Sources of protein for fussy family

[piratehugs]

We have a multitude of issues around food and dinnertime. The one I'm thinking about today is protein. Can anyone suggest dinner dishes with good sources of protein for my fussy kids?

• Eggs and nuts are out (allergies)

• Chunks of meat are thrown on the floor

• Mince (in Bolognese or similar) is scraped off the pasta and ignored

• Visible fish causes a tantrum

• Fish hidden in sauce is yucky, not eaten

• Sushi, no chance

• Seafood is out (allergies)

• One will eat baked beans

• Sometimes they will tolerate yoghurt but there is only so much yoghurt you can put in a dinner before it becomes yoghurt for dinner

Any suggestions for things we haven't tried, even if it's just new ways of serving the same things?

Do they eat veggies? As there is protein in peas, sweetcorn, even potatoes! You are right to think of other sources of course but their intake may not be as bad as you think.

It sounds like you've hit a fussy phase - PITA but should pass eventually.
Will they eat tortillas? The soft wrap ones? Could you do a serve-yourself meal with different dishes & they make their own fajitas/tacos/burritos? We tried this the other day & DD (8) actually tried & liked avocado & raw red cabbage; & DS (4) tried lettuce (liked) & red cabbage (didn't like).
What sorts of meat will they eat?

Tuna?
Quorn sausages?

Dahl? My picky eater really likes spicy food.
Is it worth trying different ways of cooking fish? DD likes salmon baked with soy ginger and garlic. Umami type flavours go well with her and make lots of food more palatable.
Cheese with everything!

They like wraps so we used to do fajitas regularly but they're rejecting more and more of the fillings we offer. They would be happy with plain wraps with nothing in them.

What sort of meat will they eat? Apparently one of them ate a chicken nugget the other week when I wasn't there. Honestly don't recall seeing either of them eating meat.

They loathe Quorn sausages. They make the older one furious. (And IIRC the ones we've had in the past have egg in.)

• There's actually quite a bit of protein in wheat so bread, pasta, wraps, etc, and you can buy higher protein versions.

-yoghurt like Skyr is particularly high protein so you can add less -a milky rice pudding -peas, mushy peas, soya beans, etc. -quorn: my fussy eater eats it instead of meat because it's smooth, they do lots of different types, the nuggets are especially popular here! -make your own baked beans using other beans -blend lentils smooth in tomato sauces -turkey dinosaur type foods

They do eat dhal, if they're in a good mood.

I could try different ways of tackling fish, but I suspect they wouldn't try it.

I’ve noticed that some kids don’t like protein because of consistency but happy with “hidden protein”. My DD was like this at this age so I did soups e.g carrot and lentil, chickpeas and tomato and then put her portion trough the blender, gradually going this less and less. It worked really well. The same with mince. She also liked cheese so I allowed her to cover whatever she ate in grated cheese, wasn’t keen on fish. We calculated specifically her protein intake at some point because we were worried and it turned out she was fine. Semi skimmed milk and bread actually a good source of protein so glass of milk and toast now and then is your answer. Not all yogurts are equally rich in protein so you have to check.

High protein breakfast cereal e.g. high protein weetabix.

Grilled halloumi (you can get halloumi burgers and fries if they like it)

Quorn crispy nuggets are quite nice and maybe they will prefer them to the chicken version?

Have you tried smoked fish? Like hot smoked salmon? My DC love it (not the raw kind).
Prawns? Or other shellfish?
Dairy obviously has protein so butter; milk; cheese; cream, even ice cream!
You could add cream or mascarpone to pasta sauces. Buttered toast/crumpets/bagels/malt loaf.
Do they eat sausages? Or beige food?
Glass of milk before bed. Porridge made with milk.

My mistake.

Well! I'd never noticed the protein content of bread before. There's loads in the bread we have here. You learn something new every day. Thanks.

Yes, Kwashiorkor is a thing. Very unlikely in this country and with the efforts the OP is making (I'm sure her kids will be fine) but it exists.

OP, I think just maximising the things they will eat (that they want to eat) is best. It could all change.

My 2 are really fussy and won't eat fish, but love smoked cod mac & cheese. Give this recipe a try! www.delicious.com.au/recipes/smoked-cod-mac-n-cheese/r6wm8wfi

Another favourite is orzo and broccoli and the sauce is philadelphia, grated cheese and a splash of milk. Basically loads of cheese in everything 😄

When my 2 were fussy toddlers the only meat they would eat was

Home made crispy chicken nuggets or breasts. That's Chicken bashed flat with a rolling pin then coated in flour, beaten egg and homemade breadcrumbs and fried.

Really really soft meat like a slow cooked chicken casserole, they'd eat the shredded meat and gravy with mash.

Chopped up wafer thin ham or chicken as part of a picky tea with other bits like breadsticks, cheese cubes and hummus.

And anything on a skewer/ stick.

Happy to report they are now teens who eat everything (in sight) including sushi, oysters and really spicy curry!

Chicken nuggets? Sausages? Kebabs on skewers, fish fingers? What child doesn't like any of those things?!

Ooh yes I'd forgotten mini sausages- mine used to eat those!

Tofu is worth a try.

Edamame beans? My lot won't eat them even though the flavour is very neutral

Red lentils are good - Dal, pasta sauce, or even lentil patties or loaf?

Try to sneak in ground flaxseed or chia seeds into porridge, or cakes or puddings.