Ideas for lunches for 26 month old?

[J & J's Mum]

Hi,

My ds is 26 months old.  I find it really hard to think of things for his lunch.  He loves mashed potato, so for his dinner he normally has cottage pie or shephards pie, fish pie...anything with mash.  He loves tinned spaghetti and sausages.  It's just for lunch, I really don't know what to give him.

He goes to play group 3 mornings a week, so by the time he's home at 12.30, he's too tired to eat.  I keep trying sandwiches but he just pushes the plate away.  I've tried all types of bread, but he just doesn't want it.  He used to eat crackers, but he refuses that now.  I do keep trying him with the sandwiches and different fillings, but it's a no go!  So he normally ends up with crisps!!  I worry that he hasn't eaten enough.

Any ideas?

[Samuel's mum]

If he's really too tired maybe he could just have some fruit and then a proper late lunch after he's had a nap.

I know Sam's a bit older but some of his lunch favourites:
tomato soup - with toast to dip
quiche
fresh pasta (only takes 2 minutes to cook) with cheese sauce or pesto or tomato sauce or creme fraiche with lemon juice and bits of smoked salmon.
baked sweet potato (start baking it before just finish it off)
toasted sandwiches - anything with mayonnaise
salad with cut up fruit and toasted croutons, cucumber, cubes of cheese.

[J & J's Mum]

He's really fussy though!  If I put something new in front of him he won't even try it, he just pushes it away. 

When he does that, shall I just presume that he's not hungry?

[Samuel's mum]

I wouldn't presume that means he's not hungry!!
You could just offer something familiar and something new on the plate and gradually he'll get used to it. Or start with the familiar and move away from it gradually - like take tinned spaghetti but add in a new ingredient. Sam sometimes needs to see something a few times before he'll even try it.

[Caroline-Charlies Mummy]

Ds is not into sandwiches b/c he doesn't like food to touch , but if you put all the components of the sandwich onto a plate (like a 'mixed platter', eg cheese, sliced ham, sliced tomatoes, etc), then he'll pick at them. A bit less overwhelming, I think, especially if he's tired. hth

[J & J's Mum]

I tried that today....I put 1/2 a toasted muffin with cream cheese on, a few small pieces of cucumber and ripe cherry tomatos and he cried!!!  Wouldn't eat anything when the cucumber or toms were on the plate!

He does like jacket potato though, maybe I'll get more adventurous with them!

Thanks

[Samuel's mum]

Plate with separate sections
He does sound tired though.
My DH read once they have to see something 17 times before they may come to eat it!!! I have no idea where he read that and that means a lot of wasted food but he brings it up occasionally. I think it's important for you to eat with him so you can model eating new food that's often when Sam has asked to try something new. Good Luck!

[Caroline-Charlies Mummy]

he does sound tired, poor bubba

Do you go to playgroup with him? If so, how about taking lots of little, healthy snacks with you, like fruit/oat bars/sliced meats etc that he can graze on throughout the morning? That way, he'll be full up on good stuff, and it's not leaving it until it's too late

[J & J's Mum]

No, I don't go to play group with him.  I drop him off and pick him up at 12.15.

I do make meals specially for him, so I'll try them at lunch time and then maybe try something new at dinner time.

Many thanks
xx

[deedee2kids]

Hi,
I know no-one not replied for a while on this topic, but I tried something new today and my fussy (sometimes non-eating) 27 mth old boy loved i so much he had seconds ! (very rare !!) 

Pasta in soup !

Its basically a good way to use up leftover pasta shapes lurking in the cupboard (esp where you have only a handful or two or a certain shape ! which I always do !).

I used fusili/twists: cook as normal, drain and add to soups and simmer and thicken with double cream (if you want to)  I used creamed chicken soup from a packet.  or you could make your own soup.

I know my son loves soup as its a novelty thing for him and is surprising how quick he'll eat it ! plus I can hide vegges he hates in it. 

Its ever so quick to make and I also had some with him too - perfect for lunchtimes.

[Jimbob]

My dd's favourites are:

Boiled egg and soldiers.
Ham and cheese sandwich cut into shapes with cookie cutter.
Jacket potato with beans and cheese.
Pasta with boursin melted on it.

All followed by yogurt and fruit.

[JennŠ]

When Mouse is tired I give her a yogurt/milk smoothie to drink.  Then off to bed.  She gets a more proper meal when she wakes up and things are much easier.

[Jimbob]

You could give yogurt and fruit before sleep then a meal when your lo wakes up. The small snack before hand should be enough to stop your ds from being hungry whilst asleep.