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 wish my fussy 11yo ate porridge.

Another vote for teatime porridge. Nothing wrong with it. I think it’s a great filling meal and is really healthy when made with fruit/seeds etc and not loads of sugar.

there are many kids who eat chips and Nugs for their tea every night, I would consider porridge healthier alternative.

it’s about balance. I suggest parents look at the child’s overall meals / food intake over the week rather than the day. When mine were little we had a ‘picnic’ a few busy nights a week, but we always had a Sunday dinner and they usually had a hot meal at lunchtime.

we all have different ideas of what is an appropriate evening meal. This can be influenced by the way we were fed as kids (generational) , our lifestyle and other factors.

the fact that you are thinking about the nutritional needs of your kids in this way shows that you are on it, in terms of making sure they are getting what they need.

porridge on !

I am also partial to a bowl of bath porridge after a big day , and I’m in my 40’s…. Some things are just comforting classics!

In the milk.
Also, in the seeds OP adds to hers.
Greek yoghurt and nut butters also have protein in.

I've got 16 & 21 yr olds and both will still do themselves a big bowl of porridge with fruit for tea occasionally if they fancy it and don't want a 'big' meal. Never worries us and they supplement during the day with lots of other food.
They also love it for weekend breakfasts. Getting them to clean the pan after making it is a whole different challenge though.

I find people are very strange about what constitutes a meal and what constitutes 'breakfast, lunch, dinner foods'

Porridge from oats is made from a grain. Like rice is a grain. You wouldnt think twice to serve up risotto for tea but somehow porridge is viewed as odd

Similarly people would think it odd to have risotto for breakfast but its the same as porridge. People have forgotten all about kedgeree which is a breakfast rice dish

People would think it odd to have a chicken breast, mash, greens etc for breakfast but not think it odd to have bacon, sausage, bread or hash browns and beans and tomato. Both meals have a protein, carb and veg.

I often have tarka dhal for breakfast or pulses of some sort, not dissimilar to having baked beans. I also have soup sometimes but thats similar in my view to a smoothie, but Im sure people woujld think it odd to have that.

People would have a croissant or pastry for breakfast but consider eating a sandwich for breakfast odd no doubt.

Its not very logical.

Oats have protein in them, as does the milk, as do any seeds or nuts that OP might add. Some people add an egg mixed in. Some people (me) add cheese and have a savoury porridge.

Why would you think theres no protein in basic oats and milk? Its a fantastically balanced meal.

I had porridge in bed for dinner last night

If porridge is acceptable at breakfast, it's acceptable at dinner! Food is food.

It's a whole grain, made up with milk, nutritious, warming and filling ...and cheap!

I also mix things like chia and flaxseed in DD(5). - sometimes peanut butter, pecans, cacao powder/nibs, maple syrup or fruit or even ...GASP... chocolate spread!

As long as he’s growing well, energetic, and not missing out on key nutrients overall, there’s no need to force a meat-and-two-veg dinner every single night.
Variety across the week matters more than what’s on the plate at any one meal.

My DS loved porridge for dinner when he was little, no fuss or mess and very nutritious especially by the time I’ve added blueberries and banana. It’s hot and filling and, most importantly, something he likes eating - what’s not to like.

I’d also remind you that if he doesn’t actually eat the food you serve, he’ll get no nutrition at all so, for me, if it’s a choice of porridge or him not eating the meat and two veg, I know what I’d go for.

Porridge for dinner is a meal for my 5 year old.
I don’t see how it’s different from a bowl of pasta.
He definitely wouldn’t eat meat & 2 veg every time.

There should be many many more parents like you 😍👌👏

My second is 2.5 and loves porridge. I'll give it to him for dinner sometimes as well.

Edited to add, plain is fine of course. But I stir in some peanut butter while it's cooking and throw in some chia seeds too. Then pop some chocolate chips on top :) he loves it!

What nuts would you add please? This has inspired tonight’s dinner for me.

This thread has surprised me because MN is normally very rigid about the types of food considered acceptable to serve at different times of day but refreshingly, common sense mostly prevails.

I might try it myself - I like porridge, but find I get the opposite effect from most in that it makes me more hungry not less, but seeing as I'm rarely that hungry in the evening, it might work for me.

I had the Aurora books (Hallo Aurora, Aurora and the Little Blue Car) set in Scandinavia when I was little and they used to have porridge as a main meal which I had never come across before (porridge wasn’t a thing in our family at all, or anyone I knew, I had it for the first time after meeting my Scottish DH). I’m pleased to see its such a thing!

There’s no real nutritional difference between a bowl of porridge with fruit and milk vs a bowl of pasta with cheese and peas. Both are totally acceptable dinners, the key bit is that they’re eaten!

We add pecan and a bit of maple syrup

Yes myself and my kids (teens) often have cereal or toast for dinner, more so when DH is away with work!

😂

In the oats themselves...

I find it a bit shocking (might be the wrong word) that people dont know there is protein in grains

I get judged for serving omelette for dinner! Maybe because I haven’t spent hours prepping a shepherds pie or something!
Keep serving the yummy bowl of porridge, it’s nutritious and fills them up!

A lot of people seem to equate protein with meat/fish only. I've seen people ask 'where's the protein' about meals that include eggs, dairy, pulses or nuts.

Plus there appears to be an expectation that every meal needs to be high protein, otherwise it doesn't count as a meal

Apart from people in extreme poverty or those with eating disorders that severely restrict their diet, there's probably no-one in the UK whose diet doesn’t include sufficient protein.

I think it’s fine on occasion. Same way toast would be. My dd had toast last night.

Personally, I don’t find porridge filling at all and it gives me a sugar crash a few hours later that means I’m really hungry (and I make proper porridge in a pot with nuts and fresh fruit and chia seeds). Something with more protein would be better. Eggs, peanut butter toast, even protein yoghurt to keep him going all night.

But on occasion, yes, it’s fine.