dd's eating habits

chocdonuty

Dd is now 11 and mealtimes have never been easy, when she was a baby she didn't drink much milk nor food once it was introduced, she often seems hungry but often her eyes are bigger than her tummy
Weight hasn't been an issue and I think she is a little overweight anyways, partly due to my bad eating habits but recently over the last year or so I have lost weight by better eating habits and think dd has lost a little weight too, so all good.
But for a while now her lunchbox has been getting smaller and occasionally uneaten, recently she's been taking just a pack of breakfast biscuits, but Im sure the same packs been in her bag for days!
For breakfast its usually 2 pieces of toast, one flora, one nutella, then a quick snack after school, often toast again, crackers ect, fruits always around and offered but rarely taken. Then tea about 7 with me ( usually out playing til then so doesnt want it earlier)
I worry that she's going to have trouble concentrating at school without food, apparantly she has water at school and doesn't want to take a drink, I can't monitor this obviously so no idea if she drinks or not.
Anyone else have a picky eater like my dd or have any suggestions?

Gigglepig

It sounds like what you give her is quite sugary (nutella for breakfast and biscuits for lunch). What about making her something more substantial and tasy for lunch, like a pasta or couscous based salad? What lunches does she like on weekends?

Eta - given her age, overweight, and your history of unhealthy eating I think it is great that you look out for potential eating issues.

chocdonuty

Ive offered her different choice for dinner. When she was having normal lunchboxes, crisps were limited and no chocolate/sweets ect.
On the weekend, its usually a sandwich, crisps, fruit, yougurt ect, she does like pasta and couscous but as a hot meal rather than cold.
I wonder If she's bored of sandwiches ect but she has the choice and just doesn't fancy anything in particular and rather go without if theres nothing she likes

heartbreak_star

Maybe protein for either breakfast or lunch? There's a lot of carbs there.

HBS x

Counting_Pennies_2

How about getting a thermos pot to put in some hot pasta in the morning, or soup if she will touch it, or hot sausages?

nzmegs

I agree - for the meals where you are there keeping an eye on her, you need to pack in as many nutrients as possible. Toast and nutella is a terrible breakfast (sorry...) breakfast biscuits are also awful excuses for food.

She needs protein. Would she eat an egg on toast? Shoehorn in some fruit and veg - if she is trying to diet (aren't all girls of this age) try talking to her about a healthy way to do it.

regular eating, healthy natural foods etc. get her involved in cooking and choosing food. make sure it is not processed and fresh.

chocdonuty

I don't think shes trying to diet just can't be bothered to eat or has more fun things to be doing like playing rather than eating.
Yeah, I know about the nutella, unfortunatly we seem to have fallen into a habit with that as it was just one of a few things she'd eat for breakfast but recently seems to have stuck with just that, will have to try her on eggs again I think, at least I can fill her up before school, beans too if I can squeeze them in and the breakfast biscuits were more a last resort I suppose and better than nothing but its no good as a permanant thing.

GeckoGirl1985

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.

paulineb_2

At age 11 I wouldnt have eaten wholemeal bread, or pasta. Or a lot of veg. I do now, but I was about 16 before I started eating a lot of veg and I was in my 30s before I ate wholemeal pasta.

I do understand that her diet is poor but sometimes kids at that age really struggle to eat veg and wholemeal anything. I know I did. I very rarely eat white bread now but I wouldnt have eaten anything else in my teens

All I can say is, try and sneak in some veg, in soups, or put fruit and veg in smoothies. Or try the 50/50 bread.

And perhaps shes conscious of being a bit overweight and is trying to cut down on eating as a result.

sooty&sweep

Hi
You say that you are worried that she won't be able to concentrate at school but has the school expressed any concerns with you ?
I can understand you being concerned about her eating a healthy balanced diet but one thing I envy about children is that they eat when they are hungry rather than because a timetable says they should !

Jen

Yorkie1

I'm not sure about the suggestions that you send her to school with hot meals in a thermos.

I had grief for years at school because my mum gave me lunches that were clearly healthy (mung bean salad, anyone?!) - but were so unlike anyone else's that it just made me stand out from the crowd.

One other thought that occurs to me is whether she's using the tuck shop at school to fill up on?