Always eating the same thing and vitamin question

[Matka]

Anyone else feel like their kid only eats the same thing day in and day out?  Dinner seems to be our toughest meal time as he won't eat what we eat.  He usually ends up with a couple of chicken nuggets, peas and corn, maybe some mash potatoes if we have them, and fruit.  Always the same.  I tried to get him to eat mac and cheese and spaghetti (really, what kid doesn't eat this stuff? Mine ) but it was a no go.  Sometimes I worry about his nutrition but then other moms tell me at this stage, whatever you can get him to eat, let him eat.  I guess I just have this June Cleaver fantasy about cooking a meal and having my whole family sitting down together to eat it

Am I over reacting? 

Oh and P.S. - Do any of you give your lo's vitamins as a supplement?  Thought about starting this as dh and I are both vitamin takers, but wanted some input.

[binxyboo]

I give Riley half a child's Flintstones vitamin, doctor said it was not necessary, but if it made ME feel better, to go ahead and give it.

Riley lives on the same old, same old. Lucky if he eats at all some days, tbh.

Just going with the flow here...

[Messa]

I give Riley half a child's Flintstones vitamin, doctor said it was not necessary, but if it made ME feel better, to go ahead and give it.

We do the same and that is pretty much exactly what her Ped said too.

[Hester]

It's ok for children to eat the same thing over and over, but keep offering different foods. It takes about 12 tries before a child likes a food!
As for the vitamins I'ma FIRM believer in vitamins but not the store bought ones, the reason PED say that vitamins are not necessary is because they don't have the optimal amount of nutrients in them, they are not bioavailable (ie don't get absorbed) or simply don't do anything. (which is also the case for most adult vitamins)
I was buying Usanimals from Usana Health Sciences, and my DS's are almost never sick and colds only last a MAX of 3 days. That convinced me these were actually GOOd and working. (And since I needed money I started becoming their asociate    and now am making money with healthy children  ) Don't let PED say supplementation is not necessary, the scientific studies say different!
Anyway, don't take my word for it, go to the library and get the book "comparitive guide to nutritional supplements" from "lyle MacWilliam" there's a children and adult version and see what your product rates compared to objective studies and then see what you'd like to do. (I don't know how the flinstones "score" I'd have to look it up)
Hope i didn't offend anyone, I'm just a little passionate about it 

[Matka]

No offense Hester!  Thanks for the input, I'll check out the book!

[Hester]

Oh good, happy I didn't offend, I wrote this to someone I know here once (who asked me what I did and she got completely offended because she thought that I thought that she was a bad mom    (as soon as someone starts with I thought that you thought I get a little  )
So thanks for letting me know...I was checking to see if someone answered 

[mum101]

Hi Kathy-Ann, 

I give DD an iodine and omega 3 supplement as they are the 2 things we don't often get enough of in our house.

I agree with PP that it takes a while to like a flavour.  How about giving him a small amount (1-2 bites of a new food) before you give him anything else. Once he's had a taste, then proceed with his usual favoured foods.  It may work, then again it may not! 

I think as long as he's getting a range including protein and vege or fruit and he's happy it's OK.  Just gently encourage new foods. 

I often tricked DD into a new food, as I'd be preparing something and she'd make a game of stealing off the bench, or I'd get her to help make mini vegetarian pizzas and found she'd eat most of the ingredients raw (which I was happy with) and she'd most likely be much more interested in eating something she made.  She now loves to cook.     (ah my evil plan is working!)

Dinner is probably not the best time for anything new as they may be tired.  DD eats best at lunch, and for sure is more prone to be annoyed by something at night time.

DD has started with 'but that's not my favourite' or she looks at the food and says 'but i don't like that one'.  I've decided when she does the latter, to say in a sympathetic voice, 'gee that's a shame' and continue on.  As I know she likes it and happily eats normally I know she's just wanting something 'better'.  She then eats the food anyway!   

[Matka]

Charmaine, that a good point about new foods at dinner.  Ds best meal is lunch too.  Maybe I'll try some new things then!

[Hester]

True, the lunch is better here too. I am lucky to have a DS that will eat veggies at lunchtime, so I make him a salad with cucumber, tomatoes, pickle, cheese, olives and peppers. He'll eat that no problem, or as he puts it since two day "it's my fafojit" and he'll eat a lot of fruit.
Dinners are not as easy though, he's often picky and will only eat a couple of bites. But as long as he eats his lunch, I'm happy. DS #2 is already way more picky and he hasn't hit the "terrible two's" yet. I might be scanning the boards by then for ideas on how to hide veggies and fruit in my food. 
I also look on a website called "kidseatgreat.com" and get some advice from there, it's moatly reassuring that kids just don't need so much food. 2 Tbs a day of veggie is enough 
Another tip I got from there is to stay away from empty carbs like crackers, rice cakes, goldfish things like that, so their body learns to regulate their sugars properly. (Empty carbs give a jump in bloodsugar)
Anyway, it's bedtime for me, actually 45 min past  so I'm off!!!