Food glorious food

Getting children to eat healthy stuff can be a bit of a chore, but it doesn't have to be. I remember weaning the boys from around six months and to be honest, I really don't remember much about it. It went by in a blur of messy faces and dirty floors. We did have a period where Fin would not be spoon fed anything and I had to resort to giving them noodles for lunch every day. Now though, generally they are great eaters.

They still have days where they are not that hungry, which we all do, and I have learned now that if a child doesn't want to eat, you cannot make them. Just as if someone were to keep shoving a spoon in your direction and you really didn't fancy it, no amount of plane noises or begging could make you open your month. So now I dont sweat it. They will eat when they are hungry.

The most our boys eat is either at breakfast or tea time. Lunch time is generally hit or miss depending on how many biscuits they have had at play group! Tea time is great as we always sit down, all four of us 9 times of of 10 and eat the exact same stuff. I do have to cook slight variations for example if we are having something spicy or something I know the boys really don't like, but most nights they have the same of us.

On the fruit and veg front, we don't do too badly. The boys could eat more fruit but would live on strawberries if they could. They love peas, broccoli and carrots but not too fussed about potatoes or chips. But rice...Oh my goodness rice! THEY LOVE IT! And any kind of pasta dish they will eat.

These are some of our meals that we've had recently.

• Eggfried rice, sweet potato and peas.
• Chicken curry, brown rice, naan bread and pea and broccoli mix.
• Stir fry noodles, edemame beans, broccoli and sausage.
• Banked beans, tomato, homemade wedges and ham.

• Chicken wrap, soft cheese, bread sticks and bread (lots of bread)
• Sammy sampling my green smoothie.
• Sausages, chickpea stew (the love love love this) and greens.
• Chinese pork and rice.

• Making crispy cakes.
• Pizza and nugget night!
• Eating lasagne and veggies made by uncle Darren.
• First trip to Indian restaurant. They really enjoyed it that night.

Some sillies!

• Eating tomato soup with their eyes closed! 
• Last nights chicken and veg curry.
• Sammy making sure he gets every last bit.
• Fin pretty happy with his ice lolly.
•  

Including all the above we are surprised that the boys really enjoy and was purely by fluke that they like them:

• Mackeral
• Prawns
• Chickpeas
• Raw spinach
• Anything Chinese
• Anything Indian
• Carrot & Coriander soup.

 We do have days where they eat nothing but biscuits and cake especially if they are at Nana's or Grans but it's not all the time. I think the more you push and push them to eat something, the more they will dig their heels in. If you are constantly saying 'come on come, eat this, eat that' they cant make up their own mind to try something. Take a more relaxed approach. 

Give them something you would like them to eat and less of what they normally eat. Eventually they may try it but it does take about 12 tastes of the same thing to actually enjoy it. Or threaten to give it to their sibling - they will soon shove what ever it is in their mouth!

Those of you that know us, know we have an allotment which we are hoping to really get the boys involved in this year. Previous years they have been a bit little to understand what its all about but Mark has big plans for them!

Hopefully they will make the connection of where they food comes from what they eat.

Im guessing in a few years time they boys may completely go off their usual food and want to eat nothing but cheerios and cheese for six months but for now I am quite happy with their diet.

So. my biggest tips to encourage your children to eat (Which I'm sure most of you know and have heard a million times over but works) is:

 Eat as a family 

Get them involved in the cooking.

 

Take them to restaurants 

And have fun with it!

xx