Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this dinner is acceptable?

312 replies

chiquititaa · 08/11/2024 16:58

My toddler who is 2.5 had a cod fish finger sandwich for tea and 2 more fish finger on the side, he finished the whole thing and I gave him some Jaffa cakes and a banana sucky yogurt thing, that he's eating just now, DH is just home from work and asked what ds had for tea, I told him what he had and he seems to think it's not enough for a growing 2.5 year old.

He can be very fussy and I'm thinking it's a win that he ate that much at all but I'm being made feel horrible by DH. Please let me know if you think this is enough for a toddlers tea?

OP posts:
Emptyspiral · 08/11/2024 20:04

The question the OP asked was did they get enough food, not a judgement on how healthy it is. Kids at that age eat when they are hungry. If he seems full he probably is.

As far as your DH goes, I cannot remember once my DH double checking what I fed our kids when they were little. That seems very controlling to me.

stargazerlil · 08/11/2024 19:59

It’s not the veg you need to worry about it’s the essential amino acids and essential fatty acids, fish is not a great source of nutrition as it is and those fake fish finger things are really high in omega 6 even if the pack says omega 3 they’re just lying.

LemonSherbertDabs · 08/11/2024 19:57

Justyouwaitandseeagain · 08/11/2024 19:42

I just had a fish sandwich for tea (although I did chuck in some lettuce in with it too) - it was delicious! Sounds fine as tea for me.

You aren't a child though who's supposed to be eating a balanced meal with fruit and vegetables at each meal and avoiding processed sugary food like the biscuits. You have a choice as an adult.
A 2.5 year old doesn't.

MumoftwoGranofone · 08/11/2024 19:43

That’s fine as a meal from time to time … but you could make it a lot healthier really easily by adding some veg and fruit.

Justyouwaitandseeagain · 08/11/2024 19:42

I just had a fish sandwich for tea (although I did chuck in some lettuce in with it too) - it was delicious! Sounds fine as tea for me.

Stravaig · 08/11/2024 19:40

Although really she should have birthed the fish herself, then as PP said used carrot breadcrumbs, swopped the Jaffa cakes for some avocado on toast without the toast and picked a banana from one of her several banana trees.

As a tween/teen in the 80's, the concept of birthing fish gives flashbacks to that scene in Lace, which I was confused repelled fascinated perplexed by at the time.

At the age of OP's son I was playing in the dirt, barefoot and mostly naked, under the banana tree in our back yard. I can confirm that I grew up to be partial to a Jaffa Cake.

Now craving Saba bananas, which I cannot find up here. Thanks MN.

Sugargliderwombat · 08/11/2024 19:40

I think it's fine if it's all he ate. But I think he should be offered some veg alongside. Even just a spoon of peas.

Thefaceofboe · 08/11/2024 19:36

StormingNorman · 08/11/2024 17:47

That’s quite a lot of sugar. Were there no vegetables?

Obviously not or the OP would have said so?

Rosscameasdoody · 08/11/2024 19:36

Georgyporky · 08/11/2024 18:47

And tweezered some micro-greens on as one of his 5-a-day?

Show quote history

This made me laugh out loud !!

TheHateIsNotGood · 08/11/2024 19:32

Your 2 year old ate the food without spitting it out and/or smearing/throwing it around in disgust?

Win-win I'd say OP.

Rosscameasdoody · 08/11/2024 19:32

Megifer · 08/11/2024 17:20

Couldn't you have made your own cod wraps and used finely milled carrot for breadcrumbs instead?

FFS !!!

ChristmasCwtch · 08/11/2024 19:31

I would have added broccoli on the plate. A plain yoghurt would have significantly less sugar than the squeezy fruit pouch kind.

But I’m strict about sugar much to my DCs’ dismay 😂

Seems like enough food though.

MagdaLenor · 08/11/2024 19:27

Megifer · 08/11/2024 19:01

Yes it freezes very well tbh and can be batch cooked for the week ahead. Goes nice with parsley.

Show quote history

Thank you. Isn't parsley very high in calories?

Natty13 · 08/11/2024 19:26

Sounds like your DH needs to take over mealtimes for a while to show you how it's done. How nice for you to get a break while you learn 😉

PrettyFox · 08/11/2024 19:25

It's ok quantity wise but not a great, healthy combination. No judgement here as we all resort to sandwiches and fish fingers sometimes! If I'm doing fish fingers I usually serve it with peas, little carrots and sweetcorn in the side; if a sandwich meal, cheese and tomato, or avocado, or egg.

I personally wouldn't give the jaffa cakes, I would give the yogurt and some fresh cut fruit as dessert.

Dreamingofgoldfinchlane · 08/11/2024 19:24

Megifer · 08/11/2024 19:01

Yes it freezes very well tbh and can be batch cooked for the week ahead. Goes nice with parsley.

Show quote history

Must be extra curled dwarf parsley though

WinterCrow · 08/11/2024 19:17

Megifer · 08/11/2024 18:35

Water that you cook in water.

Show quote history

Only gently, mind. When it's poached you take the poached water out of the water and pop it into an ice water bath, and when you require it you can re-heat gently with some lovely steamed water.

scorpiogirly · 08/11/2024 19:14

That's plenty. I'd feel full after that even.

favledesire · 08/11/2024 19:13

@romdowa
Im shocked you suggested she should catch her own fish. I'm sure you mean that she should have her own organic farm with animals and vegetables and practice aquaculture and use those fish. Although really she should have birthed the fish herself, then as PP said used carrot breadcrumbs, swopped the Jaffa cakes for some avocado on toast without the toast and picked a banana from one of her several banana trees.

Nanof8 · 08/11/2024 19:11

Sounds like a lot for a toddler to eat for one sitting. So I wouldn't be concerned. I'd be thrilled if my 4 year-old ate that much in one sitting.

Also sounds like he had at least 3 of the food groups.
I can't get my 4 year-old to eat fruits and veggies unless I turn them in a smoothie. So I'd even be happy if he ate yoghurt with fruits in it.

favledesire · 08/11/2024 19:09

Megifer · 08/11/2024 17:16

<grabs popcorn>

Me too

I love mumsnet!

Sleepysleepycoffeecoffee · 08/11/2024 19:07

TheChippendenSpook · 08/11/2024 18:58

I'm not surprised with some of the comments on this thread.

Show quote history

I know! Her husband’s already making her feel
bad about not feeding her child enough (in his opinion anyway). She wasn’t asking about the nutritional value so I don’t know why so many have felt the need to keep banging on about it. It’s Friday night, we’ve had pizza in my house as it’s the end of a long and tiring week and just fancied something quick and a treat. Have also had plenty of fruit and vegetables today but people will still like to
comment on the fact I could make my own pizza from scratch or eat a plate of raw vegetables if I want something super quick without any need for prep

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 08/11/2024 19:06

I would not feed my kids that.

fish with carb and veg
banana

really easy.

Megifer · 08/11/2024 19:01

MagdaLenor · 08/11/2024 18:52

Thank you. Can you freeze it?

Show quote history

Yes it freezes very well tbh and can be batch cooked for the week ahead. Goes nice with parsley.

SilverChampagne · 08/11/2024 19:01

BamboleoQueen · 08/11/2024 17:22

No shit sherlock, I'm sure OP could have worked that out herself.

Show quote history

Op had literally said she thinks the dinner as described is acceptable.
So, no, she evidently didn’t work it out for herself 🙄

Swipe left for the next trending thread