Thank you for sharing this! My newsletter is all about what family dinner actually looks like, so it's fascinating to see the Finnish way of making meals happen. I love the idea of doing dinner when it's convenient, rather than when you're "supposed to."
That's so well said: have meals when it's most convenient. Why do you think American moms carry snacks everywhere and offer them all the time? I almost feel like it's to entertain the child and keep them busy or distracted? For example, I see that happen a lot when one sibling is taken somewhere and the other(s) need to be kept busy - but why not bring some on-to-go activities instead? What do you think is behind this?
We definitely live in a high-snack culture. I’m guilty of always having snacks packed for my kids (and honestly, for myself as well). In my opinion, I think it’s driven by a couple things beyond just the usual need for little tummies to eat something every few hours:
-Overscheduling: many families are balancing so many activities that they might not be heading home to dinner after one class/sports game/etc. and use snacks to tide kids over.
-Keeping busy: I agree snacks are sometimes used just to get through the waiting. I imagine most moms have both snacks AND on-the-go activities in their bags. Sitting patiently is so hard for kids and, from what I’ve read, I think other cultures do a better job of teaching this very important life skill (would love a Scandi Class on this!).
It's such a genius idea to feed kids dinner foods when they are the most hungry, and when you have the most energy for it - and then enjoy calmer evenings without clean-up! Our meals are wildly simply, probably because of the 3 different "diets".
Today, for example, they had an egg sandwich with avocado (my youngest had just avo toast) after school and normally they would all do some type of porridge in the evening, but we also at the same time made baked potatoes (cut in half and roasted in the oven) and I got ready-made falafel and ready-made hummus from our local organic shop to go with it (I'll eat it, let's see who else will eat it; those who don't can't do the porridge). So just super super simple, I don't really cook, I just heat things:-)
In the morning they had cut watermelon & pancakes already made last Friday from the Simple Mills mix (with apple sauce added) and frozen - to last for the week.
Thank you for sharing this! My newsletter is all about what family dinner actually looks like, so it's fascinating to see the Finnish way of making meals happen. I love the idea of doing dinner when it's convenient, rather than when you're "supposed to."
PS... and subscribed to your Substack!
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That's so well said: have meals when it's most convenient. Why do you think American moms carry snacks everywhere and offer them all the time? I almost feel like it's to entertain the child and keep them busy or distracted? For example, I see that happen a lot when one sibling is taken somewhere and the other(s) need to be kept busy - but why not bring some on-to-go activities instead? What do you think is behind this?
We definitely live in a high-snack culture. I’m guilty of always having snacks packed for my kids (and honestly, for myself as well). In my opinion, I think it’s driven by a couple things beyond just the usual need for little tummies to eat something every few hours:
-Overscheduling: many families are balancing so many activities that they might not be heading home to dinner after one class/sports game/etc. and use snacks to tide kids over.
-Keeping busy: I agree snacks are sometimes used just to get through the waiting. I imagine most moms have both snacks AND on-the-go activities in their bags. Sitting patiently is so hard for kids and, from what I’ve read, I think other cultures do a better job of teaching this very important life skill (would love a Scandi Class on this!).
Curious to know what others think.
I started treats on fridays awhile ago and they stopped asking what treat they could have that night before dinner!
It's the best! I wish I had started this a long time ago. It resets the focus and stops the endless "treat" negotiations.
I’m so intrigued!! Just this week I just started thinking I should just move dinner time up to after nap for my two littles. Why not??
I love the suggestion to keep meals simple - what are you typically eating at meal time, if I may ask?
It's such a genius idea to feed kids dinner foods when they are the most hungry, and when you have the most energy for it - and then enjoy calmer evenings without clean-up! Our meals are wildly simply, probably because of the 3 different "diets".
Today, for example, they had an egg sandwich with avocado (my youngest had just avo toast) after school and normally they would all do some type of porridge in the evening, but we also at the same time made baked potatoes (cut in half and roasted in the oven) and I got ready-made falafel and ready-made hummus from our local organic shop to go with it (I'll eat it, let's see who else will eat it; those who don't can't do the porridge). So just super super simple, I don't really cook, I just heat things:-)
In the morning they had cut watermelon & pancakes already made last Friday from the Simple Mills mix (with apple sauce added) and frozen - to last for the week.
Great idea! Are you and your husband eating with your kids or eating later?