My son is a fussy eater. �Like – super fussy. �If he could live on jam sandwiches and two minute noodles – he would do, and he’s been like that since birth.
I received an email from Cenovis Kids to do the ‘Good Stuff Challenge’. �Which is to prepare good meals three times a day for a week and to blog about the highs and low’s – so here goes.
As frustrating as it is – I cook lovely meals at night for my family that they don’t eat. �I don’t often have a lot of time – but I usually do the meat and three veggies (crumbed lamb with gravy is my favourite), mashed potatoes and steamed veggies. �Occasionally�I do stir fries,�lasagne’s�or whack a casserole in the slow cooker. �There is nothing more disheartening to spend 30 minutes or more cooking a meal, placing it in front of the kids and they say ‘I don’t like it’ without even trying it. �I’ve become quite adept at ‘re-branding’ food. �Broccoli is Batman’s favourite food. �Carrot’s give you night vision and meat gives you Iron Man’s brain. �Both my boys push the food around their plate. and I even caught one of them feeding the dog under the table. �Frustrating.
I am lucky though (on a positive note) that they both love their fruit. �Apples, banana’s, pears, strawberries, plums, mandarins – they will eat them all. �And they do – when they get home from school, they won’t go for crap – they go for fruit. �It kinda makes up for the fact (a little bit anyway) that dinner is often untouched or barely eaten. It still does concern me that they aren’t getting everything they should. �I don’t worry so much about son # 2 as he is above average in height and weight and looks glowingly healthy. �Son #1 however is quite often pale (he is the fussy one) and is slightly under weight. �That worries me.
To bulk him up a bit I have done the following:
- I give him a malted milk at night and hide an egg in it without him seeing! (blended up of course!)
- I let him graze – when he’s at home with me he get a plate with lots of choices, cheese, yoghurt, crackers, nuts etc. �I’m a grazer and he has inherited my bad habits. However, choosing healthy snacks means he is getting a good dose of calcium and B Vitamins.
- I give him a multi-vitamin�every morning before school (making sure there is no artificial colours or flavours or it sends him bonkers). He is particularly fond of the Cenovis Kids�Vita Fizzies as he is mad on soft drink (but not allowed to drink it!).
- I give him a couple of glasses of milk a day to drink. He likes milk. I was also surprised to hear 50% of Australian parents* wrongly believe one glass of milk provides a child with enough calcium they need each day. It’s more like one glass of milk, a piece of cheese and a small pot yoghurt to reach the recommended daily intake don’t hold back on the calcium!
Anyway, this is my story of my fussy eater, I would love to read your story. �You can also access some great tips and tools online here at the Good Stuff Challenge or at least read up on what it is all about. �Most Mums struggle with fussy eaters at some stage share your story!
*Research was conducted by Pure Profile on behalf of Cenovis� Kids between 20-25 February, 2013 and surveyed 1000 Australians nationwide.
Very tasty, thankyou!