Breakfast/lunch/dinner ideas!

[ColourfulHairbands]

I know this has been absolutely done to death but I’d really appreciate any food suggestions that you give to your 1 & 2 year old.

My 1 year old will eat absolutely anything, he isn’t much of an issue even though I always struggle with what to give him for lunch. My 2 year old is really picky and struggles to eat new things due to sensory issues.

They both have Cerelac porridge every morning for breakfast but I really do think it has way too much sugar in for them to eat it daily. I know people say, ‘just give them what you eat’ but truth is, I’m either at work whilst their dad looks after them. He rarely eats so he wouldn’t cook up a meal for himself and give them a portion out of that. When I’m at home, I rarely eat too!

So what new things can I bring into these children’s lives? Thank you

What do they eat now?

Why do neither of you eat?

Shameless bump!😬

Breakfast: toast, pancakes, egg muffins, yogurt bowl, baked oatmeal or stick with porridge but try using rolled oats instead (you can blend it up for a smoother consistency) and that way you can control the sugar you put into making the porridge

Lunch: chicken nugget and chips, fish fingers, ham and cheese sandwich, stir fry noodles, tomato pasta - paired with a side of veg and fruit

Dinner: Curry, fried rice, roast chicken and potatoes, chicken noodle soup, spaghetti bolognese

My 2 year old eats what we eat. When introducing something new, I try to always plate her plate with a preferred and known option along with the new item. Some days she only eats her preferred option and other days she’ll eat the new item and not touch her preferred. Some times when I’m not particularly hungry, it’ll be something quick for her from the freezer. Usually chicken nuggets and chips with a side of peas or sweetcorn

Breakfast :
Toast
Cereal
Boiled eggs (even if you cook these night before they can eat then cold next day)
Overnight oats (nice filling cold breakfast for the summer)
Yogurt

Lunch:
Simple sandwiches - cheese, cucumber, ham, fish fingers, meat from a left over roast.

Dinner:
Pasta sauce cheese meat
Mash sausage beans
Veg sticks and hummus
Rice meat veg

Much easier to bulk cook pasta for the week and serve with different things each day.

Fussy eaters need something familiar on their plate but probably don't have their foods touching. I used to give my dc pasta, chopped sausage separate but some of the pasta sauce in a small pot or egg cup on the plate.

Why don't you eat? Even if small portions, sitting together with kids to eat is so important, so they learn about healthy and balanced eating.
I've never heard of Cerelac porridge before but the ingredients list makes me shudder. Definitely switch to normal porridge and add fruit for sweetness. Otherwise, natural yoghurt with fruit (frozen berries are good), Shredded Wheat, boiled eggs, scrambled eggs, wholemeal toast with peanut butter.

Thanks so much for the suggestions!

My DD (2 year old) refuses to eat any sort of sandwiches and it’s really tricky to get her to try something new. I will try to incorporate some of these foods slowly but surely. My DS (1 year old) will eat anything so I’m not too bothered about him haha.

Not sure why a couple of posters are pestering me about why I don’t eat lol. If you must know I have an eating disorder so the time of the days that I eat food is very scattered. It’s really important to me that the children have a much healthier relationship with food than I do

My one year old has toast with peanut butter for breakfast or yoghurt with berries. In winter it's porridge. Use oats and just add milk in the microwave or on the hob. I add peanut butter or almond butter.

Snack would be Greek yoghurt with berries, or pieces of cheddar cheese, or beans on toast or scrambled egg

Dinner is whatever we're having: omelettes, curry, pasta with little sauce or salt ect.

Perhaps you could batch cook large dinners like Bolognese and curries and store them in the freezer into small portions

My typical breakfasts / snacks:
Steel cut oats made with water on the stove - 7 mins. I put a little bit of butter and a sprinkle of cinnamon on top to serve with fruit on the side.
Bagel with cream cheese or PB and fruit.
Whole meal seed bread lightly toasted with butter and nut butter of some sore or cream cheese. Sometimes butter only. Fruit on the side.
Homemade pancakes, butter, fruit.

Fruit is typically: banana/berries/pineapple/pear/mandarin oranges

I hear you re food issues. Been there with quite obsessive food issues myself. Keep working at it. No shame. 💖

Start with what your DD will eat and start from there.

So if she will eat fish fingers then start adding things to her plate, it doesn't have to be what we normally think of as going with fish fingers it could be salad or oranges, or custard.

You could also try a 'grazing plate' that goes in the centre of the table and anyone can eat anything off it.