cheerios?

[cocococo]

DS 15 months is not mad on healthy snacks no matter how many raw veggies or bits of cheese I offer him, his mouth stays firmly closed. If I offer a few raisins or some dry cheerios, or c&g biscuits they'll disappear in seconds! I don't give him snacks often, only if he hasn't eaten much lunch and he's running around using up lots of energy.

I was thinking the cheerios were a good thing to offer due to all the added vitamins but when I tasted them today, realised there were a lot sweeter than I thought they would be. So read teh label and what a surprise loads of different types of sugar listed very high up on the list of ingredients list! Any advice on healthy snacks or whether a few cheerios is going to make his teeth fall out!

There is a brand of non-nestle cheerio type things (to open another can of worms altogether ) They're called Heritage O's and I've seen them in lots of healthfood stores. What about apple slices? My dd loves them.

message withdrawn

My ds LOVES organix bars with a passion, and has recently decided that he likes the Organix mini breadsticks. Also loves Cheerios and any other cereals, especially if in my breakfast bowl! Will eat raisins if in the mood, but not any pieces of cheese, fruit, or anything 'healthy'. I recently tried these new Sunmaid raisin cinnamon roll bun thingies, which he loved, and he can have because they don't have any egg in them (he's allergic to egg). He also loves any type of cracker, plain or with Dairylea. I have given up on giving him raw fruit, as he just spits anything like that out. Now I have to put fruit or cheese cooked into his meals.

I too have a problem with him eating his main meal in the evening if I give him a snack in the afternoon, although it also depends on how active he has been. He seems to have a hungry day, followed by a non-hungry day, and this pattern seems to repeat itself. I am not too worried though, as he is putting on weight nicely, and I think that he gets enought fruit/veg, and calcium etc over the week.

I have realised that, no matter how much you vary a baby's diet in the early stages, they will be fussy if they want to be. Mine can be about certain things, and I do worry that he is not getting an interestingly varied diet, but I think that there is no point worrying until he is old enough to reason with, because then I might be able to convince him to try things. Sorry, I seem to have gone off thread a bit, I'll stop waffling now.

Does anyone actually get through a whole packet of cereal with their child?

Do you mean does anyone's child get through a whole box before they lose interest in it? If you do, my answer is yes - cheerios are always a fave, as are Wheetos ("chocolate cheerios" as they're known in our house), and in fact any chocolate cereal. Have to admit, I'm a real mean mummy, and only let them eat choc cereals in other people's houses (grandparents' mainly). However, we have had some disasters, too, mainly due to dh exercising no discretion when shopping with dds, and letting them chose on the basis of the picture on the box.

My daughter doesn't even like the chocolate cereals! Only ones she likes are Golden Nuggets and Sugar Puffs, both extremely healthy!!! Must admit, I like them though.

Golden Nuggets - 40% sugar I believe? AND they're not as big or tasty as when I was small. Boo!!

I tend to buy Tesco's variety packs in addition to the big box of Cheerios. Yes, it's more expensive but no waste.

Why don't supermarkets make own-brand Cheerios? They've copied pretty much everything else. There are own brand ones in the US.

Those mimi wetabix are a favoutite, especially when they come out of mummy's bowl. Try cutting the grapes in half, helps with the identification as food.

Some kids just don't like cereal. DS1 is not at all fussy with food, but never particularly went for cereals. He's 5 now and has sandwiches or toast for breakfast. DS2 loves cereal, and will eat just about any that he's given.

... When I think about it, I virtually never eat cereal (a very rare bowl of muesli) and I hated cereal as a child too. But it's not a copying thing, because ds2 (3.5 now) still eats cereal every day, despite the fact that no-one else does.