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03-17-2017, 06:53 AM | #1 |
Rose Garden
Our sweet family, 2017
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Posts: 8,882
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I really need help with meals.
I'm starting to get concerned about AJ's health because of how little she eats. She used to have a really diverse palate but the older she's gotten the more foods she's dropped from that. When she was 2-3yrs she used to eat as much as I would at meals; now she hardly eats anything.
Lately she's been having a lot of stomach issues and complaining frequently of being nauseated. She's been eating more gluten, and I know that is part of the issue - it constipates us both. But I really think she's just not eating enough, either. And I don't make meals that are well-rounded enough - they're lacking fats and fiber and enough produce - so I'm hungry more often than I'm not, and even large meals (since they're not well-rounded) don't fill me up. The problem is that everyone here is SO STINKING PICKY. A lot of it is sensory issues; DH and the girls all deal with them, mostly texture related. DH won't touch produce or anything that has produce on it or near it. The girls each like about three fruits/veggies - apples, carrots, cucumber for PJ and peas for AJ. (Actually, PJ also likes berries, and she, unlike everyone else, is at least willing to try new foods. Ironic since she's the one who had feeding issues and had to go through "food school" when she was little!) None of them will do soups, smoothies, broths, purees - anything soft and mushy (other than ice cream, LOL, and mashed potatoes, which DH and PJ like, but not AJ - the girls don't even like the softer apple varieties; I have to get kiku, pink lady, honey crisp, or fuji apples because they're good and crisp). The girls also don't like any of their veggies cooked (except the peas) - have to be cold and raw. No one likes spicy stuff. The other problem is that I do not enjoy cooking in the least. Partly because I never know what to make, partly because it's so much effort for so little payoff (because someone always complains, or it doesn't turn out right, or it takes ages to make and 30 seconds to eat and 30 minutes to clean up), and partly because everyone is so picky and it's so hard to find something that everyone likes. There are literally TWO meal I make that everyone actually enjoys, but we can't live on chicken fettucini alfredo and chicken and rice casserole forever! I make sure every meal has protein. The girls eat 2-3 servings of fresh fruit/veggies a day, usually with a meal but sometimes just as a snack. They usually have some kind of pretzel/chip as a side with meals. (Texture thing again - they crave crunch.) They have finally started to eat sandwiches (that's new in literally the last year, and they're 9 and 11!) but because we're gluten free we try not to do a lot of breads/grains because gf they are so bad for you, plus the girls don't like most gf breads anyway. (And who can blame them?) I have a slow cooker and an IP. I need examples of well-rounded meals, because I honestly don't know what a well-rounded meal looks like. I can use those examples as a base and then sub in the ingredients my family will actually eat. But I also HAVE to introduce new foods in somehow - it's getting ridiculus how limited everyone's palate is.
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Alison wife to Daniel mother to AJ (12/28/05) and PJ (03/19/08) Inspirational Women's Fiction author Children's storybook author Homeschool coach Last edited by NovelMama; 03-17-2017 at 07:04 AM. |
03-17-2017, 09:12 AM | #2 |
Rose Garden
I Am A BananaCake
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Northeast US
Posts: 25,129
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Re: I really need help with meals.
Have you tried to make your own GF bread? I know this is only a small part of what's going on. :make more later hopefully.
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Brenna 3 kiddos (16 1/2, 14 & 9) Praying for semi-son, age 35 I live by the motto: seek first to understand. "Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions." Proverbs 18:2 |
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03-17-2017, 09:33 AM | #3 |
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Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: In green pastures
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Re: I really need help with meals.
That sounds really hard. I might start by making variations of your pasta and rice meals.
Here is an alfredo alternative. You can switch up the seasonings or omit them. The recipe is delicious as it is, but could also be good with curry (and omit the Italian seasonings). http://meatified.com/italian-chicken...le-hold-grain/ Here is a chicken rice casserole alternative. I usually double the sauce. This freezes well, with or without the rice. http://www.food.com/recipe/bourbon-chicken-45809
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RiverRock, mom to a 24 year old diamond, 22 year old granite, 19 year old pearl, and 16 year old tiger eye. Married for 25 years to a rugged boulder and resting together on the one true Rock.
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03-17-2017, 09:47 AM | #4 |
Rose Garden
My kid shoots laser beams from his hands
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,900
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Re: I really need help with meals.
Do they eat rice or potatoes (roasted, hashbrowns, boiled, baked etc? Do they like pasta?
Do they eat raw veggies with dip? You might consider having an appetizer tray to munch on. Do they like things with sauce? Do they eat salad? We have some Sensory issues here too but I don't allow complaining about a meal. After a chorus of yucks once when they were younger I took the food off the table and they didn't eat and I had a long talk about what was acceptable ("no thank you", "I don't prefer onions" etc) I didn't ask them to like or eat everything, only that they had to be polite because they might not like or want the food but I still don't deserve that treatment. In any case now they eat most things, even the one who struggles the most. Except onions, he will pick every last one out) I give him a smaller portion of veggies out of respect and he eats them out of respect. Growing up we always had a salad first and that had add ins like cucumbers, sunflower seeds and raw carrots. Then a few vegetables and a starch and then the protein. Sometimes jello. We usually had dessert but it was often fruit. Since they like crunchy, here are a few things that might satisfy that craving. Salads (with add ins) Latke or hashbrowns Pan fried chicken Raw zucchini Raw (thin) asparagus wrapped in lunch meat Freeze Dried fruit/vegetables Lettuce wraps Nachos Roasted chickpeas Nuts Nut crusted fish/chicken Grate, drain water and add into hamburgers or spaghetti or sloppy joes or anything with a sauce. Same with spinach or protein powder I'd also consider quitting and letting them all figure it out |
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03-17-2017, 12:44 PM | #5 |
Administrator
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Posts: 34,567
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Re: I really need help with meals.
I'm following along to get suggestions, too. Trying to move to more produce and less carbs is harder than it should be.
Have you talked to your husband about how this is a problem and maybe he could try to help by eating something green?
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Elizabeth "Truth without love is divisive and hurtful & love without truth is anemic"--Pastor Estep Arise, cry out in the night...pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord; Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children..; Lamentations 2:19 |
03-17-2017, 01:09 PM | #6 | |||||||
Rose Garden
Our sweet family, 2017
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Posts: 8,882
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Re: I really need help with meals.
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They don't like nuts. (They don't even like peanut butter! I eat the stuff by the spoonful nearly evey day.) But a nut-crusted something-or-other might go over well if I can get the nuts fine enough. PJ will eat fish but not anyone else. Nachos...never thoughts of that, but that might work. All of us but PJ like chicken quesadillas and I make those for lunch usually a couple times a week. Thank you so much for the list and ideas. I'm going to try some of these. Quote:
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Alison wife to Daniel mother to AJ (12/28/05) and PJ (03/19/08) Inspirational Women's Fiction author Children's storybook author Homeschool coach |
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03-17-2017, 01:18 PM | #7 |
Rose Garden
I Am A BananaCake
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Northeast US
Posts: 25,129
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Re: I really need help with meals.
I have a pretty good bread recipe. It's not as light as storebought, but it's so much better.
http://barefeetinthekitchen.com/hone...en-free-bread/ It's a variation of that.
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Brenna 3 kiddos (16 1/2, 14 & 9) Praying for semi-son, age 35 I live by the motto: seek first to understand. "Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions." Proverbs 18:2 |
03-17-2017, 01:34 PM | #8 |
Rose Garden
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 16,750
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Re: I really need help with meals.
sensory or anxiety-related?
anti-anxieties? what about that book by Jessica Seinfeld where she hides the veggies in other foods? My kids don't eat as much when they are not in a growth-spurt. Do your kids like being sick? Would they eat more if they were under the care of a counselor/dietician/doctor for food-related issues? <That is a real question. I have one friend who enjoys being sick and getting help.> Do you eat family breakfast? Family lunch? Family dinner? Can you eat without your husband more often? Do they eat better at restaurants? With your parents?
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ENFp Wife who is thankful to be in love....17 years Homeschooling Mom of three....15 DD dancer and 12 DS mountain biker and 5 DD calico critter and dolly mommy 12/2014 8/2015 11/2015 9/2016 |
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03-17-2017, 01:40 PM | #9 | |
Rose Garden
My kid shoots laser beams from his hands
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 21,900
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Re: I really need help with meals.
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Has your dh ever tried to get help? That sounds really severe. |
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03-17-2017, 02:15 PM | #10 | ||||
Rose Garden
Our sweet family, 2017
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: The Woodlands, TX
Posts: 8,882
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Re: I really need help with meals.
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Not sure. Kinda chicken-or-egg when it comes to that. He does have anxiety. We're working on that. Quote:
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No better at restaurants either, no, nor with my parents. No. He has anxiety and we're working on that; hopefully there will be some improvements in that area, too, but I don't know how much is anxiety-based and how much is physiological.
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Alison wife to Daniel mother to AJ (12/28/05) and PJ (03/19/08) Inspirational Women's Fiction author Children's storybook author Homeschool coach |
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03-17-2017, 02:35 PM | #11 |
Rose Garden
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 16,750
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Re: I really need help with meals.
oh, I do not have any problem whatsoever about putting veggies in my kids' food. I put a few okra pods in chocolate smoothies. Can't taste. Makes them creamier. I do not think they'd drink it at all if they knew it was in there. I figure when they are teens/young adults, they'll ask me for the recipe. They'll gag and then make them just like I did!
I'm really sorry food is such a struggle. It was such a joy in my house. Maybe you can look on the bright side? They probably won't ever have to go on a diet like I do!
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ENFp Wife who is thankful to be in love....17 years Homeschooling Mom of three....15 DD dancer and 12 DS mountain biker and 5 DD calico critter and dolly mommy 12/2014 8/2015 11/2015 9/2016 |
03-18-2017, 10:30 AM | #12 |
Rose Garden
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 26,473
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Re: I really need help with meals.
Will either dh or kids eat pasta with sauce? That is one thing you can easily hide other veggies in if you blend with a blender
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~Catherine~ Mama to 5: C W C J S And Grandma to 3: A ,K and baby C |
03-18-2017, 11:53 AM | #13 |
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Dancing stands with all seahorses who are journeying to freedom
Join Date: Jul 2009
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Re: I really need help with meals.
With AJ's symptoms, I'd suspect constipation.
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It's me, dh, Dressy Bessy (Sept 08) and Dancing Daisy (May 10) Lead the children to see in every pleasant and beautiful thing an expression of God's love for them. Recommend your religion to them by its pleasantness. Let the law of kindness be in your lips. ~Ellen G. White |
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03-18-2017, 12:16 PM | #14 |
Rose Garden
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 27,359
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Re: I really need help with meals.
so they like creamy carb things?
How about shepherd's pie enchilada casserole (you don't have to make it spicy- it can just be creamy) baked fries Cheesy sauces are great for blending carrots or other orange veggies into Herbs are really good for you, too. Oregano has lots of antioxidants in it (and they don't need much to get a benefit) as well as other herbs and spices. So if they won't do veggies, do all the herbs they will eat!
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Erin born of water and of the Spirit 4/96 married 5/02 Mama to: 2004 2007 2010 2012 2017 2019 Jan 2, 2024 And many I hope to hold in heaven one day |
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03-18-2017, 05:15 PM | #15 |
Moderator in Celebrations, Cloth Diapering & EC, Empty Arms, Prayer & Praise, and Swap n' Shop
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Re: I really need help with meals.
What about trying to assign the kids to some of the meal planning? If you laid out guidelines (ie. must include one veggie, etc) would they be able to come up with a meal plan they'd like?
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married 25 years mom to two young adults (23 and 20) and two teens (17 and 15) |
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