No, it hasn’t come to that in our house.
Except it kind of has.
I remember taking Love Bug to the paediatric dietician when she was a little over a year old to discuss what I might need to support her needs as a little growing vegetarian. At that stage she ate anything.
The dietician said to me there will be a point – generally sometime between now and when she’s four – that she won’t eat anything you put in front of her. She will exist on crackers and apples {or some other combination of her choosing}.
It seems, my friends, this time has come. And I am pulling my hair out! It’s not that she just starts with I want crackers, rather we talk about what her tummy feels like, she mostly helps me with prep, and we sit down together to eat. That is when she says I don’t want this I want something else.
The first couple of times it happened I made something else. After all, who hasn’t prepared a meal then taken a bite only to realise you made the wrong food choice for your tummy? Oh, that’s just me? Okay. But she’s mine so I gave her the benefit of the doubt.
But then it happened at breakfast. Breakfast do you hear me? What the what now? This never fail happy face breakfast was adamantly pushed all the way off the placemat.
Right along with mumma’s grip on sanity.
Quinoa porridge with organic honey, almond milk, LSA, happy nut {cashew} eyebrows and nose, apple mouth, blueberry eyes and raspberry cheeks, topped off with hair of puréed apple and cinnamon. Yep, that.
What else did she want? Who knows?! Apparently not her. I just want something else. When I ask again what her tummy feels like, this is the response: you just make it and then I’ll see if I like it.
Um, no. I don’t think so.
Of course I did make something else. Gluten free toast with mashed banana, almond paste and quinoa, surrounded by cranberries and slices of apple. Success. If only small.
I’ve tried all of our favourites but an at a bit of a loss. So she seems to be eating a lot of sultanas, yoghurt , pasta with spinach and ricotta, raw cashew nuts … and peas.
The problem with this is that she’s waking up in the middle of the night and she’s hungry. Because although she’s eating those things, there’s not enough to sustain her.
Which means we’re both awake some time between 2 and 3am and she ends up having a yoghurt. But then wants to sleep in mumma’s bed. After we have a chat. And if I don’t put her in my bed she sits for a solid hour and yells out to me. Ain’t nobody got time fo that!
By this time I’m wide awake and worrying about our little world, getting a job, the asteroid in our atmosphere, all of the animals being abandoned in their senior years at pounds, what we’re doing to our natural world and the climate, how we can get more people to eat less animals, and when we are going to wake up and stop testing on animals.
You know, a few light issues for the witching hour. But not sleeping.
And we all know sleep deprivation is torture.
bumpyroadtobubba 
Protein shake? We have a lovely pea protein with cacao powder and stevia that my girls love. They call it their milkshake.
Lisa Blue
Health Information Manager
T 02 6202 1000 | F 02 6202 1001 | E lisa.blue@pha.org.au
http://www.privatehealthcareaustralia.org.au
[Private Healthcare Australia – Better Cover. Better Access. Better Care.]
Lisa, even our never fail smoothies are failing! I will have to look into pea protein though – considering peas are still on the acceptable foods list 🙂
Ohmygoodness. If it’s any help, it sounds like you have given her quite the array and up until now she’s had a good willingness to try all sorts of stuff. (I’m marveling at this, quite honestly! WOW!) I think there might be some growth spurt stuff going on, too, not unusual to feel all sorts of out of whack (and wake up mid-night) when a wee one is going through some big changes.
I hadn’t factored the growth spurt in – good to know, thanks!
welcome to my world….since Sofia was 6 months old!!!!
If she likes yoghurt or porridge or something ‘filling’ like that, give it to her right before bed and some extra milk. Should fill her up. Don’t stress about it. Remember it’s a phase (well for most children…for me this is normality) and she will eat if she really is hungry. Don’t get too caught up on whether she’s eaten her 5 veg and 2 fruit every day or giving her variety every day. If she eats the same thing every day it’s ok I have been to so many doctors and nutritionists and they are never worried about Sofia’s diet, even though she only eats about 4 things. I give Sofia Vege Buddies every day…she’s been taking them since she was 2…they are made from organic veges and fruit and at least she’s getting her vitamins and antioxidants daily.
Thank you lovely xx
I feel your pain. Although we aren’t vegetarians our little boy has been doing the same. Love Bug will “come right” but you just have to persevere. If you want to read about our struggle have a look here. http://daddysphere.com/2014/05/02/going-into-battle-with-a-toddler/
All the best
Ross
It’s so much fun really though, isn’t it? I’m concerned that if I eat two servings of everything there may be an issue. The dogs are fairly happy though! Thanks for stopping by.
if only you lived in the UK I could send you some Wagg treats!! Sending tail waggs and kisses.
Bella and Beary would love that … although they don’t seem to mind Love Bug ‘sharing’ what she’s not overly enthused about!!
Good luck for the doggies. Bad luck for you. It’s a good thing phases don’t last forever.