to be shocked by the way this family eats?

[lotney]

A friend told me about a woman she knows who has 3 year old twins and a 2 year old. Her husband works away for long periods of time. She doesn't cook while he's away - the children eat freezer food like fish fingers, chicken nuggets etc and she has ready meals. When he's home he cooks, but when he's away they just eat things from the oven for convenience.

I can't begin to imagine what life is like with 3 under 3 but surely preparing fresh food at least occasionally is important for nutrition and learning about food? I find it really odd and a bit sad.

When OH went back to work after I had DC5 I thought 'this will be fine, Ive done it loads of times'

I put the dinner on. Then DC5 had to be fed. So I did that feeding whilst walking around thing, dropped a plate sideways onto my big toe and it started bleeding HUGELY.

Meanwhile DC4 started crying and the baby wouldnt stop feeding and someone put something through the letter box so the dogs started carrying on like rabid wolves.

I was hopping around with a massive two week old attached to my massive nork thinking 'why the feck didnt I order a pizza'

I also felt like killing OH like it was his fault. WHich is fair enough I think

DPs mother grows tons of fruit and veg and freezes it

I knew you would understand Maryz

What a bastard hey?

Poor people feeding their children, whatever next?

Tried frozen rasberries in a pie (using frozen ready rolled pastry). Very nice. Needs sugar though but that's ok its natural (not sure if organic or not). And instant or ready made custard (instant in a jug easier to wash up than a pan IMO)

He makes tea.

Frozen raspberries and blueberries are fine. We used to freeze freshly picked when younger too. Now strawberries totally collapse and go mushy!

Maryz that rasberry swirly thing sounds gorgeous.

DP buys frozen fruit to make smoothies with. Lush though sometimes the smoothie gives me brainfreeze

When ds was tiny and I still thought life should continue as normal, I was trying to bf and cook dinner. I dropped a jar of honey, glass and honey everywhere.

I sat on the floor clutching ds, sobbing my heart out whilst totally and irrationally blaming dh. who wasn't even there.

Moomin frozen rasp/blueberries are great. We have yogurt and fruit for breakfast and the frozen ones work out much cheaper than fresh. I just take some out the nIght before and put them in the fridge.

we do lots of soups, chicken in the oven, makerel, potatoes, salmon, scrabbled eggs, stir fry with noodles, etc here when my hubby is away. Greek yogurt and fruit too. Sometimes I make up large vats of spag bol and so on to freeze. i can imagine she must be time and energy short with 3 young ones though.

One of my local shops sells organic frozen blueberries in little packets. The other sells fresh conventionally-grown blueberries.

Uber-Mummies, which should I choose? Which, for Fox's* sake?

*I loved the Farthing Wood books. I really did.

if you think you can get DS1 to eat anything not on The List, please be my guest. He had several bouts of illness over 4 weeks, and afterwards would only eat white foods; bread, potatoes, bananas, porridge, cheese, pasta

Such a first world problem. How is it that children in Asia manage to eat wholesome meals of rice, veggies, curries, lentils, sushi at an early age?

Also, a more general point, why feed a child fish fingers or nuggets? Why not proper fish and chicken? It is not more expensive. I have seen 6 flash frozen cod at Tesco for a couple of quid. Baked fish, boiled spuds and steamed broccoli is so much better than fish fingers, chips and peas. No difference in price or effort really, but a big difference in the level of processedness of the food.

I read a study once that children who have food like fish fingers and nuggets are not open to trying new flavours. This is because the industry tries to make these processed foods always look and taste the same. But real fish and chicken come in different, shape, texture and taste, and children reared on these are used to different flavours each time, and do not get used to or crave sameness in their meals.

oooh dunno flatbrad. ds was a hugely fussy eater until recently but eats plenty of salmon (ouch on the family finances) along wth fishfingers which are so much cheaper.

I'm around took 4 evening meals per week for ds so I buy one large floret of broc per week and then steam bits to make three servings per week. I might try frozen next time and see if he notices (he likes it al dente though). Other than he likes raw veg like carrots and sugar snaps so not much scope for cost cutting sadly.

Yes but the frozen fish etc are still being classed as "packet" food by the fresh food evangelists. We've given up now

I don't see anything wrong with chicken nuggets either, I make my own which taste exactly like McNuggets (I am a god like figure amongst ds's friends for this skill). They are still deep fried, still in batter etc. but they work out cheaper if I make big batch and freeze them. But if shop bought ones are on offer and good quality on just as happy with those in the freezer.

Most children go through a picky phase, often as a onset of illness it is not uncommon. Diet to start with is irrelavant they will suddenly just stick to a few dishes. In the grand scheme of things it doesnt last long, keep trying with the family meal but don't beat yourself up if you get nowhere fast.

Give it ago. Have you tried skulking by the supermarket fish aisle near closing? Or a Sunday afternoon. You can sometimes get lucky and get a whole salmon for a fiver and get them to fillet it for you if you don't want too. Cut it into steaks and freeze it

giveitago, your ds has expensive tastes

Reminds me of my dsis who would insist on grapes as her daily fruit while the rest of us had bananas

Honeydragon! Please post your nuggets recipe: I do breaded chicken strips which the kids love, but if I could make them more McDesque, they'd love me so much more!

1 (ish) portion

120g Plain Flour
1 Teaspoon Onion powder/granules
1 teaspoon garlic powder
up to 1/2 tsp salt / or pinch dependent on age/diet health or social conscience
(I use a pinch)
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 egg
120ml Milk
1 Chicken breast
Oil (deep frying)

Combine flour, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper in bowl.

In another bowl combine egg and milk.

Wallop the chicken breast (I use a rolling pin since I have no meat hammer), till thin. Cut the chicken with scissors into nugget shaped pieces.

Dip the pieces into flour mix, then egg and milk, then back in the flour mix.

Leave to rest for 5 minutes

Fry in hot oil for 5-6 minutes till golden. Drain on kitchen towel

Fetch bbq sauce, scoff as many as you can before children descend

They freeze well and I've successfully cooked them from frozen before.

Thanks! Really appreciate you taking the time to share. Will try it out. X