Completely run out of meal ideas - help!

[BoysRule]

I have a 3 1/2 year old and a 10 month old and I have run out of meal ideas.

I have just seen the health visitor as DS2 is off the chart (i.e. above 100%) with weight but not with height. She was great and said there aren't any worries but to be conscious of how many carbs he is getting.

It has made me rethink what my children are eating and I am just so out of food ideas. They don't eat the same for dinner as me and DH for various reasons.

I have done Annabel Karmel to death - can anyone recommend any other books?

As a rough guide this is what they eat:

Breakfast: Toast and cereal
Snacks: Rice cakes, breadsticks, fruit
Lunch: Sandwich and yoghurt
Dinner: Pasta/Chilli and rice/fishcakes and veg/lasagne and yoghurt/fruit

I realise it is quite carb heavy but not sure how to replace it.

Any ideas or places to look for inspiration are gratefully received

[amazingmumof6]

brown rice and tuna with cream cheese and peas/sweetcorn

scrambled eggs with anything really - throw in chopped mushrooms, finely sliced peppers and spring onions

for breakfast or dinner mine love porridge - stir in some ground almonds and sprinkle with cinnamon

pies are great to use up left overs

chicken soup : cooked & chopped chicken with grated carrots and courgettes - add some stock and cooked Chinese noodles - best cure for a cold!

I've got loads more to try, but I have to say my favourite book is by Suzannah Olivier : What should I feed my baby

[MERLYPUSS]

I think the British diet can tend to be carb heavy. I make a tomato and veg suace with ham in and serve with bread (plop in a couple of eggs to poach in the sauce).
When I was on Atkins I used to substitute green beans instead of pasta.

[NiceCupOfTeaAndASitDown]

This website has been an absolute life-saver for me. They've got some great suggestions, hope it helps

[amyboo]

I use bbcgoodfood.com a lot. They have some great family friendly recipes that we adapt and use for DS1 (age 3). He loves paella, thngs like stuffed chicken with veg, meatballs with tomato sauce and veg, homemade fish fingers, anything pasta based, chicken casserole, etc.

[thewarmestowl]

The River Cottage Baby and Toddler Cookbook is great.

[thewarmestowl]

PS and actually just family food- we all eat the things we make out of this, it's just fairly kid-friendly.

[Thurlow]

We do a lot of scrambled egg for lunch. I'm conscious of not having too many carbs too, personally I could eat carbs every meal! So scrambled egg and low-salt baked beans for lunch. Also we make chilli or bolognese and then serve it with veg rather than pasta or rice, or fish and veg.

[Jinty64]

Use natural yogurt and fruit or egg based dishes for breakfast instead of cereal or toast. Soups make good lunches with cold meats/cheese/beans.

[JollyPurpleGiant]

The BLW cook book has lots of baby and toddler friendly recipes too :)

Maybe it would be worth making all snacks just fruit.

We often have humous for lunch with various things including cut up carrot, pear, apple, cheese, ham, raisins, strawberries.

Actually, I'm finding it difficult to think how you can reduce starchy carbs like pasta without adding more fruit which has carbs too.

Do you eat eggs? They can be good. Protein would keep your children going for longer too.

[fififrog]

Soup soup soup! Omelettes, boiled eggs. Why not do fish/ sausages / something with just veg instead of with potato?

[noblegiraffe]

Dumb question. What's wrong with carbs? So wrong that you'd avoid pasta or rice?

[Gingerbreadlatte]

There is nothing wrong with carbs. Young kids need energy and the best source is carbs ( vs fats).

Unless the HV said look at the type of carbs rather than reduce all, i suspect that HV hasn't a clue what she is talking about re diet and nutrition.

[BoysRule]

Thanks for all your thoughts.

I am replacing all snacks with just fruit but I do find this hard as we are mostly out and about for snacks and fruit is very messy for a 10 month old to eat.

Almost the only thing he won't eat is eggs! I do keep trying though. The HV didn't say cut out carbs - just be conscious of how many he is getting.

[Jemimabelle]

I wouldn't get too stressed about reducing carbs personally, at 10 months your dc may not be burning off all the calories they eat but in a few months when walking, running around it will all balance out...

[MERLYPUSS]

I second the not worryong about carbs too much. I think sugar is worse. At least carbs give slow energy release if you get the right ones. My two used to have malt loaf as a snack and although it is very sweet I felt it was better for them than sweets or crisps.

[Glenshee]

If you can afford, try fresh fish fillet (salmon or trout) in the oven - my kids' favourite by far - www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1535/

Expensive but very yummy.

[savoirfaire]

Can't make a mess eating a satsuma? Really??? My kids must deserve some kind of messy eating medal then!!! Just this evening I am washing a wardrobe covered in orange stained dribble after an afternoon at a house party spent picking bits of satsuma pith left in DDs wake.