DS food woes!

[tummymumsie]

DS (2.5) is a real fidget! Never sits still for more than a second and never eats a proper meal!

He loves hummous and ricecakes, quinoa, rice, cereal (and smoked salmon), fruit and that's about it! He'll have an egg in the morning (but not for dinner or lunch).

I'm really struggling.

We are all meat-eaters (but not everyday), and have a pretty varied diet. DD (5) loves most food, but especially Italian flavours. DS, not so much!

Any ideas?! I'm worried he doesn't get enough protein. He doesn't really like chicken, beef, sausage or any of the 'normal' kids food (eg. Anything breaded, pizza, or baked beans).

Maybe he's a vegan!

you could try savory 'hidden' cottage cheese pancakes. will he eat yogurt? if so, he could have a pot of that with some banana?

Quinoa is high in protein and you can get protein-enriched cereals (not idea, but better than nothing, hey!?)
If he likes hummus, you could try these falafel burgers www.motherandbaby.co.uk/family-life/family-meal-ideas/falafel-burgers
Have you tried him with tofu? And what about different cheeses like halloumi, feta cubes and mozzarella pearls, or perhaps cream cheese on his rice cakes?
Would he eat egg for dinner if it was in very fine pieces in egg fried rice?

would he like kedigree.it has egg in it and a lovely rice dish.
what about mea tin a pie.like fish.or cottage or shephard pie.
try get him involved.let him feel all grown up and "choose what we have tonight." come to the fridge and ask what colour veg.or meat we shall have.
would he like sauasages chopped into his
what about smoked salmon with poched egg on rice.
a risotto with smoked salmon
if he like humus then what about chickpea in a stew.
chickpea burgers.
do you think hed like pasta or noodles.
hummus flatbread pizza style

if your having a rice or quin dish you could stil lserve a chicken separate.and if he sees your all grabbing for it he fingers crossed will get more curious.so you could do a rice cssserole with some saucy sasages and you all go for it he might too.

Does he drink milk or milk based drinks? Milk on his cereal? It would just help with the protein.
How about nuts or nut butters?
Long shot but will he eat soup, easy to add lentils or cheese.
Egg fried rice.
French toast
Try threading things on skewers, sound daft but the novelty of eating off a stick sometimes helps.
I think I’d explore lots of finger foods that can be picked up and put down, so cutlery doesn’t add to the ‘inconvenience’ of eating.

Thanks for all the ideas! I guess I struggle with dinner mainly, and meat intake.

He definitely likes things he can pick up (my DD loves a 'picky plate' too).

He doesn't like pies or anything with sauce really. Although he likes gravy (sometimes!)

He does have milk (thankfully!) but not lots. He's reducing the amount he drinks now, but it's still a fair amount. He likes porridge in the morning.

Oh, and he loves a cheese & onion pasty! Or a slice of DH's salami 🙈🙄

PS. Any good tofu recipes?! Or lentils? He likes those.

Lentil burgers www.olivemagazine.com/recipes/vegan/spicy-lentil-burgers/
Lentil bake www.healthylittlefoodies.com/curried-lentil-bake/
Tofu scramble is just like scrambled eggs. Loads of recipes on the web.
Tofu pancakes are amazing www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/tofu-brekkie-pancakes
Simple tofu noodle salad www.hairybikers.com/recipes/view/noodle-salad-1
Tofu stir fry www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/vegetables-recipes/simple-veggie-tofu-stir-fry/
You could try these chicken pancakes which hide chicken and veg well! www.kidsnewzealand.com/396-chicken-and-potato-pancake-recipe-annabel-karmel.asp

It may not help but with our not sitting still DD we found that giving her main meal at lunch and occasionally breakfast helped, she found it harder to sit still for evening meal so we went for nutrition over 24 hours rather than each meal

I have a ‘fussy’ eater that won’t eat traditional kids’ food either. He’s six now and would still refuse a burger or sandwich, anything made from mince (lasagne, shepherds pie etc all out), pizza, pasta and would be reasonably suspicious of a fish finger.

However, once we moved away from assuming that is what he’d want to eat, there was a whole world of options out there. Things he does eat:

• Seafood in all its forms. Maybe one to try if your son likes smoked salmon. Mine was convinced to try prawns on the basis that people who like salmon often like prawns and they’re both pink! Now he’ll eat all fish, prawns, crab, mussels and squid.

• Spicy food. Massive fan of curries. We mostly have veggie ones due to issues with meat but plenty of protein in chickpeas, kidney beans and dahls. He also likes egg curry, which basically scrambled eggs with onions and spices. Curry must be eaten with bread, never rice.

• Cured meats. Admittedly not a cheap or healthy way to feed a child but he will inhale a plate of cured hams and salami.

• Chicken. Recently he has started eating roast chicken but usually he wouldn’t have something so plain. Chicken in curry or spicy sauce is acceptable to him. We eat a lot of Indian, Chinese and Thai food.

Essentially, he likes strong salty flavours with a fair bit of spice. I’d say he eats well at home, but we still find play dates, parties and school dinners difficult.

@karmakameleon ha! That's brilliant! It's nice to know that I'm not alone. DS defo prefers food with lots of flavour. He will also devour salami (but I feel so guilty giving it to him!).

So strange!

I bought some prawns today, but then DH said he had to be 3 before having shellfish (is that right?)

I've trawled my old Annabel Karmel books for inspo too (love her stuff!). Am tempted to make him some more toddler-style meals (so basically finger food that is presented nicely!). DD (5) still loves this style of eating too, so hopefully it'll work 🤞🏻😬

if he like a pasty what about one of those jus rol pastry tray bakes.so you just get the rol out.then put on your toppings.like a pastry pizza slice.one he can pick up too.
you could start with his cheese and onion on top.(possibly salami)
then adapt more toppings.
what about a risotto dish if he likes rice.
stuffed peppers can be quite fun for kids too.especially if you pain little pictures on the peppers!this is how we slowly mixed in mince to the rice innards.

Prawns are fine. As far as I’m aware, once they are one they can eat everything but whole nuts (chocking hazard).

I don’t like giving too much salami and ham either, but mine has a younger brother who given a choice would only eat cheese sandwiches, pasta, pizza or breaded chicken and fish! A little bit of chorizo in the pasta or on the pizza does help convince DS1 to eat it!

Also PP’s suggestion of risotto made me remember that rice dishes are popular too. We have paella, pea and pancetta risotto, chicken and leek risotto, salmon risotto and egg fried rice regularly.