Fussy Eater

[hiptobeasquare]

I am really struggling to get veg into my two children. I have a 5yr old and a 3 year old. The eldest has SEN and I have to work hard to get enough calories into him as he is very energetic. His consultant was pleased he had gained weight, they mentioned his diet was a bit beige (it is) but three main thing was his safe foods didn’t contract. Which they haven’t. I am really wanting to get more veg into him. I am relying on frozen things like cauliflower has browns and smoothies with carrot etc in, but would welcome any kid friendly recipes!
He won’t eat pasta.
He likes cheese- all forms including goats cheese and feta.
Potato waffles and beans/ breaded fish/chicken in gravy with mash/dippy eggs and brown bread toast/hot dogs in buns/pizza- these are the types of things he eats.
I am just feel like a bit of a crappy Mam since the youngest one copies him on some things so she has started to leave her broccoli now.
I always serve veg for them. I was hoping one day it would click and we would make some progress, but to no avail!

[AtleastitsnotMonday]

Work with what you know he likes. So if he eats mash with gravy try combining other veg with the potato, carrots, swede, parsnips, sweet potato, cauliflower could all be added. Start with small amounts so the predominant flavour is still potato and increase slowly over time.
Would he eat fishcakes (use a mildly flavoured fish like cod)? Because you can then combine mash with veg in them.
If he eats pizza you can sneak veg into the sauce, maybe even get a veg on top.
If he eats cheese can you try adding cheese or cheese sauce to veg.
I know it sounds crazy but we had success with skewers. Apparently veg is more acceptable off a stick!

[hiptobeasquare]

@AtleastitsnotMonday Thanks, adding a little bit of turnip to mash and gravy might be a good idea! I hadn’t thought of that. I am just exhausted with it to be fair. I have to balance getting calories in him with making sure he gets nutrients!

[Fivemoreminutes1]

Cauliflower pizza base:
Heat the oven to 200C, gas 6. Blitz 250g cauliflower in a food processor and tip into a microwave-safe bowl. Cook on high for 5-6 mins, until softened. Carefully squeeze out any excess water in a clean tea towel, then mix with 1 beaten egg, ½tsp freshly chopped oregano and 1 tbsp Parmesan, and season. Spread the cauliflower mix onto a lined baking tray, to a circle about 23cm wide. Spray with Frylight and cook for 10 mins.
Mix tomato purée with a little hot water and spread onto the cauliflower base. Top with mozzarella and cook for a further 10 mins.

Also, try this cheesy cauliflower garlic bread www.slimmingeats.com/blog/syn-free-cheesy-cauliflower-garlic-bread

Puréed sweetcorn is east to hide in mash.

[Fivemoreminutes1]

Sweetcorn fritters www.annabelkarmel.com/recipes/sweetcorn-fritters/
Sausage rolls realfood.tesco.com/recipes/secret-veg-sausage-rolls.html
Hidden veg burgers www.mummycooks.com/blogs/recipes/hidden-veggie-burgers
Cauliflower tots www.healthylittlefoodies.com/cauliflower-tots/

[hiptobeasquare]

@Fivemoreminutes1
Thank you I will check out some of those recipes.

[GemmeFatale]

If he eats hash browns would he eat them made with parsnip?

Would he try something like a Philadelphia cheesesteak? It has safe bread and cheese but also steak and veggies. Still with the fast food feel. Likewise if you did a mild chilli with nachos and cheese would he eat that (with the aim of eventually getting to chilli and rice then other mince dishes).

Could you try new veg on pizza?

[Littleguggi]

Make your own beans with a hidden veg sauce, basically a watered down pasta sauce with beans added in. You could add grated courgette, carrots, parsnips, leek and blitz into the tomato passata until smooth then add beans

[Littleguggi]

BTW I have a fussy 2 year old and I have to cleverly hide any veg into her food! Otherwise her diet would be very beige, but one thing she does eat is pasta so the hidden veg tomato sauce is perfect, but even if your child doesn't eat pasta you could add beans or use it as a pizza sauce base

[HelenaCrimson]

Something that worked with my kids when they were small and didn't do veg was to create a large plate of crudites, basically raw veg, with humous and put it out before the meal for them to graze. Make it look pretty, nice and colourful. I used to cut up raw veg and salad: carrots into julienne sticks; cauliflower into small florets; red, green and yellow pepper into rings; cucumber into sticks; even broccoli. Use your imagination.
Put it on a big plate with the humous in the middle.
And key thing, don't say "do you want/would you like some chopped veg with humous?" - you will get a "no" answer.
Just generally announce, "there are some snacks here for everyone."
And put it near them, not in front of them, while you're cooking the main meal and can smell food coming.
They should find something they like!

[chesirecat99]

Do you know what he struggles with, is it the taste or texture? Can he cope with sauces? If you know what the issues are for him, it might be easier to suggest what might work eg if the issue is texture, if he will eat cauliflower but not broccoli, you might find serving him the broccoli stalks without the flowers helps. What veg does he tolerate?

Does he eat fruit? Upping his fruit intake will help with fibre and vitamins etc.

Will he eat rice? You could try adding cauli rice to normal rice and make things with sauces that have hidden veg eg spag bol but with rice for your DS instead of pasta.

You can add veg to pizza sauce under the cheese. Cheesey mash with things like parsnip, carrot, swede might work as the cheese masks the taste and the mash masks the texture.

If he likes baked beans, you could try making homemade baked bean sauce to serve with veg (try to make the pieces soft and baked bean sized).

TBH, don't stress too much. If you can find a few things that he will eat, just serve all of them every day eg a carrot in a smoothie, baked beans on toast for lunch or breakfast, cauliflower with every dinner, a couple of portions of fruit (preferably different colours). A small range of veg every day is better than trying new things and him skipping the veg totally.

[Ladyrattles]

Our SEN kids would eat hummus and smoothies that also had veg juice in. Also raw stuff cut into sticks like carrots, peppers, cucumber, green beans.

[SummaLuvin]

Root vegetable gratin? If you make it cheese heavy and include potato you might be able to get it past him.

Cheesy béchamel with vegetables in it? Though there isn't much disguise here, so it might not work.

[DelilahBucket]

Would he eat something like a chilli cheese dog if he eats hotdogs? Make the chilli, blitz it and sell it as spicy gravy?