batch of garlic mashed. Everyone around the table raved 'cause they had never tasted HOMEMADE mashed potatoes - really, true story!
DD who lives north of Seattle has 8 hungry teenagers. I've been trying for years to get through to her. A couple years ago I spent the holidays down there during a big snow storm. We were stranded in her home for 3 days by which time she had no milk, eggs, produce etc. Awwww, but there's still hope for us all, look at what she just sent me!!! Sometimes it just takes a while. I'm so excited and wish I were down there to dig in the dirt with them.

 

I never cooked til I got married. My mum was the one on charge of th ekitchen! I must have learned thru osmosis! Although I did bake a lot before I married the "real Foor" was always done by my mum. Take the foods you'd eat and see if the GKids will chomp down on them. I am amazed at how many people/kids nowadays have never eaten a decent homecooked meal! Then they say htye don't know how but I feel it is just laziness. Take your food there and take it home. Let them suffer their own consequences. You might find the GKids like it so much they might start demanding real food!

 

I never really cooked untill this past year. Oh I could make mac n cheese and bake stuff but really cook? nope. Didn't have a clue. I got myself a subscription to taste of home magazine....thier recipies have never gone wrong! I love love love it. I try new things all the time now and the directions are so easy and the recipies don't have a million and one ingrediants you have to buy either.

 

The other day my hubby and I went to see about a job, another offer on island and by the time we were done, it was dinner time when we got back to your home. Our boys, 12 and 14 had dinner on the table! I had worked all day prior to the meetings so you can imagine my delight! My older son made half the dinner, the younger one the other half. As we sat down to eat I thanked them both and told them how lovely it was. My older son told me he does not expect to meet someone who can cook like I do, so he had better learn everything now. He has been cooking for years. Now he wants to be shown everything. He went to stay with a friend for a few days, came back and was disgusted! I was so surprised, as he said all they eat is meat....and he exclaimed...THAT IS NOT A MEAL! So I think kids will actually help if you bring the side items like fruit and vegies.... They will enjoy them enough to maybe encourage the parents. I like giving my own recipes out to my daughters...who's boyfriends have thanked me....very cute. A Cookbook or a recipe card file with some recipes in it is also nice. I always travel with food!

 

Share a website like this one:
http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2007/12/alphabetical-listing-of-recipes.html
If they own a crockpot, dinner can be VERY EASY!

 

I made each of my daughters, my brother and my son cookbooks one year for Christmas after my DIL asked for some recipes and how to do them. I included little family stories along with each persons favorites, and old family recipes with "reminicences" of that person who made it. That was 14 yrs. ago, and they still use those recipe books more than any others. My now ex-DIL also called me a couple of years ago and asked if I could make her another copy. She lost hers in a move. I had tried to teach them as they grew up how to cook, they all learned a few basics, but it took getting out on their own for awhile before they started really "getting back to their roots".

 

Take your fruits and veggies with you and let the kids make kabobs. If they don't have meat to use for them just make veggie or and fruit kabobs. I love veggies made on the grill and I have found that most younger people like fixing them with what they want on them. Make it like a marsh mellow roast. Or a large stir fry of veggies. Everyone can learn. Sam
Heck now I am thinking what will go for supper.

 

Personally I would give the mom (DIL) a break and take stuff to throw in a crock pot one day and throw on the grill another...

If she has 5 kids she might want your son to step up to the plate and help with meals when his parents are there...

There may be a division of labor issue..just saying...