Getting enough food into sporty DS9

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DS9 is really active (sport 3x week, scooter and bike, playing football at school lunchtime etc). He is tall and slim.

He can be very picky (esp with texture). He will only eat boiled broccoli and carrot so I try and steam these and he has these every day.
No cold veg apart from carrot.
No fruit apart from a shop bought smoothie with no bits.
No meat with 'burnt bits' on so only wants sausages in slow cooker sauce. He only likes light meats like chicken nuggets/gammon/Quorn mince in spag.
He doesn't like roast potatoes or chips or anything with a crisp roasted edge basically. Always leaves half of his mash.

We have a lot of pasta which is the only thing he will eat heartily.

I'm getting stuck with meal planning.

I feel like I don't get enough fat and vitamins in him to support his activities.

I am worrying too much?

Yes you are eqorryimg too much. Cook food, offer it, let him eat it or not

Will he eat nuts? Peanut butter? Eggs? Cheese? Those are all good for calories and growing kids. And put extra butter in the mash or pasta.

Will he eat salmon?

What about puddings? My skinny child lives on custard and cake.

If He’s active enough to do sport, he’s fine! My son used to eat bugger all but could run around a pitch for an hour or two. Have some fruit .. might as well asked him to eat a piece of coal! He’d go through phases of liking/not liking stuff and it would worry me and drive me mad. Now he eats like a horse, is slim and fit, and no issues!

Can you blend veg into a sauce for pasta?

He eats broccoli and carrots willingly. And likes quite a few proteins. Pasta is great, so that with Quorn Bolognese, maybe with tuna and sweetcorn, carbonara?
If he likes smooth things would he eat soup? Does he eat bread?
You could try and see if he'll get in to protein shakes?

He likes soup and saucy things and is good with his steamed veg but he’s fussy about carbs. He is constantly running/kicking a ball/scootering so he needs his carbs? He must be doing ok as he’s slim but never stops.

Anything ‘too brown’ (mince/sausages slightly too done) and he leaves most of it.

The only thing he will eat a proper portion of is pasta or boiled potatoes. He leaves half his mash/chips/rice.

My 9 year old daughter is the exact same and her 12 year old brother was pretty similar, only he was a bit less sporty. I just wouldn't worry very much. When my son was 9, I would stress about it a lot but he definitely gained weight as he grew - it's natural for boys. Even though my 9 year old does way more sport and is really skinny, I try not to stress as much. It can be difficult because I have 3 other daughters who are slim, but not a stick like her!! They are less sporty though so in my opinion, it's completely different.

Sounds like a normal level of activity for a child. And if he is eating pasta and some form of meats then surely he is getting carbs and fats? He might need a wider range of food ideally but at least he eats carrots and broccoli everyday.

Being slim is good, as is being energetic

This is how people should be - he's clearly eating well enough

Losing weight or being unenergetic would be bad but it sounds as though you have no real problem

Other than the utter boredom of a child's limited menu

Can you hide grated apple in flapjack ??

My 11 year old boy is like that- playing football or running around for hours year around, and is tall and very skinny. He actually likes food, but not a lot of carbs and generally small portions. But he is full of energy and growing well so I don't worry at all, just offer a variety and let him pick what he likes.

I have a similar issue with DD who also leaves her carbs, although she eats more veg and meat than yours does. We've had some success with nuts and seeds. She now keeps a packet of fruit and nut mix in her bag to eat at school/on the way home/to sport. Granola bites. A decent breakfast (eggs etc), protein cereal bars rather than standard cereal bars. Have you tried tofu or lentils as a meal ingredient?

A 9 year old will probably be suspicious if you suddenly stop presenting him with veg and start giving him sauces. I'd suggest you try puréeing half of the veg into a sauce and leaving some for him to pick out!

Pasta and boiled potatoes are high in carbs so if he is eating these with meals he is getting carbs.

We had to put weight on one of our dc. We just added olive oil to dishes or cream.

Chocolate milk is a good post sport recovery drink.