Help me...!!!!

[curvybebe]

Dinner time in my household is a nightmare and really stressful at times. DD's are terible eaters will not have any veg at all.. They both seem to live on processed food and this worries me i've tried to introduce new healthier foods but they look at me as if i have gone totally mad! And then the tears start. I'd like to no where i went wrong as both ate really well as babies. DD1 is better then DD2 but they really both worry me. i am contacting my HV next week to ask for help as DD2 is having poo problems which docter thinks is related. I feel terrible and cant see a light at the end of the tunnel. Any advice PLEASE......

are u using any childrens recipe book for child "attractive presentations" (laughing...)
they might inspire curiousity in them plus the veg are hidden in some of the sauces or dishes

anabel karmel is the one i use.
great food for adults too

Chuck the processed food, its tough love but it worked for me, DS1 basically ate fishfingers and smiles until I stopped buying them, if its not there they have to try the alternatives. Tricks like including 2 things on the plate you know they haven't eaten before and insisting they choose one to try have also helped increase the repetoire here.

Try involving them with the cooking and get them to make things with you.

Pizzas, salads with cold meats and tuna or salmon.
You could also get some bread mix and make some rolls and have some spreads on it, cheese, meat spreads etc

For the salads, you can get them to make a nice dressing for it with olive oil, honey, vinegar etc.

DS1 loves those pasta in sauces things which aren't that great nutritionally and smiley faces and fishfingers and chicken nuggets - all bought from the freezers in tesco. I now make my own, and oddly enough he'll eat them. As I also have DS2 to accommodate I make them v. quick and batch make so I can just bung stuff in the freezer. I don't suppose some processed stuff does them any harm does it? Mine both eat quite a bit, I just try to make sure they get one good healthy meal a day a least.

How do u make your own chick nuggets etc.

How old are your dds?

What sort of things do they they like to eat?

2 and 5 they mainly eat chicken nuggets bernard matthews dinosaurs smiley faces dd1 will eat baked beans dd2 wont tomato soup super noodles thats about it really!!

and sausage rolls....!

You might need to introduce new things gradually.

How about homemade chicken nuggets and chips, homemade tomato soup with extra veg pureed into it? Tomato sauce (again with hidden veg) with spaghetti (like noodles really} and grated cheese mixed in? Baked beans are fine!

Will have a think!

chicken breast chopped to appropriate size, I just coat it in a thickish flour/water batter and stick in hot oil - don't do the chicken too big though or it'll not be cooked through before the batter is golden brown.
I won't buy anything by bernard stinking matthews - twice now DH and I have been munching our way through some of his stuff and found feathers on it! Bleeuuuggghhhhhhh...barf.........

Good idea on homemade tom soup will defiantly try that one thankyou

uuurrrggghhh dont think i'll be buying bernard matthews after that.. will try nuggets too

Just realised you've got 2 threads going at the same time. On the other one you asked about a book. I think it's The Dinner Lady by Jeanette Orrey.

Yeah weren't sure wot conversation to put it on. will be goin shopping for books tommorrow!! In all honesty suppose dh and myself dont eat too well either think i have to review all our eating habits need to re-educate myself ...

Thankyou for everyone's advice i'm gunna find it really helpful

hiya
my friend has just given me this book, its very good. I made the home made chicken nuggets on Saturday night, they dissappeared very quickly. Some of the recipes appear a little bland but obviously you can add herbs, spices etc. I also made Moussaka on Friday night (again from this book) and the whole family ate it (yes even the Aubergine!!!). I must admit to being on a bit of a crusade at the mo, am doing an essay for my Biology coursework on food additves and am horrified at what I've learnt. My kids think Im nuts coz I keep reading food labels and shaking my head as I return them to the supermarket shelf. LOL.
Have to agree with Geoteach, if its not there they can't eat it, they won't starve, they will (eventually) eat what you give them. they have to learn what real food tastes like. Good luck, it took a while with my youngest and she still has the odd moan occasionally.

Thankyou will have to try chick nugg. went shopping today brought no junk. did spag bol for tea not a success my eldest went to bed moaning she was hungry felt so guilty Please tell me i'm doing the right thing doesn't feel like it at the mo

How did u do ur chick nugg Katetee

Did she try it??
Can you truly say she didn't like it??

I have some sort of bread on the table so they won't go hungry.. then they can have some fruit...

If they truly don't like it I wouldn't force them to eat it... after all I WOULD not eat anything I didn't like!!

Please persevere... don't expect miracles over night..

She tried the tinyest bit u could imagine not even a mouth full. She was put off by he look of the mince i think. Just think back to when i was a kid i ate whatever was put in front of me with no moaning or groaning!!!!

Hiya curvybebe
you really are doing the right thing, it is very hard when you think they are hungry, but if they are, they will eat. Its not like you're giving them something absolutely disgusting. It just takes time and patience, I think i'm right in saying its their taste buds being used to all the artificial ingredients, they have to re-learn what real food tastes like.
When I did the nuggets I used chicken breast and chopped them into chunks of goujons if you prefer. Toasted some bread (brown or white or wholemeal) blitz into breadcrums, or buy some. Added paprika to breadcrumbs, (jamaican jerk spice makes it nice too) dip chicken in beaten egg, (breadcrumbs in a sandwich bag or on plate)
then put chick into breadcrumbs, i found it easier with them in a sarnie bag, then place on a baking sheet for about 10/15 mins, depending on size etc, until breadbrumbs crisp up a bit. The dinner lady book does a tomato sauce and a relish to go with, if you want them let me know.
I did a sausage and borlotti bean casserole last night, thought the kids would go mad, they loved it. just keep trying things, you will ge there. If you want any other recipes from this book just give me a holler.
kate

hi again, sorry i type v. slowly!! the other things is, is your dd getting a reaction from you when she refuses. I know my youngest is a * for attention of any kind and food used to be her weapon of choice in winding me up. In the end she gave up and now eats virtually anything, both drew the line when I offered them prunes though!!lol

Slight breakthough tonight Youngest tryed a bit of carrot which believe me is a big step forward wasn't too impressed but at least she tryed it.. And eldest even tried bit of pork s tonight was one of the better nights. Fingers crossed for tomorrow night.