dd's eating habits

Lunar_Eclipse

Nutella on toast isn't awful, particularly if the toast is seeded wholemeal for example. At least it contains nuts (protein), so is much better than say jam or honey.

I'd consider adding some protein to breakfast. An egg, babybel cheese, 2-3 slices of ham or cocktail sausages are daily offerings here. Beans on toast would be great, but beyond our time restrictions.

Also consider smoothies or milkshakes. A banana wizzed up with milk or yoghurt goes down well here. Or blueberries, honey & yoghurt. Granola or porridge?

I find a range of options and variety works really well for some children. One of mine eats the same kind of thing every day (cereal), but the other has a variety from everything mentioned above. My priority is that breakfast/all meals are eaten. I would be fine with mine having a chocolate brioche for breakfast, if it was accompanied with an egg and yoghurt for instance. (Die hard health fans might be horrified, but the child in mind here is very sporty and with no obvious health issues. I'd also rather they had a pastry for breakfast than sugary pudding later in the day, if the overall meal was balanced.)

Re: lunches, again maybe more variety would help. I have one on packed lunch and the other on school dinners. The packed lunch comprises a sandwich/salad/sushi plus fruit/veg and a yoghurt. I try to be slightly creative with the sandwiches, so pitta bread or wraps feature alongside her favourite seeded loaf. Fruit could be a nectarine or sliced cucumber with cherry tomatoes. Today it's a plum with some grapes. Try sushi, we all love it and those £1 packets of sushi from the supermarkets are lovely (apart from the Tesco ones: M&S or Sainsburys are great.)

delain

I'd love to be able to do protein rich breakfasts!

Unfortunately things like eggs are out of the question as the mornings are such a big rush

I'm so busy getting everyone out of the door that I don't even get a cup of tea until I get back home half the time, never mind breakfast!

Lunar_Eclipse

delain wrote: »

I'd love to be able to do protein rich breakfasts!

Unfortunately things like eggs are out of the question as the mornings are such a big rush

I'm so busy getting everyone out of the door that I don't even get a cup of tea until I get back home half the time, never mind breakfast!

Me too! Which is why we always have quick protein options available as a side portion. Sliced ham, cheese and cocktail sausages are super quick, straight from the fridge!

I have been known to put pre-cooked sausages into wraps for a breakfast burrito with salsa, beans, sweetcorn, cheese etc, served with sour cream. Yum.

ETA: how about (pre-cooked) hard boiled eggs from the fridge? Baked beans also heat up very quickly in a microwave if you have one, certainly before the toast would be ready.

heartbreak_star

GeckoGirl1985 wrote: »

Is she being bullied?

The reason I ask is because I was chubby at school and all the way through primary school and most of 2ndry I got hassle from the other kids over it. In the end I resorted to not eating my lunch, or eating anything at school in fact, as if I was seen eating ANYTHING the other kids gave me grief.

This.

This was me too yet, oddly, I was only a bit chubby - there was a girl that was enormous and used to eat big bars of chocolate all the time and never got any grief!

HBS x

peachyprice

That seems an awfully small amount of food for an 11yo to eat and still be able to afford to lose weight, even though it's all carbs, it's still a small amount.

Are you sure she's not being given more 'interesting' food by friends or stocking up at the sweet shop while she's on her way to/from school or out playing?

Tish_P

I'm a bit concerned that you think it's "all good" for an 11 year old to be losing weight. 11 year olds are growing.

uk_american

I was a picky eater, but if something was 'correct', I could eat it for two months straight.

What about adding a little variety to lunch, maybe a pack of cherry tomatoes or carrot sticks with hummus? Poundland sells a pack of little containers, sooner or later something will be interesting.

HPoirot

Well I wasn't 11 at the time, but when my parents were packing me off to university they said as long as I had one hot and nutritional meal a day I'd be all right. It's stood me in good stead.

Some children have so much energy they can go hours on end without feeling hungry, I agree with others that you might want to pack in the nutrition into her breakfast and tea.