Balanced meals for children!

[geflovesmnet]

Hey my fellow mumsnetterz! Quick question, can any of you recommend some healthy, balanced breakfasts, lunches, dinners and snacks for me to feed Alice, Fredrick and Teddy! I'm wanting to try something new to spice up my usual weekly routine, as I've found the taste of stew to have become very bland! I want my children to receive optimal nutrition so they can grow to be the best they can be!
Thanks my main women and men!xxx

If you want a handy way to think of a balanced meal, imagine a plate divided roughly into three segments. One third of the plate containing vegetables or salads, one third with a carbohydrate element and the final third with protein (animal or vegetable)

So a good combination might be a piece of grilled meat or fish, a small jacket potato or a few spoonsful of rice or pasta, and a selection of vegetables. Or it could be some poached eggs with some peas on the side served on toast. Lots of permutations.

The other thing to remember is that 'balance' happens over the course of the whole diet, not just individual meals. So aim for them to have plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables & a good variety of other foods..

Not even half term yet.....

When they're hungry (before a meal) give them a plate of fruit prettily cut up so they can arrange it in a picture if they're under 3, or get them to cut up some fruit (supervised of course).

I'd always start with what they like and make a healthy version of it; e.g. if it's pesto and pasta, use the rice or spelt pasta and make your own pesto with more basil and garlic, good quality olive oil. Also get them to make the accompanying salads.

Try not to use convenience foods all the time. There is plenty of protein in greens and tofu, nuts etc.