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Meal time dilemmas

3 replies

Jessiestar · 21/08/2013 20:54

Hi. I have a slightly unusual problem with my 17 mth old at meal times, he loves veggies (particularly carrots) so much that he eats them first and then screams / cries at me to give him mine too, refusing to eat any more of his own dinner if I don't give him any. I'm sure a lot of parents dream of their LO loving veg but my concern is that although the veg have lots of vitamins he's not getting much protein and carbs for energy etc, and veg doesn't fill you for long. I then find myself offering more filling puds, like rice pudding to fill him.

Today I just refused to give him any more carrots and ate mine quickly, but he still didn't eat any more of his dinner. I don't know what to do for the best!

To offer a variety of protein sources I've tried home made burgers (wouldn't eat them), minced beef and turkey dinners (sometimes eats a bit of the mince) 'dippy' or scrambled eggs (not keen on either) spaghetti Bolognese (with some success!) He'll eat small amounts of cheese (one or two cubes of about 0.5cm,) shop bought fish fingers or chicken nuggets and has milk morning and night.

I guess my main question is, do I refuse to give him my veg once his has gone, or do I give him more and hope he'll eat more of his dinner if he's got what he wanted? I don't want mealtimes to become a battleground! Confused

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
lilian3 · 21/08/2013 21:01

as I was told no child will starve himself. his behaviour is of course a form of blackmail.!!!! dont give carrots every day. have you got Annabel Karmels book on food for babies /children? it might give some tips etc. but over all I wouldn't worry not at his age.

TiredyCustards · 21/08/2013 21:04

I would stop doing meals with separate veg. Risotto, curries, pasta + sauce etc, then he can't help but eat a bit of everything.

Does he like rice? Add quinoa for extra protein!

There's a recipe in the quorn kitchen for carrot and apricot veggie burgers, he might go for them.

dreamingbohemian · 21/08/2013 21:07

I wouldn't worry. When DS was this age and going through weird food things our doc told us it was better to think of what they were eating on a weekly or monthly basis rather than a daily, and sure enough after a week of veg he'd go on a carb binge or something else. It's like somehow they know what they really need as they develop.

You could try mashed veg with flaked fish or meat sort of hidden within it, this worked with my DS. Would he eat carrots with hummus?

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