Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Original poster

Sandwiches for nursery but ds refuses anything other than jam, any tips??

20 replies

Dirtbagsmummy · 22/02/2011 13:02

I used to give nursery actual meals for ds at lunch time, but they've asked for him to have sandwiches and finger food(well they asked months ago and since then i've been experimenting)

He eats perfectly well, lots of fruit and veg, It seems he's only picky with sandwiches and i'm beginning to feel like a big fat fail.

He opens it up and wont even TRY half the things i've offered(cheese spread, grated cheese, cheese and pickle, ham, ham and ketchup!, pate, chicken,tuna, paste).

I dont give him sandwiches at home now coz i refuse to give him jam every time and its a waste trying all the above again.

I need help!!!!

OP posts:
DerangedSibyl · 22/02/2011 13:07

Spread the bread with plain philidelphia, then jam.

Sandwich is nutritious, he gets his jam.

PrettyCandles · 22/02/2011 13:08

Why does it have to be sandwiches? What about a pot of chunky-cut salad, some crackers/oatcakes/breadsticks (or even a piece of bread!) and a pot of cheese cubes/cold meat/houmus?

Do you cook? How about individual mini-quiches? I used to make 4-5 at a time.

I know it sounds mad, but my dc love cold fishfingers for a packed lunch.

Falafel balls. Scotch eggs. Mini sausages.

Lots of non-sandwich options, which avoids the issue of jam jam jam.

SkipToTheEnd · 22/02/2011 13:14

We use a jam called 'super jam' it's made with fruit and sweetened with grape juice so had no added sugar. My 2 love the blueberry and black current one. We get it form waitrose.

My DS was addicted to houmus at one point so I used to grate carrot and a little cheese into the houmus and mix it up.

I agree with the soft cheese idea - use that as a butter instead.

If he can taste the jam he'll be more likely to try something else.

Original poster
Dirtbagsmummy · 22/02/2011 13:17

I'm currently learning to cook, but quiches are way out of my league!!

I like the idea of mini sausages etc, I have no imagination at all so thank you all for the ideas..keep them coming!!Grin

OP posts:
caffinequeen · 22/02/2011 21:10

Chicken fingers? Ie chicken strips coated in breadcrumbs or crushed crackers.

Will he eat the bread and 'filling' separately? It might be a texture thing that he doesn't like. Personally I think cheese sandwiches are just wrong, but I love bread and love cheese. Surely I can't be the only odd one? (well ok I probably am)

whomovedmychocolate · 22/02/2011 21:13

Peanut butter and nutella - try it.

PlasticLentilWeaver · 22/02/2011 21:32

Marking this thread to watch for ideas, as I have to do packed meals for 10 month old DS who is moving from lumpy mush to finger foods, refusing to be spoon fed etc, and my imagination for packed meals is struggling a bit.

lagrandissima · 22/02/2011 21:34

sticks of cheddar, bread sticks, home made flapjacks (sneak in dried fruit / coconut).

CuppaTeaJanice · 22/02/2011 21:36

Cranberry sauce?

It's kind of like jam Hmm

Then you could slip a few bits of chicken in when he's got used to the taste!

Original poster
Dirtbagsmummy · 23/02/2011 19:11

I love the chicken and cranberry sauce idea..for me too!! hee hee

ds is 16 months, will bread sticks be substantial enough do you think? (i'm crap with portion control too!)

Thank you all, still keep them rolling!! x

OP posts:
Grabaspoon · 23/02/2011 19:15

I would send him with "normal" sandwiches - children are funny creatures and what they don't eat at home/they may eat else where.

thisisyesterday · 23/02/2011 19:29

well if you never give him sandwiches he won't ever get used to them or accept them.

it's normal IME for them to open them up and pick them about a bit, they all do that

maybe try different breads though as well? my youngest isn't a huge fan of bread, but he quite likes mini pittas, and muffins

so yeh, i would just send them in. you may well find he eats better for them than he does for you anyway?

Original poster
Dirtbagsmummy · 24/02/2011 10:12

I do agree with the eating something else for other people thing, but nursery said he wont touch them for them either and i just dont like the idea of him being hungry, maybe i'm being PFB?!

I will be trying the stick to sandwiches at home as i agree with thisisyesterday and he wont ever get used to them otherwise, but at least if its at home and he doesnt eat i can offer something else if/when needed (Tho make sure he doesnt start just taking the piddle!)

erughhh why is everything so complicated?!!!

Thank you all tho, great ideas, like the pitas and muffins ect!

OP posts:
starfishmummy · 24/02/2011 10:32

DS doesn't eat sandwiches. SO I do him a "platter" with some dry bread (his choice - doesn't like butter), cooked meat/chesse/tuna and some salad bits and he eats it. The same stuff in a sandwich would be left. If he needs a packed lunch for a holiday club or something (he has school dinners) then I just put the bits separately in one of those sandwich boxes that has a couple of sections in it.

In fact "platters" be they fruit, veg or whatever always go down well. I think he thinks a platter is more grown up than a plate!

ChippingInNeedsCoffee · 24/02/2011 10:44

The thing is, he doesn't need to get used to sandwiches. They aren't actually that great for you - so why force it?

There are loads of other things he can have :)

Are there any of your meals he likes cold and can eat by himself? Pasta, lasagne, shepards pie etc - some kids love them cold :)

As for making quiche - it really is simple - you can even buy the ready made pastry :) Cook the pastry, mix up the 'inside' and bung it in the case & shove it in the oven! However, I'd buy a small ready made one to see if he will eat it first. Once you start making them you can knock them out without thinking about it! (I don't eat egg anymore so it's been years since I made one, but they were my no fuss option as a teenager!).

I really would just give him other things :)

thisisyesterday · 24/02/2011 13:44

yes, but they're a useful thing to be able to give!

and I also wanted to make the point that in general, if a child refuses a food then it's silly to just never ever offer it.

PrettyCandles · 24/02/2011 13:53

Oh FGS, he's only 16m - there's plenty of time for him to get used to different foods! It's hardly as if he has to eat XYZ because there is no other choice.

Let him eat anything decent. The point is that he should become a willing, intersted eater, who will eat a range of foods. Forcing the issue will just set up refusal problems. So what if he doesn't like something in partcular today - he may like it in 6m time. Do you like everything?

jade80 · 24/02/2011 13:56

Banana sandwiches if he likes fruit? My gran introduced me to them and they're fab...

Geepers · 24/02/2011 14:09

I'd send him to nursery with jam sandwiches.

thisisyesterday · 24/02/2011 14:28

um, i think you're taking what I am saying totally out of context.

my point was that if a child refuses something and then based on that you NEVER give it to them then they can never learn to enjoy it.
we know it often takes several "goes" at a food for children to accept it

no-one is suggesting the OP forces the issue or makes her son eat somethig he doesn't want to. I was merely suggesting that she continue to offer them now and then to see if he accepted them

good grief. If I stopped offering any food my children had ever rejected they'd live on fresh air

New posts on this thread. Refresh page