Porridge as evening meal for DC?

[Smithson85]

DC7 is a bit of a 'basic' eater and quite often just asks for a big bowl of porridge for his tea if we're at home - which I'm generally happy to give him.

But I'm getting a bit of judgement from the in-laws that we're not making him have a meat-and-two-veg style meal every evening. My thinking is that porridge (with milk, seeds and honey) is a pretty complete meal option, he has plenty of fruit and veg during the rest of the day, and he will eat 'proper' meals on other nights - but just seems to prefer the porridge a couple of times a week.

AIBU letting him have what he wants?

I have a picky eater who is 7 and my goal is as long as hes eating! There's worse things than a bowl of porridge to consume, I wouldnt worry too much!

Nah if his belly gets filled and he wants to eat it then do it.

My little one isn't particularly fussy, but still sometimes insists on porridge for dinner.
I thinks there's far worse things he could eat, so I generally allow it if he's asked before I've prepared anything else.
It usually gets an extra portion of fruit into him too.

As long as he’s getting his fruit and veg in other meals that day then there’s no problem. Porridge isn’t bad.

It's fine.

I sometimes have porridge with berries or toast with peanut butter and an apple.

Sounds fine. It's fairly balanced and probably healthier than sausage and mash or whatever

My little one isn't particularly fussy, but still sometimes insists on porridge for dinner.
I thinks there's far worse things he could eat, so I generally allow it if he's asked before I've prepared anything else.
It usually gets an extra portion of fruit into him too.

I’m out most evenings with ds training and I often take a thermos with porridge (oats, water and honey) and add some raspberries or take a banana.

It’s filling, full of fibre and as you said you can eat fruit/veg and protein during the day.

I think it’s great your listening to your child’s needs around food which will build a better relationship with it than eating a full dinner he doesn’t want.

If he’s asked for it and is happy with it, I can’t see a problem.

Sometimes you get home exhausted and eating something complicated is just one faff too many. Cereal, porridge, toast are all fine quick dinners in my book, if that’s what the person fancies

Love bowl porridge.
Chopped dates are my fav at the mo

Its a healthy meal, especially when you consider the toppings, it really isn't an issue

My mate regularly gives her kids porridge for dinner... we all take the piss that she's feeding them gruel but are secretly impressed her kids will eat porridge, not moan and she has two bowls to bung in the dishwasher!

Porridge is a great meal and we have it as a family if we're under time pressure. Everyone loves it.

Maybe try adding a tablespoon of flaxseed or even a teaspoon to help boost the nutritional benefits. They hardly alter the flavour at all. We also add cinnamon, sultanas or other dried fruit, fresh fruit, Greek yogurt, honey or maple syrup depending on how Everyone is feeling. We also sometimes have a plain Porridge amd then each add whatever we fancy. Gets the kids involved and the youngest calls it cooking which is sweet.

I do sometimes wonder why porridge is only seen as a breakfast dish when it is so warming and satisfying on a chilly evening as a dinner. It's an easy way of getting in some fruit, seeds etc and recently I've started mixing in some Greek yoghurt, which adds protein but also makes the porridge so creamy and filling.

It's a better dinner than something like oven nuggets and chips.

Crack on! My DDs have not always been good eaters but a bowl of porridge at any time fills a crater in the tum-tum and is solid (literally, like concrete) nutrition. DD1 especially ate loads of porridge - sometimes 3x per day - twas better than chips ...

My MIL is in league with your rellies. None of us has ever told her about all the meat & 2 veg meals that my DDs have never had. She is a lovely lady but still convinced that in the evening 'you need something hot'.

The whole time they were in primary school they ate 'picnic tea' on a several nights at week - this was sandwiches and fruit/cucumber plus crisps - as we drove from activity to activity and then to pick up DH. It worked perfectly for us on all nights they had swimming, ballet or other activities that MC children must do

It's a lot healthier than some of the stuff that kids are given !

It's great and I do it sometimes. As long as he's not having porridge for breakfast too on the same day... ? That might be a bit much.

Autistic dd (6) loves a bowl of oatmeal for dinner

Filling, warm, makes her tired

Why not xx

Porridge is a staple for dinner here…and all over the rest of Scotland…cheap, quick, healthy and filling. Real fast food. One daughter loves it with stewed apples and cinnamon, one with mixed berries, my favourite is with raisins. Always add a dollop of Greek yoghurt and a sprinkle of seeds too.

I have a picky one too, and we spend a lot of time negotiating. I always plate up the meal (usually deconstructed, but a version of) and they are expected to try it and eat the “safe” elements. After that they can have cereal (healthy), toast and peanut butter and fruit. But they have to try stuff first. This has really helped them expand what they’ll eat and they know they aren’t pressured to eat loads of it and not any elements they’ve tried and can’t stand.

My kids are now adults, but 'fruit porridge' was one of my fallbacks when they were small and I was all out of energy and other options.

It was cheap, quick, and a great way of using up fruit that was slightly past its best. I used to jazz it up by letting them put hundreds and thousands on it, or edible glitter, chocolate chips or food colouring, but I still always felt a bit guilty about it.

Recently at a family meal (alcohol had been consumed) all four of them were reminiscing, and 'fruit porridge' with add-ons turned out to be one of their top childhood food memories. The other was the rare occasions where they came back from the playground after school, too dirty to sit at the table, but I didn't want to put them in clean pyjamas and have them spill food down it. So I cut out the middle man by giving them sandwiches to eat in the bath. My dh worked away a lot, it was stressful, we were skint, what can I say? 🙃 But they all claimed that both the blue sparkly fruit porridge and the bath/sandwiches situation had blown their minds as kids and they would fully repeat it with their own children.

Tl;dr - don't feel guilty for this kind of stuff. But do add blue food colouring and sparkly edible glitter to porridge if you want to be a legend for your adult kids. 😂

I’ve been doing this for years! Few things better, especially on a cold evening. DD likes chopped apricots on hers or cinnamon.

Nothing wrong with porridge. Healthy and nutritious. Often have it as an evening meal if I have things on or get home too late to cook.

Totally fine

Some nights I feel like having a bowl porridge - especially at this time of year.

It's a superfood: what do they want you to give him? A greasy fried lamb chop and some mash?

If doing it for my dc I'd probably add half a banana or some berries.