Am I a rubbish mummy for not doing a cooked lunch?

[Katsma]

My DD is nearly 1. She is a really good eater, the only thing she's ever refused was egg, which she turned out to be allergic to.

I never do a cooked lunch though. I just rifle through the kitchen cupboards and fridge and give her a little bit of everything. Is this really lazy? Probably. But is it doing any harm?

A typical day would be:
Breakfast:
Cereal with milk and fruit.

Lunch:
Mini sandwich with Philadelphia cheese.
Cherry toms.
Pieces of Cheddar cheese.
Raisins/sultanas.
Fresh fruit - several different.

Dinner:
Cooked dinner. Whatever DP and I are having such as Shepherds Pie/Chilli/Salmon/Roast Chicken. Served with spuds/rice/pasta and a couple of veggies.
Milky pudding or fruit with yoghurt.

She's still having three small milk drinks a day as well.

Do you think I should really be cooking stuff for lunch? And if so, how in gods name do you do it with a baby crawling round the kitchen?

That sounds pretty healthy to me. No need to do a cooked lunch.

that's fine. i think most people only have one cooked meal a day. a sandwich is a good lunch. if you really wanted to give her something warm then toast it.

Katsma that sounds fine. I give my DD (16 months) the same. What is in the house, she gets for lunch. yesterdays lunch:

cheese cubes
lots of grapes (she loves grapes)
ham
juice

sounds great to me. My DS1 didn't like cooked food and didn't eat a hot lunch (or tea) until he was about 3!

sounds delicious. dd loves a picnic-y lunch.

thats what i do at lunchtime too.
the odd time i would heat some soup or beans on toast but mostly i do bits of what is in the fridge, ie ham, cheese, chicken, fruit, yogurt etc

ds2 has been having cooked lunches this week as he has just started nursery and has been coming home starving and i find he will eat something cooked better then he will eat a sandwich.

Message withdrawn

Sounds lovely! I used to cook lunch for dd1... had all her meals prepared, lots of choice etc etc

By the time dd2 was ready to start eating there was no way I had the time to fanny about cooking/preparing a different meal for everyone. So dd2 gets what dd1 and I have for lunch (and dinner)... egg of some description, beans on toast, sandwiches, soup, cheese on toast or as you say, whatever's in the cupboard.

It's not just me then! Told my health visitors what I've been feeding her the other day, and it caused a sharp intake of breath

And if you've shocked them once, it becomes a bit of a challenge doesn't it? I like a game!

All the other mums gathered round for a good earwigging.

Mum: "oh, but you're in the middle of having your kitchen done aren't you?"
Me: "No, it was finished 6 months ago, I just can't be arsed."

Mum: "But babies like cooked food, they prefer things a bit mushy"
Me: "I don't, cos then you can't pick it up off the floor and put it back on the plate"

Mum: "I'm never coming to your house for nibbles"
Me: "You'll never be invited"

Que?

Don't be daft!

Her diet sounds fine

She is eating a cooked dinner. I think what you're giving her sounds wonderful.

Told my health visitors what I've been feeding her the other day, and it caused a sharp intake of breath

Oh FFS - what is it with some of my colleagues. Sounds a fabulous diet to me - sort of thing I always did.

I mean just WHAT was their problem?

we had bread and cheese for lunch here. and a banana. yes, aitch, ds now eats banana!!

mine only ever had a hot dinner if there were leftovers from night before - the mum in your convo sounds frightful!

Exactly what I did with mine and still do (she's 8 now). If asked she'll ask for "a selection", basically anything I can find in the fridge, and nowadays will often as not sort it out herself. It's all perfectly healthy stuff and she'll also help herself to chunks of cucumber or carrot as a snack instead of crisps or biscuits, if she gets peckish at other times. Keep going.

(Who's making you worried?")

My childminder has about a million years experience and is a trained nanny and nursery nurse, and that's exactly the sort of thing she gives DS for his tea. And he loves it.

it's all healthy stuff, and one cooked meal a day is fine, IMO.

You mean some people cook lunch? I might heat up some soup if I've got any but thats it. How bizarre.

Finger foods like sarnies and cheese are ideal for tiddlers. All those little guys getting everything cooked, are they learning to chew properly? I'd be worried about them

I used to make 2 hot meals each day but my DS would take a couple of spoonfuls out of his cooked lunch and push it away. Now he has a lunch as you have described and a hot meal in the evening- he eats more and I don't have to slave over the cooker.