Comment Cards let the kids share their opinions about dinner

My boys are picky eaters. While I don’t like to cater to that (and I will write a post sometime about how I handle the picky eater thing), I do enjoy having at least a couple meals a week that everyone loves. I also enjoy trying new recipes, but later it’s hard to remember – did Bobo like that, but Xbot hated it? Did Doodle find it too spicy?

Another problem is that, while I would like the kids’ honest opinions when we try a new recipe, I also want them to learn good table manners — and critiquing dinner at the table is not good manners.

My kids' comment cards from last night's dinner

A few months ago, I created these comment cards.  I write the name of the recipe on the card — I can imagine having problems one day when everyone creatively named a dish differently. The kids fill out, or circle, as many stars (from 1 to 5) as they want to give the dish, circle their initial, and write any comments on the back. For example, Bobo might write that a dish is a little spicy and he would like to only have it on nights that something besides water is available to drink, or Doodle might say that something was good but overly salty.

During dinner, though, they are required to be polite. If they don’t like a new recipe, they can refuse seconds, but they still need to honor me for making them dinner and appreciate my intention. Later, after dinner, they can share their critiques – in writing, on the comment cards, as a solicited opinion.

A happy side effect of the comment cards is that my kids are now excited to try new recipes. “Don’t forget the comment cards, Mommy!” So comment cards to let the kids weigh in with their opinions on new recipes works for me.

Note: If there’s interest, I’ll make a printable of the comment cards, without my kids’ initials, of course.