BabyWhispererForums.com
EAT => Eating For Toddlers => Topic started by: ~inbalance~ on January 04, 2012, 19:30:43 pm
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I have two very picky eaters, but the 3yo in particular can be really frustrating. He'll take a multivitamin, but eats very little of anything else. Every morning I make a power smoothie with a variety of good things and supplements, which DS2 will drink almost every day (he is slightly less picky at his age as well so I don't worry as much). But lately DS1 won't even drink the smoothie. Recently I tried buying a chocolate flavoured vegan smoothie type mix, which he didn't like at all. Just now I noticed a commercial for Pediasure, which of course I have heard of but it never occurred to me to give it to my kids. So what do you think, is that stuff crap? Or is a good supplement for the picky eater? (like it advertises) I swear I could have been the mom and DS1 could have been the kid in that commercial. :P
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Personally hun (and you know I have a picky eater too), I really think that stuff is carp. According to both my Ped and my holistic practitioner, it does serve a limited purpose for those who really need it but that's a small percentage of the population and more for kids who CAN'T eat, not picky eaters. Lots of fake stuff in there TBH.
What if you try a new flavor of smoothie? Loaded with coconut milk, maybe some banana and avocado and some carob or cocoa powder? You can sweeten with a bit of honey or Stevia. If that works you can slowly start adding more things to it?
Does he eat pasta or pizza? My DS loves both and I make them at home and add nutritional yeast to both (the pasta gets it sprinkled on and mixed in, for the pizza it gets added to the sauce).
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Yeah, idk about pediasure, never really looked into it at all. That said, I still add formula to Spencer's soy milk every morning to get some nutrients in her. I think she is eating enough variety now I can back it off, but I have most of a can left so I might as well use it! Masyn is not big into eating breakfast, and before school it is very important to get her to eat, so I am thinking of making smoothies for her.
Karen, I never thought to add the nutritional yeast to pizza sauce! Though I have done sneaky things like blend a whole avocado in the sauce (and no one noticed!) for extra fats.
What types of food does he eat that you could add extra stuff too? (I've put flax oil in applesauce, veg in pasta sauce)
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That's why I was asking, I wasn't sure what was in that stuff!
Pizza - NO, pasta - NO. :P NOTHING with any kind of sauce or cheese on it. ::)
Will keep looking for something.
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I'd keep trying healthy homemade smoothies. I'd definitely start out simple and once you find a flavor combination that he likes (I personally love the coconut milk, PB, avocado and banana combo) start adding more supplements or stuff to it.
Is he still eating eggs? Will he eat nuts? Roasted chickpeas? Meatballs?
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I've been wondering about this, too, Em. Thanks for being proactive and posting it for me ;)
If nothing else, at least he's getting a multi-vitamin, right? I have to keep telling myself this...
Karen, with regards to the smoothies, what's your "recipe" for that? It sounds delicious and think Aaron would like those. I've never made a homemade smoothie before so am just a bit clueless ::)
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Eggs sometimes. Nuts sometimes. Chickpeas haven't tried in awhile. Meatballs sometimes. ::) It's really hit or miss with him.
It sound easier in theory than in practice to try all these new things, both from a $ point of view (having to buy different things to try) and from a time point of view (we are in a rush to get to school in the mornings). I pre-make most of the smoothie the night before so it's ready to pop in the blender, and I only do one big one and share it for all of us. That's why I was hoping he'd like the chocolate shake one I bought, but no luck!
Will keep looking! I think maybe I'll ask him what kind he wants and go from there.
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I totally get both the time and $$ constraints. When I find something DS likes that is healthy (like the meatballs I make with lots of chopped veggies and flax meal or the pancakes I make with soaked oatmeal and coconut milk) I make large batches to freeze so I can easily just heat them up as needed. I make smoothies at night too and keep 1-2 days worth in the blender in the fridge (so I can just reshake or re-blend and pour into a cup as needed).
Sara, no real recipe. Maybe try one can of coconut milk (the full fat kind!), one cup of water, one avocado, one banana, 1 tbsp nut butter and 1 tbsp flax oil and go from there? You can also add 1 T cocoa or carob powder and 1 tbsp honey? That should make enough to last at least 3-4 days I'd think!
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Thanks Karen :)
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Just to throw out a different perspective, I would only use Pediasure as a bridge to buy you some time to work on the underlying issues with regards to pickiness. I'll be honest, I don't have a lot of time to make extra stuff. And I don't have picky kids. But I'll tell you if I did, I'd be using things like Pediasure to keep my mind at ease while I worked on the issues.
As I mentioned I don't have picky kids. But when my boys are having a phase due to illness, I'll up the amount of juice (100% not from concentrate or Kool-Aid type) they get in their cups and cut back on the water. I usually make it 25% juice to 75% water but in times of illness, it can even end up being straight juice.
I know that being all natural is the ultimate aim of us all. But let's be honest, it's not always realistic due to a multitude of reasons, with money and time being the top 2 that spring to mind. There is a time and a place for supplement drinks for all ages. The trick is to know when is the correct time.
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What types of things WILL your LO eat and drink? What does a typical day look like? Or a particularly bad day?
DD is going through a picky-ish phase. She isn't taking in a ton of calories, but I was looking into it and she is taking in about what is right for her age and activity level so I guess she is getting what she needs. But she is avoiding vegetables like the plague at the moment. She used to LOVE them so I try to offer but they aren't going down well (if at all) at the moment. And dinners are almost always left on the plate these days....but she eats enough through the day that I am not concerned about her intake. Mostly just the lacking areas.
I wonder if they make a more "natural" version of pediasure. Like if some more health conscious company makes something like it?
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Deb - the (main) reason that I am so against Pediasure is because I've seen too many kids start having it in limited amounts but LOVE it (who wouldn't - lots of sugar and all in there) and then start eating even less and insisting on/holding out for the Pediasure. So unless there is a FTT type of issue going on it just isn't worth it to me. But YMMV of course.
Nicole, I've never seen or heard of a more natural version, hence why I recommend and use the smoothie route myself.
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Sorry to sidetrack but Karen would you share your oatmeal/coconut milk pancake recipe?
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I don't think there are any serious underlying issues, I think he is just picky and 3. ::) Pickiness started around 2.5yrs, up until then he didn't eat much in terms of quantity but did eat more variety (which is how DS2 is now). I don't stress overly about his pickiness and we keep offering lots of things. I don't cater to him but be sure to include things I know he likes. He is very much in the "I don't like anything" stage. I do keep an eye out since he is very small, but he is not small because he doesn't eat, rather he is small because that is how he is. Still, I like to know he is getting good all around nutrition. Phases come and go, he is in more of a picky one atm. ::) Luckily he does eat vegetables decently enough. Protein is probably the hardest thing to get into him.
Anyways, my original question has been answered and I don't mean to start any debates! All I really wanted to know is if the stuff was considered 'healthy', and the general consensus is no, so I'm not interested in buying it and will just keep trying other options. :)
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Em, as far as protein goes, does he like yogurt or any other dairy stuff (can't remember if he's off of cow's milk or not...)? Aaron likes greek yogurt, which has a LOT of protein in it.
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Be back to post it later Anna - currently making a big batch of DS's meatballs (with lots of veggies in there) and then have to run to pick him up from nursery!
LOVE Greek yogurt. Sadly DS can't have (no dairy) but it's one of my favorites.
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Could you post the meatball recipe too? Another veggie aversion here :(
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He can have dairy, and he loves milk so that is a good thing (I think!). Yogurt is hit or miss, but I do sneak it into the smoothies so when he drinks those he is getting some. Actually I had a talk with him about smoothies and he's been drinking them a bit more. ;)
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upg posted a long reply and it got eaten up....would love the meatball recipe DS2 wont touch anything green!
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karen,
i will need to try the veggie added meatballs as well but my problem is when heated from cold or frozen mine ar ehard and DS2 hates chewy texture...any guidance?
DS2 is super picky at my end and for a fleeting second i too thought pediasure but as our ped said he is tiny and picky but healthy and active so no need for additional stuff keep trying to offer everything and 1 thing that has helped for us is to skip snacks so i try and give a 3 hr break between big meals and if he is hunry he does eat ;) even if its 5 bites and then the ususal he tries!
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hmm dindt think about freezing uncooked meatballs...i also do kebabs which the kids will eat ds1 all the time DS2 sometimes, so will try freezing uncooked next time.
BUT i normally cook from frozen and then thawed meat so i cant really freeze it again uncooked can i?
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DD does well with protein (meats, eggs, fish, cheese, greek yogurt, milk, nuts, etc.), adores fruits, begs for grains, and clearly if you read the protein list she gets her dairy....I need to add more veggies to meatloaf/balls, eggs, pasta/pizza sauces, etc.
I haven't tried a smoothie in ages. She did NOT like them in the past, but I do wonder if she'd take to them now. That would absolutely make her a more well rounded eater.
Otherwise I need to be more conscious of adding vegetables to things and offer offer offer!
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Here is the pancake recipe. I'll be making more this weekend myself! I will be back later today or tomorrow with the meatball recipes. I generally make a large batch of cooked meatballs - about 30-40 small meatballs (bite size) and freeze them. I reheat 6 or so at a time as needed. Never had a problem with them being hard but yes, you could always freeze them in some sauce and/or reheat in sauce. My DS likes them without sauce.
Whole wheat oatmeal pancakes (dairy free)
- 3/4 cup plus two tbsp whole wheat pastry flour (or half whole wheat flour half regular)
- 1/2 cup oatmeal (I use old fashioned gluten free oats cause that is what I have in the house for myself)
- 2tbsp flaxmeal or chia seeds
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 heaping tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- splash vanilla extract
- 10-12 ounces coconut milk (I use canned light coconut milk cause it's what I have in the house)
- splash lemon juice
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
Let the coconut milk sit in a measuring cup with the lemon juice for a bit. Meanwhile, grind the oatmeal and combine with flours(s) and flaxmeal or chia seeds. Add in the brown sugar, salt and baking powder and combine well. Then add in the eggs (beaten lightly), vanilla, applesauce and the coconut milk with lemon. Combine well and let sit in fridge for a few hours or overnight (this isn't truly necessary but I find it thickens up the batter nicely). Heat a griddle pan or skilled on medium and when REALLY hot add the batter (I use 1 tbsp of batter for each pancake to make silver dollar size). Cook for 2-3 minutes until golden brown on bottom and then flip and cook another 1-2 minutes.
I place them on paper towels when done to drain and freeze them. To reheat I take out the desired amount, nuke them at 30% power for 1-1.5 minutes and then put in the oven at 325 for another 3-5 minutes, then I top with Earth Balance spread before serving for DS and sometimes a bit of real maple syrup for DD.
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Here is the meatball recipe I use most often. If you are more concerned with green veggies instead of orange ones I would probably not use this one - the sweet/sour type taste IMO would taste odd with green veggies. In that case I use my "regular" meatballs recipe - just ground beef, bread crumbs (I use GF cause I can't do gluten), egg, garlic, onion, kosher salt and pepper and tomato paste. To that I add finely chopped spinach and/or broccoli.
1 large egg, beaten
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 cup sweet potato puree
1/4 cup carrot puree
2 Tbsp jam (I use all natural, no sugar added strawberry)
2 Tbsp ketchup
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup flaxmeal
1 pound ground beef
In a large bowl, whisk together egg, garlic, ginger, veggie purees, jam, ketchup, salt, wheat germ and flaxmeal. Add the ground meat and mix with your hands until well combined. Using damp hands, pinch off about 1 tbsp of meat and gently shape the mixture into small golf ball-sized meatballs.
Heat a skillet on medium with 1-2 tbsp olive oil to coat the bottom. Brown on all sides (takes about 5 minutes) and then finish baking in the oven at 350 for about 10-15 minutes.
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This is actually interesting because my friend has a 3yo who literally does not eat. He eats 6 things in total and nothing else. He actually passed out once because he didn't eat for 3 days and they were trying the 'hard line'.
Their paed put him on Pediasure because he's in a really low percentile and I didn't realize what the ingredients were. It really looks just like sweetened whey protein (with iron and stuff added)? You could do that yourself really. Supplement the iron and the D3 and save some money on the commercial-branded meal replacement.
Greek yogurt is the bomb.
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Can you think of anything that might substitute for egg in that recipe? Or if I increased the jam/purées would that be enough to bind it together?
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Applesauce should work well and go with the flavors?
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Oddly enough DD was trying to get me to buy strawberry pediasure today as she saw the PINK on the container!!!!! Ay yi yi.
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Worth a try Karen, thanks!
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Can you think of anything that might substitute for egg in that recipe? Or if I increased the jam/purées would that be enough to bind it together?
Have you ever used egg replacer? Can't think what is in it exactly, but it does work. Now, how to make the meatballs with no egg and no wheat germ? More flax meal? Might do some experimenting tomorrow if I can get sweet potato at the store (I suppose a jar of baby food would do though!)
Oh, Nicole, Masyn has a fascination with strawberry soy milk for the same reason ::)
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Hope they work for you Nicole! Heidi, I've made GF meatballs for myself using flaxmeal and/or cornmeal, rice bran or almond meal (or a combination thereof). Or ground up gluten free oats?
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And yes, baby food jars totally work for this just make sure you use 1/4 cup each only, not the full jar!
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Hope they work for you Nicole!
The smoothies you mean? B/C I sure did not buy the pediasure! LOL
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Or ground up gluten free oats?
Yeah, that would do the trick and I have a whole bag as Spencer was not impressed with cooked oats (yet she loves the instant kind!)
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LOL Nicole, actually I meant the applesauce!
Heidi, the gluten free oats should work nicely - probably just the same amount but grind them up rather finely first?
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Charlotte got one can a day for a while when we went through the picky/refluxy stage. About 6-8 months long.
Other things to try: add dry milk to the liquid milk and shake well. Most kids can't taste it, also good for making pudding and other cooking/baking stuff.
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Oh, LOL. :)