Page 3 | To think this is actually a rather nice daily menu for a toddler?

Ilovetocookandbake · 2023-12-05T16:57:10+00:00

Breakfast - cheerios with milk Snack - pear Lunch - tuna, avocado and sweetcorn toasted sandwich Dinner - homemade chicken curry pudding - yoghurt That’s fine surely?!

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 05/12/2023 18:25

wiseoldcat · 05/12/2023 18:22

It's absolutely fine.

But as you asked about the sugar:

Carbs are basically sugar - so the cheerios and bread are both sugar. Pear is also sugar, and sweetcorn has sugar too. Depending how you are making the chicken curry, that could have sugar (if you use a ready made sauce etc). The yoghurt will be sugary too if it is a flavoured/ processed fruit yoghurt - obviously not if it's just natural yoghurt but most toddlers won't like that.

So all in all, it could be quite high in sugar.

But honestly, that is nitpicking, and I'm only answering because you asked.

I think it's a perfectly healthy diet and I doubt it's too much sugar for a growing child.

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Sugar isn't poison. We need sugar for energy. Every cell in the human body needs glucose, doesn't it? We can get it by breaking down fats but the quickest and easiest way to get the energy we need for growth, repair and our daily activities is to eat carbohydrates.

wiseoldcat · 05/12/2023 18:26

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 05/12/2023 18:25

Sugar isn't poison. We need sugar for energy. Every cell in the human body needs glucose, doesn't it? We can get it by breaking down fats but the quickest and easiest way to get the energy we need for growth, repair and our daily activities is to eat carbohydrates.

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I mean I literally said that I doubt it's too much sugar for a growing child.

But OP asked about the sugar so I answered - it's not a low sugar diet. I don't think it's unusual or in any way 'poison'.

Butsheisnot · 05/12/2023 18:27

It depends on the toddler I guess! Might not be enough for mine but he is a big almost 3 year old.

The only think I wouldn't give mine is the cheerios as he's better on a solid bowl of porridge and raspberries - it keeps him happier for longer! (If he has toast he'd fire down about 6 slices with butter and jam and polish off a brioche or croissant as well!)

I'm not a big giver of snacks between meals either and mine does tend all of his meals. However, he does also have a cup of full fat milk when he wakes up and would probably have an apple mid afternoon. Or a cake/biscuit sometimes.

Butsheisnot · 05/12/2023 18:28

But sorry forgot to say - yes I think it's good menu overall!

Dahlietta · 05/12/2023 18:29

I would be amazed if she didn't mean "Poor little bugger probably just wants chicken nuggets and angel delight". My mother-in-law thinks rice and pasta are new-fangled nonsense.

therealcookiemonster · 05/12/2023 18:29

forget toddlers. I would love that as a daily menu

BurbageBrook · 05/12/2023 18:30

I don't think Cheerios is the best breakfast as it's a UPF- porridge or yoghurt or scrambled eggs might be better, something with either protein or more natural fibre. However few children's diets are perfect and it's pretty good!

kernowpicklepie · 05/12/2023 19:06

Easy way to get more veg in if he can be a bit picky is to cook a load up and then blitz it up and add it to the sauce.
When I do porridge I'll mash banana in to it with a bit of peanut butter or blueberries with Greek yoghurt. Both mine love it! Always add flax and chia seeds aswell.

I also don't do many snacks because my DD would just not eat dinner. If dinner will be later then I'd add a snack in but she is usually fine without.

Maybe for lunch add some fruit or salad/veg on the side (you may do that already).
But tbh, your daily meals seem fine.

Broop · 05/12/2023 19:55

HenriettaVienetta · 05/12/2023 17:57

No point ever posting about toddler meals here. Whatever you give them, someone will be catsbumming about sugar or additives, or protein or something. And everyone has different view on what is healthy/balanced so it then descends into factional bunfighting! With rock cakes lobbed in the other direction. 🤣

Catsbumming?! I endeavour to use that in conversation at least once per day henceforth 😂

HoHoHolyCrap · 05/12/2023 20:01

How did it come about that you would post your toddlers daily menu in a group chat containing your MIL?

Original poster

Ilovetocookandbake · 05/12/2023 20:06

HoHoHolyCrap · 05/12/2023 20:01

How did it come about that you would post your toddlers daily menu in a group chat containing your MIL?

Because we were talking about what children eat.

OP posts:

Angrycat2768 · 05/12/2023 20:17

TravellingT · 05/12/2023 18:07

My husband was raised drinking squash and cola while still drinking from a bottle, was constantly given tea and biscuits as a toddler and dinner always involved bread and butter. I wonder if your MIL thinks your toddler needs more crap and sugar? The menus seem perfect, cheerios aren't poison, and kids are fussy- fed is best and if cheerios are the worst part of their menu you're doing very well!

Yes this is what I would have thought. Not that it had too much sugar but that it was too healthy and maybe she needed more treats or she didn't think the curry was toddler food? Why does she know what your dc us having for lunch? I had sugar sandwiches as an after school snack in the 70's- on white bread! Crunchy bloody deliciousness ( I do have several fillings) Now that is ' a bit too much sugar'!

Moccasin · 05/12/2023 20:26

I would do a laughing face emoji to her comment (because I’m petty and passive aggressive) then ask DH (is he in the group chat?) to respond to her comment saying “why poor kids?” - just because I’d be curious to know what her problem is.

MandyCandy · 05/12/2023 20:30

I think you are doing an amazing job! If my toddler got any of those meals we would both be very happy xxx

Dogsitterwoes · 05/12/2023 20:31

Maybe it's the curry. Lots of people still think young children should only have bland food.

flowerchild2000 · 05/12/2023 20:32

Cheerios have almost no sugar. Why is everyone mentioning it?

iLovee · 05/12/2023 20:35

I would kill for my toddler to eat this!

He is currently living off cucumber, the occasional yoghurt and (When I'm very lucky) a ham sandwich.

Sounds great to me!!

iknowimcoming · 05/12/2023 20:38

@Ilovetocookandbake May I ask the rough age of your MIL? Only my il's still view things like avocados with suspicion! In the same category (foreign food ) as cous cous and goats cheese

InTheRainOnATrain · 05/12/2023 20:38

flowerchild2000 · 05/12/2023 20:32

Cheerios have almost no sugar. Why is everyone mentioning it?

Are you American by chance? The British version has about 5 times the amount of sugar compared to the American version.

There are worse things though, I let my kids eat them and think as part of a balanced diet they’re absolutely fine!

AlltheFs · 05/12/2023 20:41

It’s a bit light on fruit and veg compared to what mine eats- she has a bit of a veg obsession though, especially raw and she has 2-3 portions fruit daily too. But appreciate not all kids do. DD cried in McDonalds when she had to have chips instead of carrot sticks 🙈😂 sometimes I wonder if they gave me the wrong baby…

But otherwise looks entirely normal to me.

maltichi · 05/12/2023 20:56

Ilovetocookandbake · 05/12/2023 17:00

High on sugar, where? Honestly wondering.

Well, it was actually MIL who made a ‘poor kids’ type of comment. I normally get on well with her which is why I’m a bit

I would take her comment to jokingly mean it's very healthy with no/minimal treats.

guineverehadgreeneyes · 05/12/2023 21:12

I might swap the Cheerios for Weetabix or a boiled egg some days and serve natural yoghurt with half an apple or half a banana chopped up in it or a few frozen blueberries instead of the Peppa Pig yoghurt but the rest sounds absolutely fine.

Original poster

Ilovetocookandbake · 05/12/2023 21:14

Pear
Avocado
Sweetcorn
Tomato
Onion

I mean, that’s not that light, or is it? It’s five a day!

As much as he eats well I don’t think I’d get away with swapping the yoghurt for blueberries!

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Girasoli · 05/12/2023 21:19

Tuna and avocado is a bit of an unusual combination...maybe that was what prompted the comment? Apart from that I think it sounds good.

Original poster

Ilovetocookandbake · 05/12/2023 21:22

It’s a nice recipe in fact, mixed with Greek yoghurt and black pepper and a bit of lemon juice 👍🏻

OP posts: