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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think nesquick whole grain cereal, fat free milk and no added sugar juice is relatively healthy for a fussy eater

609 replies

twistedsista · 12/06/2014 18:13

Hi,

My 7 year old Ds is a very fussy eater, tried everything!

I would love it if he would eat kale with cottage cheese on rice cakes for breakfast but get real no child eats perfectly like that.

Today he had a normal sized bowl of whole grain nesquick cereal with skimmed milk.I know it has some sugar in it but its only about the same as a banana and to counter this he has a glass of sugar free orange squash. Both the cereal and juice have added vitamins. Does everyone else agree this is pretty healthy and realistic breakfast?

Thanks

Marie

OP posts:
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Retropear · 18/06/2014 20:21

Sorry 2 tea spoons of sugar as part of a restricted sugar day ain't going to lead to diabetes.

Sorry but a handful of Weetabix,milk,wholemeal toast and butter do not lead to crash and burn with my dc.

"That much refined sugar" what 2 tea spoons as opposed to 1?Hmm I have 2 tea spoons of honey on my porridge every morning and get round to late lunch with no snacks feeling very full and satisfied thanks.

I have slim,filling free kids who consume very little sugar during their day and have zero cravings.

I'm all for extolling the virtues of healthy eating and minimising sugar but you are sounding rather dramatic as regards Weetabix.

JadedAngel · 18/06/2014 20:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TwinkleTwinkleStarlight · 18/06/2014 20:40

This thread is hilarious!

It's cereal. Not crack. Some people must live in a parallel universe to me.

^ this

RingleaderOfTheTormentors · 18/06/2014 20:52

Retro the OP asked if her breakfast choices of a cereal containg 35% sugar was a healthy one. She describes her son as having a referral to a dietician as he is at age 7 "chunky".
My answer to her is No.

"that much refined sugar"...can I direct you back to Govt guidelines?

You can lead a horse to water...

Retropear · 18/06/2014 20:59

Not really interested in that but your Weetabix minis are full of shit declaration as they're not but are instead 80% wheat,filling and with a couple of teaspoons of sugar per portion fine if part of a restricted sugar day and a balanced breakfast.

TheRealAmandaClarke · 18/06/2014 21:02

Grin Jaded

Maybe I'll try them on kedgeree at the weekend. Smile

HaroldLloyd · 18/06/2014 21:08

Ye holy eggs Grin

My DSs won't worship at the eggy altar at the moment so I am a bit fucked there.

They have shreddies which might taste like the box but I think aren't too bad.

Artandco · 18/06/2014 21:11

Wheat and sugar - yep that helps towards your 7 a day fruit a veg

The point is just anything by itself isn't great. You wouldn't just have potatoes and ketchup for dinner, same with wheat a sugar. You need carbs, protein, fats etc at each meal.

Carry on feeding your family wheat and sugar only, but don't kid yourself it's healthy. Even porridge and x2 sugar seems excessive. Isn't it sugar overload? Surely you can see how that could easily be a much more nutritious breakfast? Ditch the sugar, add fresh fruit, seeds and nuts and the porridge would be a balanced meal. Don't tell me it takes too much time to add crushed nuts and handful of blueberries .

Tomorrow I will wake kids at 7am. 4 year old, 3 year old, 2 year old and x2 3 month olds all need to be dressed and fed and out door by 8am. Im not going to tell them it's just wheat and sugar for breakfast as I haven't time.

HaroldLloyd · 18/06/2014 21:12

Your such a hero art.

Artandco · 18/06/2014 21:18

Nothing heroic about an egg or a blueberry

RingleaderOfTheTormentors · 18/06/2014 21:24

Totally agree, art

CheerfulYank · 18/06/2014 21:25

I gave mine these and a cheese stick on the way back from swimming this morning. Blush

ToysRLuv · 18/06/2014 21:28

I was another one who got very little sugar/sweets at home. Mainly only had any on special occasions. Ended up stealing friends' sweets, and spending any money I found on sweets when I was old enough. Developed anorexia in my mid teens, and then BED for a year. Now have had bulimia on and off for over 10 years.

Even as a child, I knew about nutrition, tooth health, etc. but the truth is that if you feel that you've been unfairly deprived, you are not unlikely to rebel. So, I reckon I'd been better off with a more lenient diet.

With children I personally would try and encourage finding a fun form of exercise, and other interests to fill time with instead of eating, above serious food restriction - certainly would not ban all sugar.

Retropear · 18/06/2014 21:30

No thanks art.

I can live with 2 tea spoons as it goes with raspberries or banana and a high veggie low sugar day as a whole.My 2 tea spoons ensure I have a full filling breakfast that lasts all morning.

I never want to go totally sugar free thanksI like wine and chocolate in moderation too much.

TheRealAmandaClarke · 18/06/2014 21:32

Shreddedies are yummy.

Retropear · 18/06/2014 21:33

Art if you read my post you'd see they eat their Weetabix with milk,whole meal toast butter and yes they have fruit too.Alongside a whole lot of other fruit/veg in their day.

sanfairyanne · 18/06/2014 21:34

batter doesn't need 30 minutes to sit - just wanted to clear that one up Grin

HerRoyalNotness · 18/06/2014 21:37

Gosh, my two are fussy also.

Every day breakfast is either an Eggo waffle with nutella on it, or toast with nutella. They sure are consistent. I do watered down OJ as well. Sometimes DS2 will have milk but DS1 isn't keen on it.

On the weekends we'll do pancakes sometimes, and bacon. DS1 has gone off bacon though as he has taken a sudden disliking to fat. He won't eat a scrambled egg, but will eat boiled. He used to only eat the white, but now he only eats the yolk.

They will eat raw vegetables and have just started eating salad. DS1 has meals plain with no sauce of any kind (I lie, he has just started finding ketchup acceptable, on the side), DS2 loves sauces and spicy things, and dipping sauces. DS1 will however eat all manner of seafood, crabs, lobster, prawns, oysters, scallops, fish, you name it, he'll eat it.

My mother grew up on a farm in a very large family and they were made to finish everything on the plate. She brought me up the same way, we had to sit at the table and finish our meals, even if it took hours. Sometimes, if it was too late, she'd put it in the fridge and we'd get it cold for breakfast. I would retch while eating brussel sprouts and liver, but by god I had to eat them. I have forced my DS1 to eat something once in 7 years. I was disgusted in myself and will never do it again.

Palates change over time too. What I couldn't stomach as a child, I will now eat (eg onions, and brussels if I cook them fancy. I still won't touch leeks). You have to go with what your DC will eat to a certain degree, and as many have said already, introduce new things slowly.

I would love to get back to basic eating of non-processed food, eg good meat, fresh veg and fruit, no packet stuff. Has anyone read any good, simple books on this? Of course there is a natural idea of how to do it, but how to add in grains etc... and the proportions of each type of food group.

HerRoyalNotness · 18/06/2014 21:40

art I genuinely don't have time. I leave the house at 5.50am to get to work for 6.30am. The DC leave with DH at 6.30am to get to before school club, so DH can get to work on time-ish (starts an hour after he is supposed to). He's dressing DS2 in his clothes while he's half asleep as it is. If he can get them to eat anything in the morning, he's done well!

LadyNexus · 18/06/2014 21:41

I'm munching on some coco pops Grin

RawCoconutMacaroon · 18/06/2014 21:43

People going on about the amount of "sugar" in processed cereal products are completely missing the point that no or low "added sugar" is a weasel term anyway. These products can be high or low "added sugar" depending on the brand but they are all made of VERY highly processed grains, and are typically 70% carbohydrate (ie sugar) and nutritionally poor (apart from the added synthetic vitamins of course!). Really, you might as well open a bag of sugar and eat that! Breakfast cereal is not real food.

TheRealAmandaClarke · 18/06/2014 21:46

Coco pops are surprisingly tasty. Rice krispies are nice too.
And I had sugar puffs last week Blush. They were scrummy.

I am slim btw. Grin

RawCoconutMacaroon · 18/06/2014 21:47

Of course they taste good, that's kind of the problem!

Love the name btw Smile

ToysRLuv · 18/06/2014 21:50

I like sugar puffs and pretty much any cereal, but for some reason hate crunchy nut. It's revolting. If I didn't have to watch my weight, I'd have Waitrose white and dark chocolate granola every morning.. or pastries. Mmmm..

TheRealAmandaClarke · 18/06/2014 21:50

Not really macaroon
Breakfast cereals are often high in sugar. But contain varying amounts of vitamins, fibre, and even sometimes protein if it's an oat based cereal.
They're also usually served with milk. Which is no bad thing.