Healthy food diet for toddler?

[schellen]

Bowie, it's perfectly normal to not have sweets and chocolates. My DD never cultivated a taste for chocolate until she was in k1 or k2, and even then, she'd prefer to choose other flavours of ice-cream, cake, etc rather than chocolate. When she was a toddler, I gave her chocolate milk/cookie and told her what it was. She made a face and refused to even try it. Months later, I tricked her into trying a choc cookie without telling her what it was. She went \"Bleah!\", and stuck out her tongue.


As for sweets, she likes to buy them more that eating them. Maybe cos the bright and pretty wrappers are nice to look at? Ice-cream, she has about once a fortnight, I think, cos my DH regulates this. However, she doesn't ask often so if she doesn't ask, we don't offer.

Candies and chocolates from goodie bags from school and childcare are all passed to me or just chucked onto the dining table when she gets home. She may ask to eat a few of them but most of the time, she's not interested.

So, don't fret if you think your daughter is missing out on these treats. If she doesn't bother to ask you for them, good! It'll save you the dental fees and medical fees.

Besides raisins, I also gave yogurt and fruit. Buttered toast cut into fancy shapes using cookie cutters are fun too. Or melted cheese on toast.

[schellen]

Bowie, if you’re buying pre-made/ready made stuff, read the labels. Watch out for too much sugar and salt/sodium. Sugar can come in many forms so learn to ID them. Avoid MSG, artificial flavours and colours and preservatives. Some fruit juices/drinks are not 100% juice so check the label. Even if 100%, you may want to add water cos natural juices are sometimes very sweet on their own.


Don’t be fooled by thinking that since the food is meant for kids, and the brand is reputable, it should be okay for my kid. Keep in mind that in different countries, what is okay for them may not be okay for you. For example, the Japanese may add salt to their baby biscuits. The Europeans may add sugar. The British think that weakened or watered down tea is okay for kids. The Taiwanese take in a lot of MSG, I think. Etc, etc.

If you have time, you may want to use freshly-squeezed juices at home to make ice lollys. Just use any suitable (small container) that can be frozen, and ice-cream sticks that you can buy easily from Popular. Pour juice in mould, put stick in freeze. However, you need to stabilise the stick or else it will fall to one side. I think maybe places like Ikea sells lolly-making containers cheaply.

[MLR]

Hiya Bowie


Other than the ritz cheese sandwich biscuits and glico biscuits sticks, i hardly buy off the shelf snacks for DS. He doesn't quite enjoy them. He dislike sweet (taste and candies), cold, chocolate, he enjoys savoury stuff. As schellen pointed out, most snacks are packed with preservatives, colourings, flavourings, etc.

If she is not sensitive, nuts and cheese are nutritious and delicious. Banana chocolate (or nutalla) on toast is a all time fav since i was young. Cheese toast is the easilest snack to make. Mix raisins and almonds/macademia/sunflower seeds/pistacio and put them in small zip lock bags for easy access and good to bring for outings.

Whenever i make chocolate fondue and theres left over, i will mix in raisins and some crushed nuts, level out in a small tray and left to harden in the chiller for own chocolate bars. For making your own chocolate sauce, use dark (70%) chocolates, not those milk chocolate, melt 80g in a heatproof bowl over a pot of boiling water, mix in a dash of milk/cream and a teaspoonful of butter, a dash of cinnamom/nutmeg powder, mix well and for adults can also add in a dash of orange/cherry brandy/liquor.

Make your own jelly with apple juice and fresh fruits, instead of water, use apple juice (i use Florida fresh apple use). To encourage DH to eat fresh veg, i cut up carrots and celery sticks and allow him to dip them in peanut butter. Apple slices with cheese slices is an odd but delicious combination too.

Oh theres too many snacks that i love to make...... :love:

[schellen]

schellen:

If you have time, you may want to use freshly-squeezed juices at home to make ice lollys. Just use any suitable (small container) that can be frozen, and ice-cream sticks that you can buy easily from Popular. Pour juice in mould, put stick in freeze. However, you need to stabilise the stick or else it will fall to one side. I think maybe places like Ikea sells lolly-making containers cheaply.

I just remembered another easier way to make mini lollys. Use your freezer's ice-cube tray. Pour juice into tray. Stretch a piece of clear wrap over the top of the tray. Stick toothpicks into each compartment of tray through the wrap. The wrap will keep the sticks in place. And this method makes mini lollys that are the right size for little treats.

[Bowie]

Wow Wow.


Thanx schellen, Thanx MLR.

U gals are great !!

[lavlow]

wow! all of you are so innovative and creative... i have to much to learn


Bowie, i'm like you, quite particular on wat goes into their mouth. but ever since she started pre-n, she becomes smarter (cos school's food are tastier than the bland taste at home) and more choosy now.

to pump her up (slightly underweight), now i'm cracking hard wat to feed her during breakfast n tea time. she dislikes sweet stuff.. so cakes, jams, kaya etc are out for her. dunno who fed her chocs/sweet, she loves it tho and i dun like it.

1) cheese - she loves it but i have concern on the sodium level, so can only limit her once/twice a week

2) yogurt/yakult - she's starting to like it but she can't take cold stuff cos of sensitive airway, so gotta wait till room temp and risk her changing her mind n waste the food n not eating anything in the end ( i can't take out in advance too cos she has to nod head yes i wanna eat first, else no way to down it in - tried n failed)

3) bread - sometimes she will eat and only accepts butter (when she doesn't eat, i gotta crack my head again)

4) biscuits/cereal - loves it but cos she dun like to drink water, so everytime gets heaty and sore throat, so i'm limiting it also if she doesn't coop n drinks more water.

5) fresh milk - loves it but she's always down with flu/cough with phelgm. so i'll limit this also since it worsen phelgm

6) raisins/cranberries/fruits - depends on mood.

end up, with me limiting this that and she also fussy this that, i'm at dead end.

lately a fren told me about DIET INTERVENTION... her girl's behaviour n health improved a lot!! I realised 1-5 above are all GLUTEN / CASEIN RICH... now i wonder HOW, should i reduce GLUTEN/CASEIN RICH snacks for my girl too or it's perfectly fine for normal kids to be on such rich food or it'll eventually have an impact on their behaviour/health even for normal kids? If reduce, wat else can offer? tough!

experienced mummies, anyone has any findings before or tots? yet to ask PD on their opinion but am sure they'll say fine for norm kids or say moderation (but abit of all these snacks wun build up to moderation aldy :P).

by the way, i have serious problem making her drinks water and she doesn't like juice type of sweetness. can't give barley type too often since sensitive airway, anyone has GOOD TRICKS TO CON THEM TO DRINK WATER?

[schellen]

lavlow:

1) cheese - she loves it but i have concern on the sodium level, so can only limit her once/twice a week


2) yogurt/yakult - she's starting to like it but she can't take cold stuff cos of sensitive airway, so gotta wait till room temp and risk her changing her mind n waste the food n not eating anything in the end ( i can't take out in advance too cos she has to nod head yes i wanna eat first, else no way to down it in - tried n failed)

3) bread - sometimes she will eat and only accepts butter (when she doesn't eat, i gotta crack my head again)

4) biscuits/cereal - loves it but cos she dun like to drink water, so everytime gets heaty and sore throat, so i'm limiting it also if she doesn't coop n drinks more water.

5) fresh milk - loves it but she's always down with flu/cough with phelgm. so i'll limit this also since it worsen phelgm

6) raisins/cranberries/fruits - depends on mood.

by the way, i have serious problem making her drinks water and she doesn't like juice type of sweetness. can't give barley type too often since sensitive airway, anyone has GOOD TRICKS TO CON THEM TO DRINK WATER?

1. Kraft has low-salt cheese. Ever since I ate that , I refuse to eat their \"normal\" cheese anymore cos I find them too salty.

2. Throw the fruits into the yogurt to make the fruits (and yogurt) more interesting. Yakult is very sweet. If you can, dilute it with water. We don't give our DD Yakult or Vitagen and we told her why so she has not asked for it ever since. We also instructed her grandparents not to give her that too.

3. Maybe you can toast the bread and cut it into shapes using cookie cutters? Shapes make it more interesting and toasting it will change its texture.

4. Biscuits must limit. Very heaty. Maybe you can give crackers, the kind that people eat with cheese (but without the cheese) or Jacob's crackers? For cereal, avoid wheat-based cereal so as to cut down on gluten intake.

5. Replace with soyabean? My DD will accept both milk and soyabean.

6. Cut the fruits into special shapes? Arrange the fruit into face shape or vehicle shape etc. on plate to make it more interesting. Use varied colours to attract her attention.

Maybe you can try getting ideas from books like this one:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51xsRyl65-L._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg\">
http://www.amazon.com/Toddler-Caf%C3%A9-Healthy-Pickiest-Eater/dp/0811859274/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240546190&sr=1-1

I think I bought this one or the equivalent for toddlers. It gave me some ideas.
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Y0M06HGHL._SS500_.jpg\">
http://www.amazon.com/First-Foods-Healthcare-Miriam-Stoppard/dp/0751336157/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240546332&sr=1-1

GOOD LUCK! ^_^

[schellen]

About drinking water: We got our DD those plastic cups with glitter in them and those that come with spiral straws, as well as one that had a big straw. I think the cup had some Sesame Street character.

[lavlow]

thanks!!! your advice is very valuable...


today i tried cutting her bread into bear shape, indeed ate more! will try the straw or fancy cup one!!

by the way, is it easy to find non wheat cereal? any recommendation on brands u know cos most i found in ntuc is wheat based

[schellen]

lavlow:

thanks!!! your advice is very valuable...


today i tried cutting her bread into bear shape, indeed ate more! will try the straw or fancy cup one!!

by the way, is it easy to find non wheat cereal? any recommendation on brands u know cos most i found in ntuc is wheat based

That's good progress! :celebrate:

The fancy cups can be bought at Tom & Stephanie, Kiddy Palace or any department stores.

Our family avoids wheat-based and corn-based cereal so it's quite hard to find alternatives. Once, the Shop N Save near my home held an atrium sale and I found Spelt cereal by Arrowhead Mills. Now, I can't find it anymore. Maybe if I'm lucky, I can find Arrowhead Mills products at Shop N Save and Cold Storage but I prefer Spelt, which I have difficulty finding.
http://arrowheadmills.elsstore.com/app/images/product/pop/07433337499p.jpg\">
http://arrowheadmills.elsstore.com/view/product/?id=12231&cid=340
For their other products (some which are gluten-free), http://arrowheadmills.elsstore.com/view/category/340-cereal-cold/