No added sugar toddler puddings

[Whathefisgoingon]

I try not to give my 18 month old added sugar, though he will have the occasional half a biscuit etc.

He has the same pudding every day, which is yogurt and a few different fruits. Berries, banana, kiwi etc. It must be getting pretty boring though he still laps it up!

Just curious what you give yours?

I make this pancake tray bake thing - basically flour, eggs and milk, whisked together and poured in a tray with fruit of your choice scattered over to sweeten. Don't need to add any sugar at all. Bake in the oven, cool and cut into squares.

I used to make custard with no sugar, or semolina, or rice pudding.

If he's eating it, and the fruit is varied, it's not a problem

Petit Filous www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/304375298

I used to make jelly with watered down fruit juice and gelatin when DD was little, that always went down well

I make little muffins that are just sweetened with banana. If you Google kids banana muffins loads of suggestions come up.

Ella’s kitchen do three puddings my child likes. Just checked one and no added sugar - there is a mango rice pudding, apple crumble and banana bread pudding. Actually they all look exactly the same and nothing like their names suggest but he likes them.

Egg and banana pancakes? Literally just egg and banana smushed up and pan fried.

Thanks all! I do pancakes like that for breakfast and have given him some of Ella’s ones previously too.

I’m going to give the jelly a go. The sugar free ones are loaded with sweeteners so obviously not keen to give him that. Hadn’t thought about making my own!

We don't do pudding every day, don't see the need to.

Banana custard is really easy. 2 bananas, 3 egg yolks, 120ml milk and a dash of vanilla essence/cinnamon/nutmeg. Wizz in the blender till smooth, pour into silicon cupcake cases and bake at 180 degrees for 20 minutes. Makes about 3 custards.

Chia pudding is also a popular one (I don't have a recipe, I did cloth nappies and didn't want to risk chia poo). DS loved yogurt with some fruit purree mixed in too.

@Clarabellawilliamson

Egg and banana pancakes? Literally just egg and banana smushed up and pan fried.

I used to make those - fry them in some butter and then when they're ready and taken out, add some sliced strawberries to the pan for a few minutes - makes a lovely sauce for the pancakes.

Yoghurt or fruit is fine.

Custard and milk puddings with no sugar or anything to sweeten them sound utterly vile.

Stewed apple with a little cinnamon is nice, or stewed pears, if you want some fruit variety.

I'd do yogurt and fruit and the very occassional normal pudding because really, what is the point it a sugar free rice pudding or custard. My dd is dairy free and I wouldn't put her through that even to get calcium into her.

You can buy little ice-pop trays that go in the freezer. I blend up fruit and yoghurt or banana or whatever needs using up, and make it into ice-pops in Summer. The kids love it.

I really don't understand this demonisation of sugar. Going to huge lengths to ensure a child has 'no sugar' is stupid. They're getting plenty of sugar in fruit. Just keep sweet things in general, including fruit, to a minimum, and to mealtimes, and ensure a good toothbrushing routine if you're concerned.Occasional homemade rice pudding made with actual sugar is perfectly acceptable. Common sense seems to have gone out of the window these days

Those were the days when we had spotted dick and apple crumble.......yum.

With my first at that age it was yogurt and fruit. By the time I had my third baby he had cake and crumble and gateaux with the rest of us.

Huge difference between the natural sugar in plant cells, with natural fibre etc and a spoonful of the white crystal stuff. The latter is a UPF for a start

You can always sweeten things with fruit juice, but otherwise I love an unsweetened crumble.

Blackberries and apples, topping can be made with zero sugar - handful of raisins if you want, or cashews have some natural sweetness. If they aren't used to the powerfully sweet stuff which we all eat then it'll be plenty sweet enough for them to enjoy

I wouldn’t be scared to introduce some food with added sugars. You don’t want to to crave that and they will end up craving it if it’s really limited and seen as a treat!

Why does he have to have pudding at all? I try not to get kids into the habit of having something sweet after every meal it's not a good expectation.

I don’t understand the demonisation of sugar either. All things in moderation. Why shouldn’t a child enjoy a piece of cake once a week, or a bit of chocolate pudding as a treat? It’s not like you’re stuffing them with chocolate buttons all day long. When mine were small we didn’t do pudding, except fruit, but would have cake or pudding on a Sunday. Neither of my two are remotely overweight, neither have they had any fillings.

@FusionChefGeoff He’s my first and when I started reading about weaning etc everything said they should have a main meal and a pudding twice a day. I guess it’s to ensure they’re taking in enough calories!

@MrsSchadenfreude It’s not demonisation. Like I said above, he will have the odd biscuit or sugary treat, but I don’t give him sugar loaded foods as meals. The NHS guidance is to even avoid fruit juice until over the age of two!