Is my children's diet actually not that good?

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Just had some great advice over on the weaning boards because baby DS is constipated. But it's made me worried that actually my children's diet isn't right. They eat what I think of as really well but they do poo a lot (huge occasionally a bit soft) and occasionally complain of sore tummies. I've noticed over holidays this has happened more. Which I find surprising as I know they don't eat that well at school (sometimes come home saying they ate some plain rice, cucumber and pudding) DH has various digestives issues so I've always put it down to that but maybe not. Am I actually wreaking havoc on their little tummies with too much fibre? Any experts out there who can advise?

Breakfast fruit e.g. blueberries to start (sometimes with yoghurt) then toast with eggs or porridge with ground almonds and coconut.

Lunch spinach and potato omelette with veg tomatoes, avocado, cucumber, carrot sticks etc

Snack an apple, crackers with peanut butter (often don't have a snack)

Supper quinoa, lentil, carrot and mushroom bolognese with pasta, roast sweet potato, green beans.

Small amount of fruit e.g. A satsuma

We aren't vegetarians but don't eat loads of meat. Meals obviously vary and are sometimes less 'healthy' e.g. Fish pie, curry etc but always with two portions or more of vegetables.

Basically, I'm under the impression that children need more nutrient and caloury dense food that adults. Very high proportions of veg can make that more difficult to achieve.

Do children not get simple meals any more? Like cheese on toast, a boiled egg, sanwgich, salad etc?

Bloody hell well done I would rejoice if my child ate that kind of food. She eats fish fingers, chips, Pom bears, paws fruit bars and her own bogeys.

Humans evolved for thousands of years eating large amounts of fibre, so our bodies are really well adapted to it. That said individuals have different responses to different foods.
If there is something you suspect is causing tummy ache, di a challenge by cutting it out for 3 weeks, then re introduce and see how it goes.

I was about to say what happened to plain old fashioned simple easy meals.

Fishfingers
Shepherds pie
Stew
Ham salad with new potatoes
Liver and onions with mash
Corned beef hash

I grew up on these and this is the typical diet my friends children have now. They are all in peak health, run about outside all the time and are rarely ill.

Super healthy and unprocessed, but not nearly enough proteins or fats in there.

If everyone has quite bad tummies, it might be worth checking in with GP about coeliac, for eg, esp if your DH has digestive issues.

But yes, more fish, meat, egg, cheese! They need the fats and proteins for growth.

Humans evolved through many different eras and diets.

Earliest human ancestor lived of carrion- flesh taken from the carcasses of animals killed by better predators. Almost certainly raw.

Evolutionary history has many uses, dietary advice is not one of them.

Typically my kids eat cereal or bagels
School dinner
Fish fingers beans and waffle
Yoghurts
I try to throw fruit or peas in their general direction and hide the Easter eggs.

So yours sounds incredibly healthy!

Sounds fine. Probably all the fibre giving them belly ache, I’d be farting like a trooper eating that. Mine survive on ham sandwiches and chicken dippers so I’m probably not the best judge

Sounds like lots of people are jumping to conclusions based on one day. They eat lots of 'normal' meals, think I mentioned fish pie, pizza, lasagne and curry and there are zillions more. I encourage them to try new things but don't make them eat anything they don't like. They do eat a lot of vegetables yes and appreciating the advice on here that actually maybe it's too much. But to everyone eye rolling I do just want to clarify that they aren't existing on steamed kale.

I think that your children's diet is "that good" but that the increased tummy issues over half term are the result of increased fibre and roughage. I'd love to increase our vegetable consumption but we get between 5-10 fruit and veg a day which I feel is adequate.

I have no knowledge or expertise in nutrition but a normal day for us would be

Breakfast- porridge with berries, honey and almonds
Or egg and soldiers

Dinner- packed lunch- broccoli soup ( or another type of soup) with a bread slice, banana, yoghurt and a barney bear cake or crisps

Tea- chicken and vegetable pie with peas and sweet corn/ lasagne and salad/ vegetable tagine and Cous cous

Snack- tomatoes/ cucumber/ hard boiled egg

Supper- cup of tea and a biscuit- usually a hob nob

How much water do they drink? Healthy fibrous foods need plenty of water to wash them down - that is likely to be the problem.

They drink a lot of water. When at home probably six or so of those ikea type cups worth?

Suggest more. Approx 1-2 litres (or as close as they can manage).

worried that actually my children's diet isn't right.

It is healthy and I can see that you are packing plenty!!! of vitamins in there, but perhaps the diet could do with a bit more 'staff of life'? Two slices of bread/toast morning or midday and one or two with supper?

What they are getting at school might sound plain but it isn't unhealthy and neither is fish pie or curry (potato, chappati, protein, veggies, oil).

To the poster who said '2 litres' of water. I think that is way too much.

well it sounds super healthy but if it's causing tummy problems it might be worth looking into. My dad gets tummy troubles with lentils I believe it's pretty common so might be worth cutting out and see if it resolves. My mum also said something the other day about being egg bound after my little boy had eggs at lunch with her then I had made omelettes for tea I've no idea if this is a thing but she seemed to think too many eggs can bung you up. My little boy is 4 and diet is not perfect and some days much better than others. Breakfast a Apple eats between half to a full one, bowl of bran flakes ( dry he doesn't like milk on them) and2 slices of brown toast. Snack cheese and crackers/ rice cakes/ breadsticks Lunch he has beans on toast , scrambled eggs, ham sandwich ECT I usually give carrot sticks, blue berries/ grapes then he has either yogurt / buiscuit/ bit of Easter egg. Afternoon snack if he has one half a banana / crackers. Tea sometines veg curry / stir fry sometimes slag bol/ shepards pie/ pasta bake he usually has 2 veg with tea e.g. broccoli and green beans. He then has milk before bed.

Have you read about FODMAPs? The original research was around IBS. It might be worth a look, though there is a long list perhaps combining too many foods that can upset the intestine is causing some discomfort? I think it's about trial and error, personally chic peas are hell which is such a shame because I love falafel and hummus.

I think you are worrying about nothing, they sound completely normal and healthy. Doesn't everyone get occasional tummy ache?