Do your kids always have their 5 a day?!

[TeddybearBaby]

This is a really boring one, I’ve never posted before. I’m feeling stressed about nutrition - more dc than me! I really believe in ‘everything in moderation’ and try to get a bit of all the food groups in.

Do you all make sure your kids have at least their 5 / 7 a day? Aibu to stress about this?! DS and DD will probably have around 2/3 pieces while at school and I was going to make macaroni cheese because it’s their favourite and they need a nice chilled out night. Both very tired from the end of term etc. but I’ve started stressing that it means they won’t have their 5 a day 🙄.

Maybe I’ll put mushrooms / broccoli or salad with it. But what’s your opinion, is it fine to sometimes not have your 5 a day or is it a MUST?!

Mine probably do but I certainly don't count. Maybe some days they don't, but most days probably.

Mine love macaroni cheese too. In our house it comes with a compulsory 'starter' of carrot sticks which they eat without thinking about it while watching TV

Not always. They have at least 3 a day and other days might have 7 so it all balances out eventually.

I always put broccoli in with my macaroni cheese anyway.

Hell no.

Not a chance.

No.

It's a must for us. But mainly because 5year old was taught about it at school and now he is obsessed. He counts out how much he has had each day and is extremely panicked if it's less than 5 (I think he might be autistic his older brother is). He loves raw veg though so it's never a problem, I just slice up some carrots/cucumber/peppers for him to munch on.

I wouldn't personally fret about it though. I always think macaroni cheese is nicer with veggie side dishes anyway though else it's a bit monotonous.

Mine did, mostly by putting a plate of cherry tomatoes + carrot/pepper/cucumber slices on the table with just about every meal. That plus frozen peas and sweet corn and the trusty bowl of satsumas.

God no.
Lucky if they get two in (one of the two is always fruit juice )

At the moment fruit is all she seems to eat so yes for the past week! She's only 14 months though

I struggle to always get three veg into DD. There is a dietian currently posting on ama.

Fruit is easy.

Mine do but they love fruit and eat it with breakfast and lunch. A portion of fruit at breakfast, lunch and for a snack plus dinner veg makes reaching 5 a day easy.
Yesterday they had strawberries, kiwi, apple, green beans and broccoli.

Dunno. Mostly yes? But I’d definitely serve Mac n cheese with a salad or broccoli or peas alongside anyway.

Does tomato ketchup count? If so, then yes we do!

No not every day, I find it helps to look at their diet over a week rather than a day as it generally all balances out
A glass of fruit juice alongside a veg-less meal is always an easy 1 of their 5 a day though

Yes they do. If we’re having macaroni cheese I’ll also do some cut up peppers, cucumbers, cherry toms etc and have a fruit for after. Job done!!

If 5 a day includes all the fruit he eats and doesn't have to be 5 different fruits and vegetables then easily. If it has to be 5 different things (not say 3 bananas, 1 apple, some sweetcorn) then nah.

But I don't sweat it really.

I don’t count but I would guess so. They have fruit with breakfast every day, DS is the only one with a packed lunch and I put two pieces of fruit in it or a piece of fruit and some carrot sticks and am guessing DD’s have fruit at school too (I hope). For dinner it’s almost always vegetables of some kind and lots of them except on the weekend when I loosen up a bit and we have pizza .

Yes. Usually more, some days up to 10 portions. I'm lucky that she is one who loves fruit and veg so will actively choose to have portions as her snacks through the day and usually has at least two with each meal. I may well have another child who I can't get to eat one, so I'm not gloating just yet.
I think it does help that I love fruit and veg too though, and usually have as much as her.

Mine is still too little but we have a house policy of having a starter / afternoon snack / side of raw veg if we're not going to hit our 5 a day by dinner. Carrots / cucumber / peppers (I know they're a fruit but you know what I mean) / fresh peas etc. And I always shove a couple of handfuls of spinach in all stews / curries etc, and whenever I make a sauce I make sure there's at least one "hidden" veg in it, usually two. If all else fails I'll have a glass of fruit / veg smoothie before bed - one of the Innocent ones - not great as they're full of sugar but better than nothing!

In the case of mac and cheese I'd put broccoli in it, whizz up some cauliflower in the sauce and serve with raw carrots.

Most days they do, but it's not something I lose sleep over.

Thankfully DD loves hummus so she regularly snacks on veggie sticks, and easily hits her 5 a day that way, DS is a little more tricky, but he's more into fruit, so we just have an accessible fruit bowl that he raids along with a big jar of raisins (which he seems to think he's sneak eating so getting one over us)

I try to, but dd sometimes has other ideas! I attempt to have 2 portions fruit with breakfast, 2 portions veg for lunch and 3/4 veg with dinner. I put tenderstem, spinach, peas and courgette in macaroni cheese, and always shove spinach in saucy foods. Roasted courgettes/aubergine instead of chips etc. I’m sure it won’t be long until she refuses anything with a hint of green to it, so I’m making the most of it whilst she eats well!

One normally does, one doesn't (fussy, non bribeable, very strong willed 5 year old who doesn't have scurvy!)

A ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Good one op!

—I’m reallly stressed about this right now too—

Did only does beige and it’s gettting worse. I disnt worry about her at nursery but now I need to make packed lunches for her at out of school and it’s a nightmare.

I am consoling myself that she’s good with fruit and dairy. Nada meat unless it’s mince (though I hide loads of veg in bolognese etc.

Was told not to blend it or hide it but it’s a no from her if she knows there’s veg in it so I blend half and leave the rest chunky. Which she doesn’t eat.

I’m just keeping putting it in front of her and brocolli? Nae chance.