What can i feed the fussiest eater in the world?

charlies82

i think thats the thing maybe i just get too worked up! i think it comes from her eating everything to not much now! although she does like cucumber tomatoes and most fruit but veg not to keen on. I should except that she wont starve herself.

bullet_2

What about a vegetable pizza? You could finely chop and mix up some of the vegetables with the sauce (perhaps courgettes and grated carrots) so that if she picks the more obvious toppings off she might still get some vegetables into her. You could make a base using mashed potato and flour, then cover with the sauce and add whatever vegetables you want on the top. Get her to help with it.

painted_lady

Can you make fruit and veg into fun shapes? Arrange fruits as a smily face etc?
I second not making mealtimes into battle ground. I have been vegetarian since I was 6, my parents thought I would grow out of it so didnt make a fuss. I totally respect them for it.
Now I know you need fruit and veg (garting it is a good way to hide it but it would be better they find fun ways to enjoy it) but remember fresh juices count as one portion and pulses can count as one portion.
If she is eating fruit I wouldnt worry too much about the veg, least she is getting some vitamins.
If making pizza, maybe you could mix some spinach into the tomato based sauce as a way of adding an extra portion.

Fruball

I make my DDs smoothies every other day.

In them I pop in loads of fruit - much of it frozen when on offer but before I blitz up the fruit I stick linseeds, sunflower seeds, brazil nuts, pumpkin seeds and almonds (all loaded with OMEGA3 and protein) into the blender with a little fruit juice - I whizz that up til its as smooth as I can get it then add

cherries
blueberries
strawberries
mango
banana
raspberries
etc.....

I also make good use of canned fruit - apricots, pears, mandarins and peaches mostly but always the ones in juice, not syrup.

Just a small quantity of each - then I whizz the whole lot up together and they get to drink it out of a 'real glass' just like Mummy, and I let them choose which colour straw they would like

They love it and its soooooooooooo healthy !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If they are really tired (ie at mealtimes and I know they will cause a fuss at the table) I use it as a meal replacement - guaranteed nutrition and guaranteed to drink it

Hope that helps

Penelope_Penguin

Mine have smooties for breakfast, too :j I blitz banana, fruit and full fat yogurt - plenty of calories and vitamins

We have an older thread on fusssy children, so I'll add this thread to keep ideas together

Penny. x

Fruball

Adding seeds or nuts (or both) massively contributes to their protein consumption and seeds in particular pumpkin and linseed are loaded with Omega 3

(Also, I don't defrost the fruit first if its frozen - I just use some fruit juice/water to melt it whilst its blitzing)

I have successfully frozen (chopped) bananas when on offer/reduced

charlies82

Thanks everyone! some great ideas. I do make pizza with her and she does eat this, we have a breadmaker so i make the dough in there then roll it out and she puts the topping on. I like the smoothie idea she would love those will give that ago at least then i know she is getting her vitamins.

Today i tried the not making it into a battle! and she ate much better we had wraps with chicken, grated carrots and tomatoes, although she did not eat it all she did eat quite abit (she made it herself).

Thanks again
Charlotte

Slim4Summer

Hi
My 8 year old is very fussy about healthy foods! He is ok with beans, sweetcorn and carrots but won't eat any other veg - even potatoes or chips!
We are on a very very tight budget and I am at the end of my tether about family meals I can make on a budget that he will eat. I am concerned about him filling up on unhealthy junk - it is a constant battle with him .. any ideas? I am a crap cook BTW!
Thanks in advance.

huston_kw

have you tried looking on http://www.netmums.com/food/ they have a wide range of recipes / ideas, I find it a very useful website and not just for food..


Regards

Kelly

Hollysan

Slim4summer, I have the same problem with my 9 year old. I end up cooking two evening meals quite often, which is tiring, time-consuming and irritating! I now have a plan, which may work, may not.

I have told him that he can stay up once a week and eat supper with his Dad and I, if he eats what we eat. So far I got him to eat Thai green bean and Quorn curry this way! Generally he would rather eat chips, bread and pizza and not much else. He does like raw food. Does your son? Dips and veggies are good if you don't worry to much about 'meals'. They can be padded out with other things he will eat.

Otherwise, does he like pulses? My son will eat chick peas, butter beans or kidney beans etc in various guises in tomato sauces with rice or bread. He's not that keen, but he will eat this kind of thing.

Mostly it seems to be a matter of 'trading' something healthy for something less healthy! Friends tell me that they suddenly change around 12 and start to eat a wider variety. Till then I am going to persevere. Offer him lots of his favourite fruit, at least then he is getting some vitamins.

Good luck!
Hollysan