Do You Accomidate Every Person in the Family ????

Updated on December 08, 2012
S.D. asks from Peoria, AZ
38 answers

So I was at the grocery store today and came to think what a great question for all you mommys. If you have a so many people in your family 3,4,6+ do you accomidate treats to everyone's liking ? So I have one person who likes this type of cookies , but the other won't eat it....then another child who wants this type, but no one else will eat it. So I am in the ck out lane realizing I am buying 3 separate boxes of cookies for 3 diff people ???? Is this the norm in your family - regarding snacks drinks and cookies ???? too funny !

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H.P.

answers from Houston on

I would. I wouldn't become a short-order cook, but for treats, yeah. That's the point of a treat, right? It's not a treat if it's just someone else's favorite thing. That's like speaking to one in the love language of another.

7 moms found this helpful
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M.P.

answers from Portland on

It's the norm in my family and my daughter's too. Doing this recognizes and respects each person as an individual.

5 moms found this helpful
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L.F.

answers from San Francisco on

Yes. I buy my kids what they like and my husband what he likes. Life is to short to not enjoy it. As for dinner I usually make something different for everyone because I have super picky eaters. But every other meal, everyone eats the same.

4 moms found this helpful

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S.G.

answers from Grand Forks on

I do try to accomodate everyone. I can't imagine buying a treat for one child and not the other. If it was too much for me to buy everyone the kind they like, then I just wouldn't buy any, or I would try to find something they all like.
I'm not talking about everyone getting their favourite either. Just as long as everyone gets something they like or will eat.

5 moms found this helpful
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P.R.

answers from Cleveland on

sure with easy to buy stuff like that... Little things can make them happy. What a bummer if you don't like your "treat"... Not much of a treat then!

5 moms found this helpful
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H.M.

answers from Dallas on

Yes I do!! Growing up we did not have many treats and when it came to food my mom cooked what my dad liked and it did not matter if anyone else liked it or not. If we didn't like it we would go without. So I don't do that to my kids. I try not to make them eat stuff they really don't like. And when it comes to treats yes I try to get something they all like cause like someone else said it's not a treat if they don't like it. Soft drinks are the same way. We usually have ones that each of us will drink. And the boys usually get to decide what they want to eat. We don't make large meals. And usually have something on hand for the youngest is he doesn't want what we are having and a lot of times by the time me and my husband eat the youngest has already eaten or should have already eaten. And he eats little bits at a time not a lot at once anyways. Maybe if I had more to cook for it would be different. And my oldest helps a lot with the cooking.

4 moms found this helpful
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L.M.

answers from Peoria on

No, I cook what I want to for dinner - sometimes they like and mostly they don't. If they chose every time it would be junk all the time. They can eat it or they can not. It's up to them. But that is the meal.

As for treats at the grocery store, I try to find things they will both like but don't cater to them. I'm usually driven more by what is on sale than what they ask for.

We also don't buy cookies - we like to bake them. You can bake one batch with each kid that they like and freeze them. If you put it in their lunch frozen it will be defrosted by lunch time. Much cheaper, more fun for all, they will last forever in the freezer and everyone gets what they like.

4 moms found this helpful
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S.E.

answers from Wichita Falls on

My kids are so happy on the rare occasion that I buy cookies, they have never complained it wasn't their favorite. Just thankful that I bought them at all.

4 moms found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from St. Louis on

nope! Nor am I a short-order cook. :)

I make sure my husband has his diabetic needs covered. I make sure my peanut-allergy son has Sunbutter. I make sure my older son/I have a jar of peanut butter. & that's it.

I make sure there are choices for all in the house, but I do not buy individual preferences. & yes, I get a lot of complaints. Tuff Tookie. When they're footing the bill for themselves, they'll have 1st choice. :)

4 moms found this helpful
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J.B.

answers from Boston on

Yes - I try to make sure that each person has a couple of things that he or she likes and/or can eat. So that usually means 3 types of cereal, 2 flavors of granola bars, cheese sticks and baby bell cheeses, sun butter and peanut butter (one likes to eat with a friend at the peanut-free table), sesame bagels and plain bagels, green apples and red apples, veggies to cook and veggies to serve raw (one can't eat raw veggies), two flavors of juice boxes, OJ with pulp and without, and something that the child who won't eat beef or pork can cook for dinner. At the end of the day, I only eat foods that I actually like so why shouldn't my kids (within reason)?

3 moms found this helpful
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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

I get what I can or want, according to my budget.
My kids do not "expect" me to get their every preference.
But I know what my family likes or not, including my Husband.
Whatever we have or that I cook, its fine.
I don't drive myself nuts over it or accommodating every single taste or food preference in my family.

3 moms found this helpful
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V.P.

answers from Columbus on

I cook only one dinner and try to vary it so everyone gets their favorites. But for snacks or packed lunches, I accommodate. It doesn't raise the bill really because if only one person is eating something it lasts twice as long as if two people are eating it.

3 moms found this helpful
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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

Its not a treat if you hate it!!!

Aka... Of course!

It also means the cookies (icecream, broccoli, etc.) last 3x as long.

3 moms found this helpful

T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

I alternate, so no, everyone does not have their favorite flavor all the time, but everyone gets their favorite some of the time!

3 moms found this helpful

T.N.

answers from Albany on

Of course, I want them each to feel equally special.

:)

3 moms found this helpful
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M.K.

answers from Dallas on

Of course! Eveyone has their own taste. Why would I buy a bag of chips that one child liked and tell the other one too bad you
Don't like those. I accommodate the family when it comes to snacks and fruit and drinks.

3 moms found this helpful
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M.B.

answers from Austin on

I don't want to sound selfish, but frankly, I made the choices in the family on what to buy at the grocery store.....

My kids learned to eat what I liked.... if they didn't like it, tough..... I didn't make separate meals or allow them to fix a bowl of cereal instead of eating what I prepared... they got NOTHING to eat until the next meal.

For the most part, I bought things based on what hubby and I liked...... and hubby eats pretty much anything!

Consequently, I have 4 kids that pretty much eat anything..... (yeah, 2 kids don't like peas... . but they ate them anyway.)

There were things I didn't make them eat, like sauerkraut... but for some reason, they all love sauerkraut!

I also didn't spend a lot of money on snack food......

3 moms found this helpful

R.B.

answers from La Crosse on

when it comes to cooking.. nope. The younger ones will eat what I cook. If the older 3 want something else they can heat up left over or make a package of ramien noodles if they want to.. I wont do it for them thou.

As for treats..
I rotate it. I only buy treats once a week... with 5 kids they only last a couple days. My kids don't have too many treats that they don't like, but have some they like better than others. Each week I will get one of the kids favorites, that way once a month they all get their favorites. ( the younger two will eat anything, but on their week I let them pick it out, thankfully so far they both agree on the same package!)

Also thankfully their favorites are all different also... ice cream, cookies, fruit snacks, crackers and string cheese.. so we get a variety.

2 moms found this helpful
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I.G.

answers from Seattle on

Nope. I don't usually buy cookies to begin with - we prefer baking them at home.
We have the same rules for treats as for other food - you can eat it if you want, or leave it if you don't. I am neither a short order cook nor a personal shopper for every individual in my family - but then I only have one kid, so I think that makes it easier...
Good luck!

2 moms found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

Forget the cookies - I don't even walk down the cookie aisle in the store.
Around our house it's apples, oranges, grapes and bananas.
(And peaches and blue berries (off our own bushes) when they are in season).

2 moms found this helpful
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M.S.

answers from Portland on

Yes, I do. But, I don't normall do it all at the same time. I usually buy one or two things that most people will like and call it good. If its something special, like a party or something, then I will try to make sure we have all of them at one time. I do think its funny how each person has their own tastes and like and dislikes.

2 moms found this helpful
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K.L.

answers from Washington DC on

As far as snack foods and stuff I put in lunch boxes, yes, I buy what they'll eat. I only have 2 kids so it's no big deal. One likes oreos, the other chocolate chip - I buy both. One likes strawberries, the other apples - I buy both. One like vanilla yogurt, the other likes strawberry - I buy both. They both like turkey and cheese, but one likes it on bread and the other prefers is rolled up. It's not a big deal for me to prepare their lunches for school this way.

I guess I look at it this way - if I want them to eat fruit then why not just buy the 2 kinds of fruit and have them in the house? Same with yogurt. If I'm going to buy 10 containers of yogurt for school this week it's just as easy to buy 5 vanilla and 5 strawberry. And cookies? Well, what's the point of eating a cookie if it's not the one you REALLY want? :)

2 moms found this helpful
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K.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

Nope, not at all. I stock the pantry and fridge, and they eat what I've provided and what I cook. Every once in a while, one of them will ask for something specific, so I might get that. But I don't think I'd ever buy different snacks for the different kids and/or husband. I also don't "stock" cookies or snacks. Unfortunately in my house, if I kept those things in stock, *I'D* be the one eating them all!!

On the other hand, I can't tell you how many times my pre-teen has looked in the fridge and pantry and said "Ugh! There's nothing GOOOOD in here!" I guess fruit doesn't count as a "good" snack! Hahaha!

2 moms found this helpful

A.M.

answers from Kansas City on

absolutely not! the only way we try to accomodate everyone is, our immediate family (meaning my mom and her children) try to make sure everyone can be there. haven't missed that yet. but we bring a variety of foods, and there's always plenty to eat so if someone doesn't like something - no big deal! we also don't make mom do all the baking/cooking - although she loves it and will spend DAYS making everyone's "favorites" lol.

so sorry but, if you're talking about SMALL children - MAYBE try to accomodate, if that's what you CHOOSE to do, because it's christmas - but, if you're talking about grown children being this picky? no way!!

***
oh wait. i totally misread your post.

i will leave that so i don't get accused of changing my answer- but i'm changing my answer lol.

we don't buy a lot of snacks - CERTAINLY not a box per person. we may get a box a week (usually it's one kind of sweet per week, and it might be ice cream, or cookies, or whatever) and it's usually something we can agree on.

if it was the holidays and you're talking about your christmas get-together and you want to make it special and magical, then see above. if you're talking about going this nuts over regular-every-day groceries - HE** NO!

treats are "treats". they're not staples, they're not required. they're also a huge waste of money for the most part - everyone is not ENTITLED to get their very own personalized stash of junk food.

2 moms found this helpful

A.C.

answers from Huntington on

Honestly...no, because pretty much my kids will eat anything.
The only time we really run into this situation is regarding nuts. I love nuts in cookies, brownies, etc. so I will bake a portion with nuts and the rest without since nobody else in the family can stand them. Other than that, the whole family is pretty happy with whatever.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.T.

answers from New York on

My kids weren't all that picky, everyone likes Oreos, we didn't buy many drinks. Sure, now that they are both teens, my daughter likes different granola bars than my son (not a problem) and she likes Chobani - which I'm wiling to spend the money on for her since she's mostly vegetarian while my son has to eat the store brand yogurt. I probably wouldn't be so accommodating about junk food, and just because one kind isn't somebody's favorite doesn't mean they can't eat them.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.O.

answers from Detroit on

6 people and we all eat different meals, usually. Talk about nuts. But it's a kind of go with the flow sort of thing...just works out. If they don't want something that's made, then they can have cereal or whatever. I am not going to scream at 6 people to eat the same thing and then have everybody whining with hunger before bed. It's not worth it. I'd go crazy. Cereal is ALWAYS an option, and if they are really hungry, they take it. Or nibble some cheese or fruit, whatever. As long as it's healthy and we're meeting nutrient groups, I don't care!

Snacks? No, I just buy whatever and since snacks are rare and a treat (we are always out and I can't get to the store easily) they are happy with literally ANYTHING. Drinks, too. We only ever have water or milk but if there is juice, they love anything.

1 mom found this helpful

A.R.

answers from St. Louis on

I do not accommodate everyone all the time. When we do not bake our own treats, we find a few snacks enjoyable for all of us. When it comes to meals, they have to eat what I cook, and I try to cook as healthy as I can. I like this way because the more choices I give to husband and kids, the more spoiled they become, and I rather to spend more money on fruits and vegetables than treats or snacks.

1 mom found this helpful
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T.H.

answers from Kansas City on

I alternate too, although my kids are still young enough that they aren't incredibly picky. My son will eat about anything that is sugary, so he's happy with it all! :) But, as far as me, hubby and daughter go, we switch it up and it works.

1 mom found this helpful
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T.M.

answers from Philadelphia on

All 6 of us like the same things, for the most part. If i happen to see something someone really likes, i will get it. Treat, cereal, snacks, drinks... all 6 of us are pretty identical :)

1 mom found this helpful

A.G.

answers from Dallas on

We're like Sarah and Robert E.

I don't keep sweets in the house, so on the rare occasion that there is something sweet to eat at home, everyone is excited, no matter what it is! :)

1 mom found this helpful
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A.V.

answers from Washington DC on

Mostly and within reason. If I know that DH and SD like Oreos but nobody else eats them, I'll get Oreos. We don't do a lot of "treats" so when something is requested by one or another, we usually accommodate. Now, if that treat goes uneaten, then I am unlikely to accommodate much in the future. Don't ask me for ice cream and let it get freezer burn. You won't get it again. But if DD asks for one of those tiny little cups of sorbet and actually eats it? Treat well treated. Key word for me being "treat". It's not a pantry staple. We just sent SD chocolate at college, so yeah, we still treat them even when they are not here. :)

1 mom found this helpful

C.V.

answers from Columbia on

To a certain extent, but for the most part, I try to find things that EVERYONE likes and buy only those things.

I wouldn't buy three separate boxes of cookies.

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C.N.

answers from Baton Rouge on

I bought ONE of each person's favorite thing. Food was NOT, however, reserved for one person. I just made sure there was at least one thing for everyone to enjoy.
And I didn't buy snack food all the time either. An assortment of fruit would satisfy just as well as several different kinds of cookies.

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D.B.

answers from Minneapolis on

yes, i buy what different people like. i try to get at least one snack per person that i know they will like. the way i look at it is if i'm buying 3 boxes of cookies for 3 people, they will last 3 times longer. and then i don't have the fights and accusations that "Jimmy had 8 cookies and I only got 2!". If Jimmy blows through his entire box in 2 days, that's his problem. And I won't have to worry about him taking Sally's if he doesn't like them.

My only exception to this is meals. I do not accomodate. I just break everything down to the lowest common denominator. Instead of making a casserole, I'll saute the chicken, boil the noodles, steam the veggies, and put a sauce on the side. Instead of a burrito I'll put out chicken, a bowl of beans, a plate of totillas, shredded cheese and the trimmings. That way if you want it all mashed together you can do that. But if you are a 'food seperatist' like my son, you can eat each food one at a time as you see fit.

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M.G.

answers from Kansas City on

I have a son that will not drink anything but milk and water. He is very picky about what he eats, no chocolate (very hard to believe I'm related to this kid, let alone that I gave birth to him!!), no cookies. The only candy he'll eat is green apple Jolly Ranchers. He'll eat vanilla ice cream and strawberry fruit roll ups. My 2nd son will try anything sweet at least once, do I by the special things for kid # 1, heck yes.

M

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H.L.

answers from Portland on

Yes, but with cereal. I buy two boxes and thank my stars that they are generally good eaters outside of that.

M.D.

answers from Washington DC on

Someimes My husband will request a certain kind of cookie, and the kids don't love it, so I'll get it sometimes. As far as treats, we don't buy too many of them and we normally make them.

I get fruit juice boxes for two kids, and yoohoo's for the other.

So sometimes. It's easy enough and makes everyon happy...so I don't have a problem buying the things my family will eat.

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