One Strategy: Exponential Meal Choices

It is so much easier to cook for yourself and eat foods that you love. Don't feel like cooking, Peanut butter and banana slices on toasted sesame bread rocks. But when you have a family the equation changes. One person loves spicy food, others don't. Couple people absolutely adore avocados and the others can't even look at them let alone eat them. One child loves toasted and crunchy everything other one wants it soft and doughy. Parents visiting, they are vegetarians. Ummm what do you do in this situation? How do you make mealtimes work for you? How does one meal fit all these variables.

Lets briefly get into the nutritive aspects of food. In a nutshell here are 3 main Macro Nutrients namely, Protein, Carbohydrates and Fat that constitute each meal. Lean Protein comes from meats, eggs, tofu and soy. Carbohydrates are found in whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Fats are found in butter, oils, avocado, nuts and cheeses/some dairy products. Now to have a balanced meal your plate should consist of these 3 macros. 

What has helped me keep my sanity are adaptable meals that will fit all these variables like a sofa that turns into a bed, making it multi-purpose. So the workaround solution is to configure one meal with all different options that will please everyone on the table. These meals are both modular and complete. 

Have you ever ordered the taco bowl at Chipotle, just because you did not want too many carbs that day, you had the option to customize it however you like with the choice of meat and beans, with or without hot salsa, rice, cheese, sour cream, avocado etc etc etc. Now bring that concept to your dinner table and problem solved. You can make your own customized plates with one main dish decorated with the toppings that you love and want. My boys absolutely love customizing their own dinners.

Dinner option	Additional Toppings	Main Protein	Carbohydrate	Fat
Antipasto platter	Pickled vegetables, olives, pickled garlic and banana peppers (spicy), Baguette	Cured Meats and Salami	Bread and grilled vegetables	Cheeses and meats
Mixed Chicken and Vegetable soup	Hot sauce, chopped cilantro, soy sauce, garlic bread	Chicken	Vegetables, garlic bread	Butter
Spaghetti  Meatball	Chopped parsley, Parmesan cheese, red pepper flakes, extra drizzle of olive oil, marinara sauce.	Meatballs	Spaghetti	Butter, Avocado, olive oil
Salad and grilled protein	Choice of dressings, choice of carbohydrate (you can pick what you like)	Pick from Tofu or lean meats or steak	Vegetables, risotto, brown rice or dinner rolls	Meats, butter, olive oil
Buttered pasta with cheese	Pesto, pasta sauce, pine nuts, avocado, fresh herbs	Bits of bacon or grilled chicken	Steamed Broccolini or tossed salad, Pasta	Butter
Fajitas	Shredded lettuce, pickled jalepenos, shredded Mexican cheese, tortillas, brown rice, Avocado/guacamole, pico de gallo etc.	Grilled chicken	Sauted onions and bell peppers, lettuce, tortillas, brown rice	Olive oil, cheese, avocado

Hope this gives you ideas to plan some fun and creative family meals that will please your youngest to the oldest audience. Don't forget to leave comments and feedback. Thank you.