To give a 14 month old a vegan sausage roll?

[Moancup]

I did an archive search and yes, it appears any Greggs product is the work of the devil. But they’ve gone plant based since then so…

14 month old DS has become much fussier and often very averse to being spoon fed. I’m trying to experiment with soft things he can feed himself and today tried him on a Greggs vegan sausage roll. It went down a treat (alongside some peas and peanut butter toast) But I’m aware they are super salty and I just feel a bit like I’ve crossed a line maybe? RIP the first six months of weaning when everything was homemade and wholesome.

AIBU? Would it be nutritionally better to let him eat fish fingers every day?

I wouldn’t - vegan or not it’s an ultra processed food. And more salt and fat than the meat version.

Just give a little bit of what he likes alongside what you want him to eat. The more you expose him to different things the more he's likely to eat it. Try the What Mummy Makes book, it's great for ideas. The odd sausage roll and fish fingers won't hurt.

If you mean a small slice of it as part of an overall healthy lunch, eg some chopped up veg on the side, wouldn't worry me once in a while. If you mean he ate a whole or almost a whole adult sausage roll, then that would be more concerning!

Now and then is fine, like everything.

My 3 year old loves a Greggs sausage roll. I can't get upset about it, he eats another fruit and veg. Balance and moderation and all that.

Let me guess - first time mum? Your kid will be fine. I mean, you will have an army of "oh dear, why can't you just cook them poached salmon with a dash of caviar as a quick lunch" here in a minute. This is MN after all but I will insist, your kid will be just fine. It's good to get them to try a variety of foods. There is no such thing as bad and good food - only less and more nutrient dense. As long as they have a good balance and variety, a little vegan sausage ain't gonna kill them.
Salt is only problematic if someone has risk factors for cardiovascular disease. And, to be honest, I doubt fish fingers are any less processed (or peanut butter, for that matter)

It's absolutely fine as a one-off.

But as you can see, people will tell you it's "concerning" 😉

Absolutely fine now and then, like anything, the real version too (even better).

Ignore the UPF zealots

I would give my son a normal one. Not vegan. But if you want to. Its fine!

I'm vegan and had one the other day. Never again! I was ridiculously thirsty from the salt in it so that would put me off offering one to a child.
Could you make him something similar with ready made puff pastry and pureed veg as a filling? And yes, even as a vegan I personally think fish fingers would be better, as there's more of benefit in the fish than the fake sausage.

It does have slightly more salt (1.8g vs 1.6g) but it actually has less fat (18g vs 22g)

Completely unreasonable, before you know it DS’s hair will turn to dust and all his teeth will fall out.

A Greggs sausage roll wouldn't be my first choice for a child that age, meat or vegan, however I wouldn't be overly concerned that one (or part of one) every so often is that bad. Just make sure it's part of an overall balanced diet, and encourage him to try all sorts of different things - bear in mind, that many foods are rejected the first few times, but the child will then go on to like them.

Its fine as a rare treat. But as the parent of two fussy eating older kids..i really do wish i had avoided processed food more when they were younger.

The salty yummy upf stuff just makes other food taste bland and borinf !

It will be fine, everything in moderation is the healthiest thing he can learn.
My second hated being spoon fed too so we did loads of finger foods and also fed her the same as oldest daughter from quite early on. Taming Twins has a nice bit on their blog about finger foods etc and loads of free recipes/meal plans if you’re looking for inspiration!
Don’t beat yourself up about it, sounds like you’re doing a great job.

You’re feeling like you crossed the line because you fed your child a vegan sausage roll? God forbid when they want a Happy Meal or a bucket of KFC.

I'm amazed at these responses. Give him the vegan sausage roll! What do you think will happen to him? Obviously not suitable for every day, but you're not suggesting that anyway. I feed my 8 month old whatever we're having, so tonight it's pizza. He's my 3rd child, and I honestly laugh at my younger self freezing ice cubes of homemade puree with our 1st child. My 3rd is already eating better than his big sisters because he's had a huge variety of 'normal' food.

YABU OP he will die of protein deficiency before the week is over. Everyone on MN knows vegan food was cooked by Satan himself.

@Scottishgirl85 weaning my first consisted of lovingly puréing organic veg, learning to make bread and homemade hummus…number 2 got anything and everything and anything we had for dinner. Guess which is the fussiest eater now!

No, as a one-off it won't kill him. But it's not ideal and there are plenty of points on the spectrum between Gregg's and organic quinoa salad.

It's great to have recipes and home baked food but if you have a Greggs sausage roll, you are clearly out and about and need something quick and inexpensive!

@marblesthecat oh delicious 🤣🤣🤣🤣 your post, not vegan sausage rolls. Op my 11.5mo loves a greggs sausage roll, the real ones😁

so he is mobile?

Given what he will put in his mouth over the next couple of years, the Greggs is positively healthy in comparison!

As a once of its fine.

Unless he's vegan, I'd give him a bit of a meat one. At least you (mostly) know what's in it!