MICROWAVING MY DD'S DINNER

[tullyma]

My VERY FUSSY daughter will only eat either spaghetti bolognese or scrambled eggs for dinner. So I alternate between the two. Trust me, we have tried EVERYTHING else and she refuses to eat it. Only the mother of a fussy eater will know what I mean here 

I make spaghetti bolognese every Monday night and freeze small portions of it for DD to eat during the rest of the week. So she really only gets it fresh on a Monday.

On the other nights, I whip a portion out of the freezer and defrost/reheat it in the microwave. Do you think microwave use is really bad?? Or does it just have bad publicity?

TIA

[Samuel's mum]

If she only has 2 dinners those are actually pretty good choices - access to lots of nutrients - iron, omega 3, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins in the tomato sauce. (esp homemade)

I think the thing with microwaving is to stir regularly to make sure that temperature is evenly distributed and there are no cooler spots. The other danger is that some adults begin eating straight out of the microwave whereas the cooking actually continues for a couple of minutes and standing is quite important. However I doubt that's your problem and you probably spend an age blowing on food like the rest of us.

I don't think it's bad for any other reason (it's actually a good way to do veggies as it retains more nutrients than if they were boiled).

[Caroline-Charlies Mummy]

I don't think it's bad for any other reason (it's actually a good way to do veggies as it retains more nutrients than if they were boiled).

Is that actually the case? I do this too, and I do worry about the vitamins/nutrients being lost (I'm presuming this is what the op was asking).

[Mariek]

Caroline - I think it's better than boiling because you use less water and so the nutrients aren't leeched out into the water like they are in boiling...it's more on a par with steaming.

I agree with Emma, I don't think there's any problem with using the microwave as long as the food is properly heated through.

love

[tullyma]

Thanks so much for your replies. I do worry about nutrients being lost, but I've also heard terrible stories about free radicals, toxicity, cancer-causing effects, etc. You just never know if what you hear has any truth to it 

[mum101]

Free-radicals etc. most likely bad publicity.  Like the using plastic bottles for water etc.

I would microwave in ceramic dishes rather than plastic though, as it seems that the plastic melts a bit with some containers.  I use plastic ones at work, and they don't look pretty if you microwave them for too long. 

[TDR'smom]

I also do not see a problem with microwaving her dinner. 

[notenoughshelfspace]

I always defrost my little one's dinners in themicrowave. Never worried about it.

[Samuel's mum]

Yup - I was focusing on the need for less water and therefore less 'leeching' of vitamins. I agree about the point on using ceramic dishes. Even my microwave safe ones sometimes change colour with tomato sauce - the actual dish changes colour and then it eventually fades back to normal again after a few days. How the heck does that happen?

[Ennypen]

I'm a serial microwaver too... I havent a clue what I would do without it!!!!!!

Helen x

[tullyma]

Thanks ladies, I feel like less of an outcast now 

[Kimberly®]

Thanks so much for your replies. I do worry about nutrients being lost, but I've also heard terrible stories about free radicals, toxicity, cancer-causing effects, etc. You just never know if what you hear has any truth to it 

My DP says stepping outside will do that 

Honestly though there is nothing to worry about. Microwaves are perfictly safe if used properly (like no metal in it) you have more chance of burning your mouth (if you don't mix the food before eating it) then you do getting cancer. 

You do after all use it for yourself right

I love my microwave, it makes reheating food sooooo much faster and easier.

I can't imagin what it was like before the microwave.. I should ask my mother

[jbepko]

I use the microwave all the time. And my very, very, very picky  4.5 yo is stuck on peanut butter and honey sandwiches right now....I would be so be thankful if she would just TRY  shapghetti!

[tullyma]

Oh it's so hard isn't it? DD wouldn't even touch breastmilk after 6 months! I tried formula but to no avail. I used to be very picky as a child too, so I don't get too upset with her about it. She'll eat when she wants to eat. I remember when I first ate some tomato - at age 14!!