Meals don't always have to be hot and thematically united! You and your family need balance in food, and life. Striking the right balance can be tough when there is pressure to provide hot, beautiful, fresh meals every single night. Allow yourself permission to save some time for yourself and make dinner with foods you already have!
You and your child communicate through behavior. For example, you might not tell someone "I don't want to spend time with you," but you can be sure it shows through your behavior. Your child likely doesn't have the depth of communication skills you do. When you notice a new behavior or pattern, ask yourself: "What might my child be trying to tell me with this behavior?"