A few years ago, Heinz came out with green and purple ketchup. We tried it, it was interesting. Odd eating green ketchup.
Now I'm thinking that maybe green ketchup isn't such a bad idea. I'd like to get Eden in the habit of eating green foods.
We are getting a little bit repetitious and boring in our dinners. The vegies that Eden will eat include broccoli, corn, and peas. Nothing more, nothing less. So that's what I make and that's what I serve. We are all getting a little bored of it. I think I hit rock bottom the other day when I thought I could serve pancakes with a spinach sauce. Eden and Ben ended up eating the pancakes with peanut butter (Eden stuck a few peas on hers). I didn't think the spinach was that bad, but oh well.
Honestly, she would be happy with 2 bowls of cereal, a pbj, and a vanilla yogurt every day. Oh and a vitamin and a cookie.
Why does her eating habits (or lack thereof) drive me nuts? My mom said I did not eat vegies until I was 9 or so. My mother in law says I should leave her alone and offer healthy things and she will take what she needs, and I shouldn't give her a complex. Eden gets her vitamin daily, and she does love fruit. I'm concerned about the percentage of sugar and fats in her diet and I know that I should probably shut up about it. I think that Ben sees my point of view but thinks I need to chill out. Her gannenet says that none of the other kids eat the veggies at lunch - with the exception of one or two.
I go back and forth. I'm all for letting Eden take what she needs and not driving her crazy. I want to make dinner time a fun time, a family time, not a stressful time for all of us. And I suppose I have this fairy tale idea that its my job to make the dinner and every one else's job to eat it.
And Eden is just the most wonderful little girl to love, and is a terror to force something on. It breaks my heart when she cries, but it also makes me angry when she won't eat.
It's probably all wrapped up in something deeply psychological, having to do with a mixture of my own childhood, working mommy guilt, her being an only child, environmental pressures, and the fact is that she is as stubborn as I am, and often quite creative.
Note: I find it a point of progress that I am able to laugh at the pancakes and spinach and am proud of said progress.
I Lost My Swim Meet
5 months ago
2 comments:
Broccoli, peas, and corn is pretty good.
Tomato sauce also counts as a veggie, and can be hidden inside of pizza, lasagne, etc.
If you're bored of it, then make whatever you like, and open a can of corn for her to eat. If she sees you and your husband eating it, and you offer off-handedly, then in a year or four or twelve, she'll probably be willing to try it.
Rach's kids used to love salad of tomatoes, cukes, and green olives with lemon juice on it. (If she doesn't eat it, invite me over, and I'll finish it up ;) ) Add anything else to the salad and they wouldn't touch it. This lasted a few years, but who cares? People have lived long lives without touching lettuce, eggplant, or spinach.
Anyway, seriously, try not to worry. If she eats fruits and veggies and protein (yogurt counts!) then she'll be fine. Add in a multi-vitamin and she's doing better than most kids.
She has plenty of energy, she's happy, and she's not particularly skinny or chubby. Try not to worry!!!
Bethami, I have a great book to recommend to you, but it's slipping my mind now. When I remember i will definitely email it to you.
We didn't notice any problems with her eating but then again, her and Noah were so busy playing.
TriCat is right - as long as what you are offering her is without the prevatives/artificial coloring and the rest of the junk that added in the foods, and you stick with foods that are more natural based and higher in protein and fiber, she will be fine. You may want to try sweet potatos instead of white potatos, or whole wheat instead of white. Those types of tricks.
Another idea is to introduce food through play - for more exotic food, like Chinese, have her play with toys or scarves or books or chopsticks - invoke her imagination through scent and music and other visual props, and perhaps that will interest her to at least - try it.
just an idea.
Good luck.
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