tea time/supper issues

[clazzat]

I think that I would make the snacks as healthy as possible and not stress about dinner - if she is eating well at lunch and breakfast then she will be getting plenty of food and battling over dinner won't do either of you any good. I would probably also reassess what she is eating for breakfast and lunch to make sure that those meals are meeting her needs, but seriously I wouldn't stress dinner.

[creations]

Save some veggies and bits from dinner and give them to her the next day for snack? I usually save veggies from dinner to put in DS's packed lunch the next day and he just eats them cold, doesn't seem bothered although I'd wrinkle my nose at it.
Or cook a batch of bean cup cakes which are really healthy then they can both have the same snack but you know it's decent food for her - like pps said don't stress dinner if the rest of the day is good.

[*Becky*]

bean cup cakes?

[snowbird]

Hi Becky!

Just seeing this and you won't believe we've had similar issues with LJ this weekend. Hardly eaten a thing! I'm wondering if it's a power thing though as she's not had the power/autonomy that we always try to give her DDoesn't seem like that's the problem with M though...

Snowbird xxx

[~*Nicole*~]

Becky, how does H get home? Do you pick up? Bus? I was wondering if you could pack him or bring him his snack for on the way home so she doesn't see him eat it and then not have anything offered for her until tea time?

If not, the healthy snack seems a good option. We have a rule here, which both kids are actively resisting at the moment but we're sticking to it, that if they don't want/don't like what is on their plate they can just leave it be and it will be cleared when the meal is over. They will be served what we offer and they can choose what they eat or otherwise leave it alone and not eat it. I often adjust serving sizes to what I know each likes...more green beans for DD, less for DS. More rice for DS, less for DD. Etc. I also try to have ONE thing each likes.....and just let it be. Whatever the eat for dinner is what they eat. We have had the occasional night pang for food and I've let them have dinner leftovers, veggies, or a slice of bread. I am not making anything or giving a "snack/treat" if they are hungry after the meal I've made. It's been slowly getting better as they realize they won't always be offered their FAVORITES for dinner.

[*Becky*]

I collect H and we usually walk but m is always with me - I think the snack issue is one i just have to let go. He really needs it for blood sugar regulation etc and I can't be doing with the 50 requests for food if we don't do it lol!

Food has always been a bit of a nightmare with H, he is very sensory and v fussy and has been since weaning, it's really tiring and frustrating but I 'try' to just roll with it. He is obsessed with sweet stuff and our rule is they need to eat the majority of tea if they want something after which tbh is usually fruit and then possibly a biscuit, occasionally rice pudding or ice cream. H is so so desperate to get the pudding (and he is hungry) so usually eats but I have to think about what they have, he just would not eat a lot of what we eat. Yday DH made prawn linguine and both would not eat it, it was quite spicy to be fair.

If they dn't want tea that's fine, I just say don't discuss it, just get down and then they can always have fruit but that's about it.

Anyway, M is a good eater, she will try lots of food and has no sensory issues or obsessions! Just feels like tea is a bit of hard work.

[creations]

bean cup cakes?

If you google white bean or kidney bean or chick pea cupcakes you will find various recipes. A lot of them are the same but some are chocolate, some not, some use honey, some lots of eggs, some bananas...all v similar though.
eg
http://meetracy.com/food/white-bean-and-vanilla-cupcakes-with-coconut-whipped-cream-2/

DS and I made this last week
http://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/2013/04/flourless-chocolate-chip-chickpea-blondies-with-sea-salt-vegan-gluten-free-healthy/
I used the peavut butter option as I had it in, substituted the honey for two ripe bananas, substituted the choc chips for 1/3 cup aground almonds, subbed 1 tsp vanilla extract with almond extract.  Seriously lovely. I did them in a greased mini muffin tray and tbh they stuck a bit, I think they turn out better as a tray bake on paper or in cup cake tray where they pull away form the sides of the tin. Let them cool before removing as they are quite soft in the middle and can break - even the broken ones were tasty though! (they didn't all break but I did feel there must be an easier way to get them out of the tin).

I did a canallini bean (spelling? sorry) and choc bean recipe a few days back (basically the first link) which worked great in a cup cake tray but again had breakages from the mini muffin tray. You can also use kidney beans.

They honestly don't taste of beans and look like real cup cakes.
I think next time I'll use a small loaf tin and bake longer, less hassle to slice it.

I never frost, but do sometimes stir up some cream cheese for DS and dollop it on, he calls it cream and is easily pleased.