[slm21bl]

First of all, thank you for reading this post! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
I have three DD (5), DD (4) and DS (2). DD (5) will pretty much it anything which is awesome and I wish the other two were like her. But DD (4) is extremely picky and DS (2) is starting to be also. These are the things my DD (2) will eat:<br><br>
All breakfast items: waffles, cereal, scrambled eggs, pancakes, muffins, bacon and sausage (sometimes)<br><br>
Fruit: apples (just started Woo hoo), applesauce. She would eat strawberries and grapes but not now. I have noticed that she will stop eating something for a while and then start back up about 6 months later.<br><br>
Veggies: mashed potatoes, raw carrots, she used to eat corn but not anymore<br><br>
Dairy: yogurt, milk<br><br>
She will not eat any meat except fast food chicken nuggets. Yuck! She will not eat them at home. Not home made, not frozen.<br><br>
Peanut butter and honey sandwiches are her favorite. Once in a blue moon she will eat grilled cheese sandwiches.<br><br>
Lasagna (frozen) and spaghetti with olive oil and garlic.<br><br>
DS (2) doesn't seem to like ground beef, as he won't eat it anymore.<br><br>
I would love to go organic but our selection around here stinks. I buy a lot of frozen waffles and I want to get away from processed foods. Any recipes for homemade waffles, muffins, pancakes that I can make ahead and freeze will be much appreciated. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
I'm so bored with the things we eat. And I don't have much time to make elaborate meals. Plus no one eats them anyway. DH travels a lot so he isn't home and I don't bother cooking.<br><br>
The kids won't eat soups either, just to let you know.<br><br>
Also, I have tried to do the whole this is what I made, you must eat it thing with our 4 year old but she is so head strong that it will not work. DH and I have battled about this a lot. I give her what she wants as long as it's healthy.<br><br>
Sorry that this is so long. I'm stuck as what to do and where to begin.<br><br>
Thanks!

 

[wife&mommy]

What did she do when you would make a meal and not give her an alternative?<br>
There isn't much to work with there to make it much healthier if that is all she will eat.

 

[timneh_mom]

I have a PB and H eater here too. My 3.5 year old seems to be a pretty picky eater and unfortunately we have some stressful meals here too.<br><br>
I remember being made to eat stuff I couldn't tolerate when I was a kid and it is still a pretty clear memory at 39!! (like roast with all the fatty bits on it, yuck, I can't even shred something like a pork shoulder because I cannot stand to touch the cooked fat and connective tissue!)<br><br>
Do your kids have texture issues or anything like that? Because I think looking back my DS probably did and still probably does... and I know I definitely have them when it comes to anything slimy on meat or something like mushrooms. (In fact I could happily go without meat for long periods of time but I married a carnivore.)

 

[Alyantavid]

I have a waffle/pancake recipe that's awesome. Its at home, so I'll post it later. I usually make a huge batch and freeze them in bags of 2. Just thaw and toast, just like packaged frozen ones.

 

[slm21bl]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>wife&mommy</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/11671145"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">What did she do when you would make a meal and not give her an alternative?.</div>
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She will cry and then my DH usually sends up her upstairs. I just becomes an awful experience for her and I don't think it's worth it. She will just wait until the morning to have breakfast. I don't think it works, to be honest. I still offer different things. Like for instance apples. She would only eat applesauce and that lasted for 2 years and now she LOVES apples. Yeah!

 

[slm21bl]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Alyantavid</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/11671430"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I have a waffle/pancake recipe that's awesome. Its at home, so I'll post it later. I usually make a huge batch and freeze them in bags of 2. Just thaw and toast, just like packaged frozen ones.</div>
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Oh thank you! I know I can make them healthier than store bought ones. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[wife&mommy]

Would she eat variations on the breakfast products? There is a lot you can hide in baked goods like muffins. Pancakes can have added nutrients and also eggs. We do spinach in eggs a lot.

 

[425lisamarie]

I'm short on time right now but I should write an actual useful healthy book like that sneaky chef gal <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">.<br><br>
Does she like dips? Ketchup? You can slowly transform things by making your own, or pureeing some sweet potatoes/carrots and adding to the ketchup bottle. You say no for soups, but have you ever tried creamy tomato soup? My kids love that kind, and DD loves when I put it in a cute cup and give her a short fat straw. I make homemade breadsticks in fun shapes and they dip in the soup. And making waffles, muffins liek some have said are really easy carriers of healthy things.<br><br><br>
I have to say though, even from that list I think you are doing totally fine.<br><br>
You could also try popsicles/smoothies.<br><br>
Sending a kid upstairs for crying about anything can be very damaging. Food battles especially.<br><br><br><br>
I think you doing well and it seems you have a very positive attitude. Eating healthy aroudn them, limiting junk etc will attribute to a healthy diet in the long run, I promise! You are very right to not force eating issues, and I would say you need to ahve a talk with DH about how he handles it, too.<br><br>
ETA: I forgot to add something about the potatoes! You can do half sweet potatoes, and it's so delicious. Sweet potatoes are so high in vitamins/nutrients, just boil them up along with the white potatoes and make the way you do normally. Just don't tell them and I'll bet no one will know. You could start out by doing just 1:3 or 1:4 just to be sure no one notices the difference.

 

[slm21bl]

Oh thank you 425 lisamarie! You just made me smile and I so needed that. I'm having a "I am not superwoman!" day. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
I do make strawberry/banana/blueberry smoothies with wheat germ and flax seed. And I would make one right now but the OJ I got at the store was opened (well the cap wasn't on right) so I have to take it back. Ughh!<br><br>
She loves blueberry muffins but I always make boxed ones. I bought bran cereal to make a basic bran muffin mix but I haven't done it yet. I'm a little confused about the cereal..do I crush it up or mix it in as is? Anyone know? Or does anyone have a recipe that calls for bran cereal???<br><br>
I like the idea of sweet potatoes mixed in with regular ones. I have bought cauliflower several times with the intention of steaming it and pureeing it for mashed potatoes. But the cauiflower always goes bad before I get to it.<br><br>
As for DH, I have several times talked to him about this. He may not agree 100% but I am standing my ground and he doesn't say anything anymore. The funny thing this is he was a picky eater and was forced to eat his dinner for breakfast at his Grandmas. LOL!

 

[VikingKvinna]

Lots of ways you can sneak in the nutrition -- smoothies are our best tool around here for that, esp with the picky 5 yo. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin"> I put either baby spinach, raw kale, or spirulina in our smoothies (which also contain frozen banana, pineapple, whole orange, water, wheat germ, coconut oil, honey and flax). He'll drink those down, or else I'll freeze the mixture into popsicles and he loves those too.<br><br>
I do all kind of Deceptively delicious/sneaky chef things too -- you can put anything in a pancake and my kids'll gobble it up w/real maple syrup on it. Beets, even. I've put cauliflower, carrot, and sweet potato in the mac-n-cheese, (individually, not all at once!), sweet potato in grileld cheese/quesadillas, spinach in the chicken nuggets' coating (if you can get to that point), in meatballs, etc. I wouldn't worry too much about the meat if you can get enough other stuff in your DCs -- lots of grains have protein, and eggs and cheese and yogurt do too of course.<br><br>
HTH -- oh, my other ace in the hole is the avocado pudding, have you tried that? One ripe avocado, honey, and cocoa or carob powder. Whiz it with a hand blender. It tastes just like "normal" chocolate pudding and the kids gobble it. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/thumb.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="thumbs up"><br><br>
ETA: just reread your last post and muffins (or quick breads, same thing in a different form) are easy-peasy to make from scratch, and easy to healthify. The mixes usually have nasty stuff in 'em and you can do it better and cheaper. My kids like to help make them, too. Poke around here (or post a separate thread) for specific recipes. I don't have a good bran muffin recipe but I do have a recipe for pumpkin/banana/or zucchini bread which is pretty adaptable.<br><br>
Oh, and what about pizza? Most kids love pizza, and it's a good place to get veggies in (sneak spinach under the sauce, put carrots in the sauce, top with veggies if your kids would eat them). Do whole-wheat crust and mozzarella, it's a pretty good meal and not too fattening for little kids who need fat anyway. They usually love to help make it, too -- scattering the veg and cheese. Or you can always do english muffin/bagel/pita pizzas for individual servings, or quicker meals. Or make up a whole bunch one day and freeze them.<br><br>
HTH!

 

[425lisamarie]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>slm21bl</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/11676365"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Oh thank you 425 lisamarie! You just made me smile and I so needed that. I'm having a "I am not superwoman!" day. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
I do make strawberry/banana/blueberry smoothies with wheat germ and flax seed. And I would make one right now but the OJ I got at the store was opened (well the cap wasn't on right) so I have to take it back. Ughh!<br><br>
She loves blueberry muffins but I always make boxed ones. I bought bran cereal to make a basic bran muffin mix but I haven't done it yet. I'm a little confused about the cereal..do I crush it up or mix it in as is? Anyone know? Or does anyone have a recipe that calls for bran cereal???<br><br>
I like the idea of sweet potatoes mixed in with regular ones. I have bought cauliflower several times with the intention of steaming it and pureeing it for mashed potatoes. But the cauiflower always goes bad before I get to it.<br><br>
As for DH, I have several times talked to him about this. He may not agree 100% but I am standing my ground and he doesn't say anything anymore. The funny thing this is he was a picky eater and was forced to eat his dinner for breakfast at his Grandmas. LOL!</div>
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Just keep on keepin up mama. It really sounds like you've got your head on straight about this one. I go in spurts where I feel like my kids should eat more variety and whatnot, but then I really think about how others eat and it makes me feel better <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/bag.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Bag">:.<br><br>
If you really watn to feel good, go to a book store and skim through the sneaky chef. Your kids are eating half the stuff at least that she is talking about "hiding" in things.<br><br>
About your smoothie. You don't need juice, I mean it's a great addition but in a pinch you can just use anything to make it not stop your blender motor. I have a vitamix and I can make really thick shakes in it, but in my old blender I just used a tiny bit of water or milk.<br><br>
About the muffins. I use whole wheat pastry flour. Right now I have on hand some wheat germ and wheat bran, so I'm adding little bits to them to use it up but normally I don't. You would want to crush the cereal so it's easier to measure. I'm not sure if it's in the flakes or the little roll lookin things, but either way I'd at least lightly crush it. This is how I make a very very basic muffin: I use light olive oil, and whole wheat pastry flour<br><br>
2 cups flour<br>
2 tablespoons ground flax<br>
2 tsp baking powder<br>
1 tsp baking soda<br>
**stir these above in a big bowl**<br><br>
1/3 cup sugar (natural, white, brown, whatever)<br>
1 cup yogurt, vanilla or plain, or applesauce, or a combo of any<br>
2 tblspoons of oil, mild flavour<br>
1/3 cup milk, or milk sub, or applejuice even<br>
**mix these in to another bowl**<br><br>
Pour the wet in to the dry and mix gently until mixed<br><br>
Makes 12 muffins, bake at 350 for 20 - 25 minutes.<br><br>
I fold a cup of blueberries in mine, and sprinkle the tops with sugar/cinnamon before baking.<br><br>
You can also add choc chips and diced banana instead of the blueberries, or any berries, raisins and some nuts....basically you want roughtly a cup of add ins.<br><br>
I could give you a billion recipes for muffins <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"><br><br>
My kids also love waffles in which I make them in to sticks and they dip them in to pureed strawberries (instead of syrup) and I squirt them a pile of whip cream<br><br>
I bake vegan as you can tell, and NO ONE coudl ever tell. I even make fancy brithday cakes vegan, but an egg equals 1/4 liquid. So in the above recipe, you could blend an egg and omit 1/4 cup of liquid if you want.<br><br>
I'm glad your husband is on your side <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> As long as he shuts his mouth doesn't matter what he "thinks." My DH was raised with some weird principles and though he sees the benefits of my parenting style and agrees with most verything now, for a awhile I knew he was thinking I was "babying" them too much.

 

[VikingKvinna]

Cathe Olson's Pumpkin Bread Recipe (can be made w/banana, zucchini, etc. -- also as muffins, just bake for less time) -- this is my standard quick bread or muffin recipe, I vary the sweetener and fillings and so on as I need to. HTH. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin"><br><br><br>
Pumpkin Bread<br>
This moist, flavorful bread is perfect for autumn. Vary the sweetener to your taste. The lesser amount of maple syrup makes a bread that goes well with soup or salad; the greater amount of sweetener makes it more of a dessert.<br><br>
2 eggs<br>
1/3 to 1/2 cup maple syrup<br>
1 1/4 cups mashed cooked pumpkin<br>
1/2 cup oil<br>
1 teaspoon baking soda<br>
1/4 cup plain yogurt or buttermilk<br>
1 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons whole wheat or spelt flour<br>
1 tsp cinnamon<br>
.5 tsp nutmeg<br>
.5tsp ginger or cloves<br>
1/2 cup chopped walnuts<br><br>
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Oil a loaf pan or 8-inch square baking pan. Beat eggs and maple syrup together until smooth. Beat in pumpkin and oil. Stir baking soda into yogurt or buttermilk. Sift flour and spice together. Stir flour mixture and baking soda mixture into pumpkin mixture. Fold in nuts.<br><br>
Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake about 75 to 90 minutes for loaf or 45 minutes for square pan, until tester inserted in center of cake comes out dry. Cool completely before slicing.

 

[wife&mommy]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>VikingKvinna</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/11676701"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Cathe Olson's Pumpkin Bread Recipe (can be made w/banana, zucchini, etc. -- also as muffins, just bake for less time) -- this is my standard quick bread or muffin recipe, I vary the sweetener and fillings and so on as I need to. HTH. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin"><br><br><br>
Pumpkin Bread<br>
This moist, flavorful bread is perfect for autumn. Vary the sweetener to your taste. The lesser amount of maple syrup makes a bread that goes well with soup or salad; the greater amount of sweetener makes it more of a dessert.<br><br>
2 eggs<br>
1/3 to 1/2 cup maple syrup<br>
1 1/4 cups mashed cooked pumpkin<br>
1/2 cup oil<br>
1 teaspoon baking soda<br>
1/4 cup plain yogurt or buttermilk<br>
1 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons whole wheat or spelt flour<br>
1 tsp cinnamon<br>
.5 tsp nutmeg<br>
.5tsp ginger or cloves<br>
1/2 cup chopped walnuts<br><br>
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Oil a loaf pan or 8-inch square baking pan. Beat eggs and maple syrup together until smooth. Beat in pumpkin and oil. Stir baking soda into yogurt or buttermilk. Sift flour and spice together. Stir flour mixture and baking soda mixture into pumpkin mixture. Fold in nuts.<br><br>
Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake about 75 to 90 minutes for loaf or 45 minutes for square pan, until tester inserted in center of cake comes out dry. Cool completely before slicing.</div>
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I'm saving this recipe, it looks great!

 

[slm21bl]

Thank you for all the wonderful suggestions and recipes! Deceptively Delicious was on my Christmas list last year. LOL! I have to pick it up next time we go to the library <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> Sadly, DD (4) won't eat pizza. She ate a piece last month and that was the 1st time in a year! But that hasn't happened again. LOL! But DD (5) and I use to make them on whole wheat english muffins. And that is defiantly something I can start making again. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> Thank you!<br><br>
I'm trying that's all I know. I just want to make sure I'm doing everything I can to feed them healthy. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[kriket]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/notes2.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="notes right-handed">: DH is my picky eater, I want to get him on veggis before kids come! He won't eat anything that I find or grow, I have to lie to him and say that I bought it somewhere! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/eyesroll.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="roll"><br><br>
My advice for kids, My sister was a picky eater, be sure that if you try new things you prepare them CORRECTLY! When we were little my mom made eggplant and screwed it up, the eggplant was bitter and spongy and just gross, she (in a moment of weakness) forced my sis to eat a piece and it was horrid. my sis (now 22) still won't eat eggplant, I am a certified chef and she has tried mine says that it tastes good, she just can't eat it. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad"> so moral is, don't do that to your kids!

 

[flapjack]

If she'll eat mashed potato, will she eat mashed other stuff?<br>
-mashed cannellini beans<br>
-butter beans<br>
-potato, celeriac and apple<br>
-parsnip<br>
and so on?

 

[Alyantavid]

Here's that waffle recipe I promised. So sorry I didn't get it posted sooner!<br><br>
2 cups white flour (I usually use ww, but you can do white or a combo)<br>
2/3 cup ww flour<br>
4 tsp baking powder<br>
1 tsp salt<br>
2 Tbsp sugar<br>
4 eggs, seperated<br>
2 1/2 cups milk (I use rice milk)<br>
1/3 cup oil<br><br>
Mix everything but egg whites. In seperate bowl, beat egg whites until fluffy. Gently fold into batter. Batter will be slightly lumpy.<br><br>
I add pureed stuff to this recipe as well.