Food for a 16 month old, some questions answered please?

[ATadgeUpset]

My daughter is 16 months old and is a very good eater, she absolutely loves all kinds of vegetables (thankfully)!!

I have now gone back to work four days a week, so I am pushed for time when I get in at 5 ish, dinner, play, bath and then bed all by 7ish, its such a rush!

So my questions are:-

Is frozen veg or those steam fresh bags of frozen veg as healthy as fresh veg?

We cook for ourselves occasionally using cook in sauces and packet sauces, can we give her some of this or is it not a good idea?

She is only on the 9th centile for weight and is a little dolly, she is so petite, any ideas on what to give her to help her weight increase a bit more, I'm not particularly worried about her as she is very healthy, but the HV raise eyebrows when she gets weighed?

When 'the professionals' say she should be eating what 'the family' eat do they mean everything as I worry about salt content?

Last one ...... she loves porridge is it OK to put some honey on the top, she loves it!!

Thanks

My DD (18 months) eats what we do.......in smaller amounts. I don't cook with salt but don't really worry about the amount in sauces etc. I wouldn't give her anything spicy or too salty though.

I would give her frozen veg if I used it. She eats frozen peas / sweetcorn a lot.

More often than not, I'll cook a dinner for us (roast, whatever), cook extra and plate up 3 dinners, cut one of them up, add weak gravy and make 2-3 meals for DD. One for the next day and 2 for the freezer.

My DD eats loads of fruit and yogurts as well and loves mousses.

Does she not eat her main meal in childcare so you can do sandwiches etc in early evening for her?

With regard to putting on weight, do you let her have all the things people will say she shouldn't - a bit of cake, chocolate, crisps etc now and again won't do her any harm. Pasta and potato are good as well. A balanced diet is what to aim for IMO rather than a very healthy one.

Honey on porridge is great - and that will definately help!

I'm no expert, DD is my first and I am learning as I'm going along (we're going through a fussy stage atm), but I hope that helps!

Thanks I'm Dreaming, I do the same as you, cook for us then have one for her the next day and freeze two or three other portions, its so much easier!

Yes she does have a cooked dinner at the childminders, then has another one when she gets home, she is spoilt rotten!!

We use the slow cooker for when i'm at work, throw everything in(meat, veggies sauce etc) its ready when we get in!! (we have used tinned/packet sauces since our son was about 14 months)