How do I improve DS's diet?

[EffiePerine]

I periodically worry about what DS (17 mo) eats (or rather doesn't) and I wondered if any of you wise people could advise. I don't want to get too het up over things and give him a complex, but I'd like to make sure he's getting everything he needs to develop well. We have several Issues:

• no freezer so meals need to be prepared max 1 day in advance
• no microwave
• I WOH 4 days a week
• DS goes to CM twice a week and needs to take his food with him
• he doesn't like many vegetables or fruits apart from peas, sweetcorn and apples
• not much spare cash

He will happily eat cereal, pulses, meat, sauces (cheese and tomato based), veg if chopped up small in sauces (cauli cheese is fine, cauli on its own not), pureed fruit, dried fruit, yoghurts and any and all bread products. He's not keen on pasta or rice, though he'll eat them at the CMs (rarely at home). He has some 'junk' like small amounts of chocolate, those Organix baby crisps (which he loves), the odd biscuit or cake.

I'm struggling to find 'main' meals that he will eat and getting an average of 5 portions of fruit and veg in him. Any suggestions, especially on the cheap and easy side? Should I try cutting out the 'junk' altogether in the hope that he'll get more proper food down him? Or should I just relax and keep on trying him with new tastes in the hope that he'll eat the odd green thing that isn't a pea?

my DS is a big cous cous fan - i serve with chicken and veggies, homemade burgers or meatballs etc

have you tried things like fishcakes? You can make with fresh or canned fish

sweetcorn fritters are lovely too

will he eat avocado? hummous and pitta (actually anything in a Pitta)

peas, sweetcorn and apples is a good mix anyway, and you say he'll eat veg in sauces. i don't think it sounds like he's a worry- it's not as if he'll only eat jam!

tbh, i've never worried about getting 5 portions of fruit/veg in my toddler, i aim for 3.

relax- let him try a spoon of what you have, if he doesn't like it, he can eat his usuals and try another day.

Have tried couscous but he isn't keen and he won't eat avocado (or bananas, don't think he likes the texture). The last fishcakes I tried went badly wrong, but will have another go

He will eat hummous, must remember to buy some more

3 sounds more doable (esp if 3 apples count )

do you have a blender? hummous much cheaper done in a big blender batch.

potato wedges - v nice and you can also roast some veggies with them - the new way of cooking may tempt him?

FWIW, i think your DS's diet sounds fine

His diet sounds ok tbh, probaby a lot better than most.
What about new potatoes with the skins on for extra nutrients and can you chuck some broccoli in with the cauliflower in cheese sauce.
I've always fed mine loads of fruit and veg and couldn't tell you if i've ever hit the 5 a day.
I used to send mine to the childminder with his own food, until I found out the great stuff she fed him (that he also would not eat for me). I now pay her £1 for breakfast and £1 for lunch. snacks etc are included in her hourly rate. Would this be an option? She always makes really healthy stuff, so I don't feel guilty if he gets macaroni cheese one night from me!

Our CM doesn;t provide food, although DS steals quite a bit anyway . He won't touch broccoli, sadly (I love it, I blame his veg-hating on DH).

You've given me some good ideas, will have to summon up energy to be more imaginative with meal planning

she doesn't provide food?!

Tinned veg are good as well and a great standby. DS loves carrots, but can I be arsed peeling them when I come in from work, nope. Luckily he will scoff through tinned ones the same.

he won't eat carrots . Lord knows why. Maybe the colour

It sounds like your toddler has a really healthy balanced diet. Much more so than mine.

Have you tried spaghetti without any sauce on it, or sauce on the saide. For some reason, probably related to the impressive spaghetti sucking demonstrations I provide, DS seems to prefer this to pasta with sauce, so I serve it separately.

Also DS is rubbish at his vegetables, but I love raw carrots. I was happily chopping some up for myself one day and chomping on them whilst giving DS his tea. hadn't even bothered putting any on his plate because I thought he would reject them. Well he saw me tucking in to them and tried to grab a bit, so I pretended that it was all mine and he couldn't have any, then very reluctantly gave him a bit... and another.... and another....

Can't say its worked for any other veg but its worth a try.

Stews, casseroles and thick soups. Thats what I always do because:

The meat and veg is really well cooked so the kids don't have to bother chewing - I think thats what puts em off lots of food.

You can cook it in advance at the weekend. You can keep it in the fridge for days.

He will get used to it and learn to love it. I promise.

Will he eat omlettes? You could do cheese +/- tiny bits of chopped onion (so more for flavour) and also some finely chopped spinach and mixed herbs.

Cheesy spinach mashed potato

Quesadillas with cheese, tomato and spinach leaves in.

DD hates avocado but will devour it if it's made in to a bit of a salsa and mixed with onion, chopped tomato and a bit of chilli
Her fav ever is macaroni cheese but with bits of tinned tuna, peas, sweetcorn, brocolli (or in your case cauli instead of the brocolli and pasta!), garlic and onion and mixed herbs in.
Also - if you cook and then blitz up a tin of tomatoes with carrots, mushrooms, onions and red peppers, then you have a tomato sauce with hidden veggies in it. Add mince or lentils to make a bolognase sauce which he could have with baked potato if he doesn't like pasta?

He does like omelettes, so will try hiding some veg in those (not too green tho or it goes on the floor!). Mash with stuff a good idea as well . Thanks for all of these, and the reassurance

Have u tried making him soup. My little boy loves a bowl of soup with some bread and butter. he also love banannas and custard and ravioli it a tomatoe and basil. Perhaps if u whiz the veg up he wont notice it. I watched a programme the other day and they said it can take 20 attempts to introduce ur child to a food before they will actually eat it. They got some carrots and chopped them up and let the children play with them and let the squish up grapes. I think it was just to get them used to the different fruits and veg. Not sure if thats any help but i thought it was quite interesting. his diet doesnt sound that bad. My younger sister went through a phase where she would only eat sausages!!!