After my Low post last week I thought I it was time to step back and take an inventory of the good things. There are plenty. Sometimes they get lost behind dark clouds that eventually stream out of the way and the good can be seen once again.
One thing I really have to appreciate is that, while Cuyler has many major dietary issues – far beyond being a “picky eater” (a lot of oral and olfactory issues are involved) my other two kids are very good eaters. I can’t imagine my frustration level if all 3 (or even 2) had eating issues.
I enjoy cooking. While I’m no ChefDad/Mom – I can cook a nice meal from scratch. And doing that makes me feel good as a mom. That I am making them healthy food – preparing with fresh ingredients and with none of the unnecessary crap.
This past Sunday I made my favourite homemade chicken nuggets for lunch. Quick, easy and delicious.
They’re gluten and dairy free and the only one who refused to eat them is Cuyler. The rest of us gobbled them up. Also gobbled up was the side of veggies that I made to go along with them.
Again, by everyone except Cuyler.
They’re gluten and dairy free and the only one who refused to eat them is Cuyler. The rest of us gobbled them up. Also gobbled up was the side of veggies that I made to go along with them.
Again, by everyone except Cuyler.So while diet and nutrition is a huge source of stress for me where Cuyler is concerned – I have no issues whatsoever with the others.
And that’s a huge relief.
They eat it all. Anytime we order sushi, Cam gets an extra order of rolls to take for lunch the next day. Eva loves fish and steamed veggies with my Mum every Friday night.
Lunch boxes come home empty and bellies are always full.
Well. With the exception of child #2. We’ll keep working on it. I will keep preparing his special food because one day…one day he will eat.
I know picky eaters are common among young children, so I have to ask – do you have one? a few? do you have good eaters? or have you got a combo, like me?
My son used to eat anything. Then he started daycare at the age of 2 1/2 and that made him a picky eater – at home – apparently it’s not an issue in the daycare 😉 He eats well in the morning, delicious meals at daycare, so if he doesn’t like the dinner, so be it. He’s now a healthy active 4-year old. I hope that it’s just a phase though, and that he will go back to being a curious gourmand like his mom 😉
I should be embarrassed to admit that I am a bit of a food Nazi. I am fairly wrapped around the idea that I am a good mom if my kids eat well and get a good night’s sleep and everyone is organized and on time. I can’t help it- I am a bit nuts on these things. I think the rest of you are more normal!I fear when they move out they may eat pints of ice cream and popcorn for dinner………out of protest.
Marley was very happy to see Eva eating their favourite vegetable. Marley is an awesome eater. We have a standing lunch date once a week and it can be anything, Thai, Greek, Indian, Dim Sum or Sushi (our fave).
Marley can really put it away so if she wants more food during/after a meal it has to be veggies. She’s OK with that.
How are you eating?!?
The Boy is 20 months and such a fussy butt. One day, he’s eating a huge bowl full of peas and carrots, the next day it’s disgusting. Chicken nuggets are always a hit, so I’m totally taking your recipe.
The only never miss is yogurt, cheese, and any type of fruit. Otherwise, I’m flying by the seat of my pants…hoping he’ll eat what I made but planning backups that are healthy, just in case. I can’t wait until he eats broccoli!
Out of my four, I have a mixture. I have one super picky kid, and it’s Lindsay, Cuyler’s fellow November kid. Go figure. It’s frustrating though, because Logan normally eats fine, but he takes a lot of cues from Lindsay. So if she sniffs something and goes “yuck” then he automatically does it too. Gah. The youngest is in a phase right now where she refuses to eat dinner at all, no matter what I make, and instead makes herself a peanut butter sandwich or a bowl of cereal, sigh.
I’d go nuts if it wasn’t for my oldest. He’s awesome. He’ll try new foods, and even if he doesn’t like something very much, he’ll try to choke it down to spare my feelings. Love that boy, lol!
I’m thrilled that my kids both seem to eat pretty well. My son won’t eat soup or stew-y things like chili yet, but one day he will. So far Madame will have soup. I’m also super-happy that they don’t have any allergies (that we’re aware of) so it’s just one less thing to think about.
But I think candy is their favourite food group…
Chase (20 months) is an extremely picky eater. He basically refuses anything that isn’t chicken nuggets or crackers. He eats yogurt and applesauce but other wise fruits and veggies come in the form of baby food. We keep trying different foods but honestly I don’t stress that much because he is healthy and gaining the weight he should. Eventually I’m sure he’ll add to his likes.
Ummm…sure.
I’m a little embarrassed to post it because it’s so easy.
I use chicken cutlets because they cook quicker. Cubed.
Obviously the breading is what make these GFCF.
All I do is take some of his cereal – this time it was his Nature’s Path Whole O’s – and put it in my coffee grinder to grind it into a fine powder. I add a little bit of garlic powder and some flax meal to it.
In a bowl I lightly whisk an egg and dip the chicken pieces into it and then coat them with the breading.
Then, I either bake them in a 375 oven for 20 mins or I fry them in a tbsp or 2 of canola oil.
For a really yummy treat I’ll use EnviroKids Gorilla Munch (think Corn Pops) instead of the O’s. Using this cereal ground into breading gets me as close to McDonalds nuggets as I’ll get with homemade. A little less healthy – but REEAALLLY good!
Can I get the recipe? 🙂
I have one fabulous eater and one very picky eater. I have learned to not stress about it. My son will try anything. He and I love to go out for Indian, when we were in Paris we sampled all of the different cheeses, and he is always up to trying something new.
My daughter, on the other hand, has a handful of things she will eat. She really does not like meat so she eats eggs or cheese or yogurt as protein. She will eat fruit and veg but only pureed (with the exception of clementine oranges for some reason). Things can’t touch each other on her plate. They can’t smell. The colour can’t be a certain way and she can pick out even the smallest difference or suspicious ingredient.
But, she is active and healthy and gets enough solid nutrition that I know she will be fine. My little sister ate nothing but iceberg lettuce, peanut butter and bread for years. Now she is a healthy vegetarian with a varied diet.
I have had MANY people advise me on how to change her diet. I have had many people look down in judgment. But, I know, this is just the way it is for her right now. They seem to forget that I have another child who will eat anything and he is being raised in the same home! Kids are different in many ways. This is just one of them.
It definitely makes it easier to have a good eater. But I find the less we focus on it with my daughter, the more open she becomes.
Great post!
For startes – where is the gluten/dairy free chicken recipe??? Looks great!
My kids in general aren’t too picky but it seems at every meal there is someone who thumbs their nose at whatever is offered up.
There are some universal winners – steak, sushi, Ali’s pasta with cheese sauce…
I have one great eater…and he’s making me a better eater! I just can’t bring him around to the spicy side yet – but everything else he chows!