Why is it we prefer fast foods to home cooked?  They smell good from the car window as we pass those places that sell them.  We are a generation that demands immediate gratification and the prices as well as the ready to eat offerings are most appealing.  We want what we see or in this case smell and we want it now!

When Mom's do take the time to cook a good meal, the kids may be responsible for the clean-up detail.  That doesn't really appeal to any one, much less teens.  Mom's that cook regularly will have an advantage over Mom's that seldom cook.  They learn to be frugal with purchasing and select foods that can be converted into a combined dish that is tasty as well as appealing to look at.  This really appeals to the family budget in the current economy.

Mom's job is to make it appeal to each individual family member.  Sometimes a one-dish meal with a toss green salad will meet every ones qualifications.  Depending on the main dish, a fruit salad may be a better choice.

Every Mom knows her families preferences and will adjust her meal plan to what she knows is healthy and pleasing.  She will seek to be economically conservatively and provide a meal that is satisfying as well as filling.

I always judge a meal by the amount of contrasting color that is present when the meal is presented.  I never want to see all green, white, yellow or red.  I want to see a couple of colors and add brown for bread to round out the presentation.  A colorful plate is eye appealing and will be well received by your family.  It is also a simple way to assure that you are presenting your family a healthy meal and avoiding the fast food temptation.