How did you get your toddler to eat a roast dinner?

[Maloneyb]

One of my favourite things in the world is a roast dinner!
im always making something extra for my DS(under2) because he just won’t engage in eating a roast.
he doesn’t like mashed potato- loves chips though!
broccoli is ok but picky…
I just don’t know what to do / how to offer it differently to gage his interest?

any tips?

any particular sides I can try?

mine wouldn’t eat the meat but liked the chipolatas, yorkshire puddings, carrots, peas and roast potatoes

And loved cheese sauce with the veg. And ketchup 🤢

I just put all the bits on their plates and they eat what they want. Make roast potato, veg they do like, those frozen mini yorkies are handy.

Roast potatoes aren't that much different to chips really, so I'd just cut them up small on the plate.

I had 3 DC and I don't really remember 'getting' them to eat meals, I'd just give them what we were having and they'd eat what they wanted and leave what they didn't.

I used to make mine roast potatoes and let them crack on eating what they liked or not, neither of mine liked mashed potatoes when they were toddlers I think it was a texture thing.

You're overthinking this. Just lob it on a plate, put more of the healthier foods so he naturally chooses more of those and let be I'm crack on.

Let them choose what bits they want but don’t offer any alternatives. Roast chicken with roast potatoes would be ok for most toddlers I think and it’s fine if they don’t want gravy or turn down most of the other sides on offer. When they’re older and see others enjoying the rest they’ll probably want to try too but for now I’d just focus on getting them to the table and eating from whats on offer.

I tend to serve food on central plates and then the children choose what they like. If your kid eats beef and broccoli then Id be happy enough. Plenty of protien and veg, it’s not mandatory to have carbs at every meal. Breakfast is often carb heavy so it balances over a day.

Oh and all 3 liked chicken and pigs in blankets, so even if we were having a meat they didn't like, I'd just pop a chicken breast in the oven for them.

We never plate up…which meant that when small DSs could have the bits they wanted (I always make sure there are two vegetable options they’ll eat). I don’t like gravy so I’d be unimpressed, frankly, at being handed a fully plated roast dinner and don’t think that’s very fussy.

What vegetables does he like? Have them.

If likes Yorkshire puddings, he doesn't need potato.

Cut meat finely.

I have one that loves a roast and one that hates it.

The one that hates it will tolerate it (now aged 16) but certainly doesn't enjoy it.

Different people have different tastes.

Well it's not a roast without roast potatoes, so try those rather than mash.

If he doesn't like broccoli try something else - carrots, peas, courgette, cabbage, beans. Offer two and he has a choice.

Don't smother it in gravy - put some in a small pot and he can dip, or just a small amount in an empty bit of plate.

Stick it in front of him and let him eat what he wants.

Cut the meat for the toddler very thinly, because baby teeth aren't very good for chewing meat, which can put the toddler off a roast dinner.

im always making something extra for my DS(under2) because he just won’t engage in eating a roast.

I wouldn't bother with that, but I'd try roast potatoes instead of mash. Is the meat sliced thinly for him? Does he eat the meat?

Do a selection of veg, including broccoli which you know he likes, but maybe rotate through some others each time you make it. Do you think he'd like cauliflower cheese? Stuffing? Are you pouring gravy on and maybe he'd prefer it without? I'd let him pick the bits he wants.

But really, I'd just continue to serve it as I normally made it and he can eat it or not. Give him a banana for pudding if he's hungry.

Er put it on their plate 🤷‍♀️ baffled

Just put it on the plate and let him eat what he wants. Mash has no place in a roast dinner!

You really are missing out double potato is the dogs doddahs 😀

My toddler loves mash. And steak. He doesn’t need meat cutting up small.

I’d do what everyone else has said, though. Make sure there’s elements to your roast that he likes and let him have those. He’ll be fine.

Thanks all

and it is rare we have mashed potato. Always roasties and if I’m in the mood I’ll do mash too!! 🤣

let’s see how it goes 🤷🏽‍♀️

Just let him eat what he can, what do you usually make him instead ?

(ketchup 🤫)

Update!
the ketchup definitely helped! 🤣

he never has liked roasties, yorkies etc but managed to eat a fair bit!! So glad

thanks for all your help

Ketchup for the win 😂 it's good that he ate some of it at least.

My DS was a bit funny about roast dinners at that age too. Went to MIL's for dinner. She cut all his meat and veg uo really small, and put about half the amount on his plate I would have done. I rolled my eyes - but he walloped the lot. I thought maybe it was because we were at his Granny's but tried it again at home and it worked. They can get a bit over faced if too much on the plate, you can always add more later; and chopping it small makes it easier to eat.