Trying to fix food for everyone in the house can be a nightmare, especially if you have picky eaters; I’m not just talking about the kids either. Your children have very strong taste buds; your parents, depending on their age, may have lost much of their taste. (The longer you live, the more taste buds die.)
The easiest thing for you is to stick to basics and then rely on condiments and extras to make everyone happy. For example, older people put pepper on their food; most children don’t like pepper. Don’t put any pepper and let everyone pepper their own food.
Another example, older people like onions; most children do not. Sautee onions and have them on the table so they can be mixed into food. Rely on basic foods: baked chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, etc. Have extras on the table like salsa to spice it up for anyone who wants a little extra flavor.
Save the fancy dishes for you and your spouse. Otherwise, you may spend all day cooking and no one will eat your food. Older people often have trouble with digestion and can’t eat rich foods. Young children usually don’t like rich foods.
Also, remember, older people may have trouble chewing and young children definitely have trouble chewing. Select tender cuts of meat or pre-cut the meat for everyone.
Finally, if possible, give your parents a cabinet all to themselves and a place in your freezer where they can store special foods they like. No one is allowed in their cabinet without their permission. Also, you may want to buy a little refrigerator for their room, so they can store drinks or snacks without having to come in and out of the kitchen all day.
Temperature (Is everyone comfortable?)
In general, the older people get, the colder they get. In general, the closer women get to 50, the hotter they get, which can create a huge problem. Pregnant women are also hot all the time.If you don’t want to spend your days fighting and fixing broken thermostats, agree to a few basic rules. The older people in the house need to agree to wear long sleeves or sweaters; you need to agree not to turn the thermostat below 75 degrees.
The place at the table farthest away from the vent should belong to the older folks and the cold natured children. The thermostat should be adjusted so that it is not blowing cold air directly on older parents when they are socializing with the family. (They need socialization and this often makes them feel unwelcome and they retreat to their room.)