Food Budget for Single Parent and 1 x Under 5- advise pls

jackieglasgow

patchwork_cat wrote: »

is he a big eater for example would he eat a whole gammon or just half?

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

That made me laugh, I know you didn't mean a WHOLE GAMMON!

Trundles off imagining 3 year old munching down on side of gammon fresh from the SC.....................................

clyndu

Hi, have you tried making your own pasta sauce? I chop 3 or 4 onions, fry lightly in a saucepan, then add 3 or 4 tins of value toms, simmer for about 20 mins. then whizz them up with a hand blender. it freezes really well, my boys wouldn't either onions or toms, but as it was all whizzed up they didn't know they were eating it. I add it to sheperds pie, casseroles etc. hope that helps. Add black pepper if you like it, but no salt.

merlin1

can you imagine a 3 year old only wanting to eat broccoli - raw and cooked?

no?

neither did i til my oh's cousin and family came to sunday dinner - the boy couldnt get it down his neck quick enough! :eek: he pushed away his bowl and actually asked for it! :eek:

my son doesnt do veg or meat - but the meat thing is cos he's lazy, he wont chew. veg he has to eat hidden or mashed in etc....

he has now decided he likes chicken - and yup, he likes chicken even though it is actually pork, beef etc... grinning evil mum!

slow cooker!! tis the way forward - even though my boy believes its chicken, he's eating it veg and all! :T:T he hasnt got to chew and the veg is away in the sauce xx

elf06

merlin1 wrote: »

can you imagine a 3 year old only wanting to eat broccoli - raw and cooked?

no?

neither did i til my oh's cousin and family came to sunday dinner - the boy couldnt get it down his neck quick enough! :eek: he pushed away his bowl and actually asked for it! :eek:

My nearly 3 year old DS loves broccoli!! Has been eating it since he was a baby and really loves it! Most dinners of his either have broccoli, peas (which he will eat still frozen :rolleyes:), carrot or sweetcorn with them!

Fire_Fox

desperate+determined wrote: »

Thanks Jackie x

It's strange how you take everything for granted and assume kids should eat meat. It's not overly important to me, it's just i have it in my head he should. Maybe he will be a vegetarian, (sure how many farmers grandchildren are vegetarians tho lol)

I will try to add in lentils and seeds, not something I have introduced into his diet yet. But will try as sounds like a great why to get the right essential minerals and things into him.

If he could get away with it he'd live off carrots, cucumber, cauliflower, cabbage and oranges. :rotfl:

I can't spell what i wanted to type so hope this makes sense.
"I think subtle perserverance is the key"

It's great that your son is eating some fruit and veg - many won't. Frozen veg and fruit is just as healthy as fresh, if not more so, as it's frozen so quickly after it's picked. It's also cheaper in many cases and doesn't need preparing! :T

I saw a programme once where the mother served up tinned frankfurters and wotsit crisps on a plate and that was the kids' tea. I was gobsmacked that she thought that was a meal, somehow putting it on a plate seemed worse that just handing the kiddies a bag of crisps!! :eek:

Dairy products are an excellent way to get minerals such as calcium for bones, fat for energy and protein for growth - does he like yoghurt and milk? What about soft cheeses if not cheddar? Cream cheese (Philadelphia, but get own brand) and cottage cheese are pretty cheap, tinned evaporated milk is another choice, even powdered milk when you are really short of money (I know it should be full fat, but sometimes budgets don't allow).

Homemade fruit ice cream and homemade cakes might be a way to get your son to eat new things - if he has had a hand in the cooking ... if you use wholemeal flour, natural butter or oil, dried fruits, nuts or seeds, eggs, and even grated apple or carrot (both cheap) cakes can end up very nutritious.

elf06

And pizzas - kids love helping to make them (well mine loves kneeding the dough and rolling it out anyways) and you can get them to add veg and things as a topping and have 'hidden' veg in the sauce!!

desperate+determined

Wow! Thank you Johanne and Radiohelen, your so inspirational. I used fill my freezer with good intent to cook nice meals but then I don't have a clue what to cook when it comes to it.

So Far I've made:

• Lasagne (son decided to pic the mince out)
• Toad in Hole
• Spag Bol (son decided to pic the mince out)
• Chops, Mash, veg and gravy (son ate everything, as I told him the chops were chicken)

Loving the gammon post.... i could also imagine son chewing on a joint lol :rotfl:

I have tesco points card - in xmas saver tho so don't get vouchers til november time.

Also have nectar card - but i'm trying to save those points to redeem in argos for son birthday in 2 months

Have managed to not spend a single penny on food this week and have lived off things from freezer / cupboards.


clyndu - will definately try making my own sauces as the jars are so expensive to buy.

Have highlight things my son won't eat on my freezer list in above posts.

thank you eveyone for helping me I really appreciate what your all doing for me. It great to meet such lovely people. x