Toddler in the house...eliminating carbs?

I remember how hard it was when I had little ones at home.  Then comes the running from one practice to another and getting fast foods on most days.  I wish I would have taught my girls to eat healthier.

My DD and family live with us and they no better than leave their carby snacks and sweets laying around.  Their isn't a temptation as long as I can't see them. Their is a candy bowl in the pantry that I occasionally have to get a treat out for the DGS and stretch and put it up on the top shelf so it isn't easy for me to get. 

I've known a few people who have a premies and they did stay small for a long time but as adults gained easily just like everyone else. 

If it likes milkshakes that would be a great way to get some vitamins and healthy foods into him.  I for one would never put Protein powder into a child's food but you could use Milk,  V8 or fruit.

Does he like scrambled eggs?  Our DGS loves to dip his food and he will eat just about anything if he has BQ sauce or ketchup.  He won't eat fresh grapes but he loves frozen grapes (cut them up).

My DD had trouble with our DGD only wanting to eat the bread from her sandwich so my DD started using cookie cutters to make her sandwiches into shapes and instantly she started eating her whole sandwiches.

Best of Luck with this!

What wonderful ideas!!!

Gail

 Roz, thanks for the tip. it is really helpfull. 

I tried making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches...but he won't eat that...so I tried making cheese sandwiches...he eat those...but the idea of getting a cookie cutter sounds good because if I can make them in the shape that he like may be he will eat it....

Thank you so much
YR

Something else to keep in mind... toddlers don't need as much food as babies in some ways because they aren't growing as fast. Most parents freak out when their kid**** that age and start refusing foods and arent' eating constantly. (And I think it's worse if there was an illness as a baby like being a premie.)

I read a great book... How to get your kid to eat, but not too much! ... when my kids were that age. It pointed out that we, as parents, are responsible for when and what our kids eat but they are responsble for HOW MUCH.

I know a lot of us had parents who pushed food and taught us to clean our plates and not listen to our natural signals. I tried really hard with my kids not to force them to eat because I thought they should be hungry. If they said they weren't hungry, I let them be.

OTOH, if they said they didn't like what I was serving, I said: that's the meal. Eat it or go hungry or make your own. I didn't play restaurant. And, mostly they'd eat it, sometimes they'd go hungry, and, when they got older, they made their own. But the idea that they could just keep saying "no" and I'd keep offering something was never introduced into the house!

Toddlers are learning the power of No and sometimes our kids will reject a food just to reject it and see what happens. But, if they are really hungry, and they really don't HATE that food, they will eat it if no other choices are offered.

 Macmadame..

You are right may be I should let him starve....lol

I guess...I will just wait until he says that he is hungry...and then...make a smoothie with peanut butter or something.

I tried it today....He was excited because he really always want to try my protein shake...well, by the time I was done making the smoothie...He was like "NO...I DON"T WANT IT"

I was so frustrated because...it's like I went the extra mile to get him the frozen fruits to make the smoothies with whole milk ...and he said..NO

Anyways...I will keep trying.

Thanks again,
YR

He's testing you. That's what toddlers do.  

Ok so.. I disagree with the other posters.  I think you should feed him whatever he will eat.  My daughter is almost 7 and has been below the 5% her whole life... she is just finally over the 5% for height but not weight. I ALWAYS fed her whatever she would eat. Her doctor totally agrees (of course she is older now and eats a very large variety of foods)  Textures bug her - she will eat raw veggies but not cooked - my son is the opposite!! cooked but not raw!

Your child was born premature and at 3 in the 1% needs to eat whatever his little body will take in.  With his situation food in the home should be about him AND you! I do not think it is fair to remove your trigger foods when that is the little nutrition he is getting. However you may be able to find him healthier versions of what he likes.  Check out the health aisles for organic or more natural versions of what he likes.

I think this is more about getting your son to eat nutritional foods than it should be about your habits.  Have you tried carnation instant breakfast shakes?  Or Pediasure shakes? Those are full of nutrients.  Also the Who Nu? cookies have added nutrients. Check out the baby aisle - many baby snacks and crackers are vitamin fortified.  Also liquid vitamins might be a good try for him.  Continue to give him fruits and veggies to chew - even if he spits them out it is good for him to learn the texture of these foods in his mouth.  Also if he likes popsicles and frozen treats you can make homemade berry pops (or purchse some naturally sweetened ones) - just strain the seeds so he doesn't feel them - that could be an issue he has with the peels and seeds - bananas do not have that problem.  Try peeling peaches he might love that.  Also when creating pops you can puree silken tofu and add that in small amounts for nutrients.

I have two young kids 5 and 6.5 and a husband.  My house currently has tons of bags of chips, cookies, rice crispy treats, and ice cream (3 cartons!!).  I just do not eat them because they are not for me.  I buy myself special foods and those are their special foods.  I cannot deprive my family of things they enjoy because of my poor choices I have made.  I think that is completely unfair. 

Your situation is even more dire as your son can possibly be considered failure to thrive and it would be worng (IMHO) to deprive him of the few foods he will eat.  I am sorry my point of view is so different but in this situation I think your sons needs come first.  This situation is not the same as a typical toddler who is picky.

Johanna,

Thank you so much for your reply. I always thought that I need to have more self-control so that my son can get enougth calories in a day...You know. When I read the previous posts....I thought I guess they are right since my husband is been saying that for the longest....

Then I realized as you mentioned that he is not like all tod....He was 23 weeks of gestation...and he stayed in the NICU for like 5 months....he was very sick...
Since he is been feeling better...he just won't eat...and like you mentioned the Doc said give him what he wants to eat...

I have tried to buy cookies from organic store..so he is all covered now..

I need to get it together...You reply is a relief...because I have been thinking about it. 

I have to control myself.

Thanks
YR

I am no saint!! Don't get me wrong I have had regain from doing whatever I felt like for the past year!! - not my kids snacks - but I have been baking wedding cakes for family and have done quite a bit of taste testing and sampling during my test runs LOL!!! Self control is HARD.
It is hard to not eat junk. But I think in this case your sons nutriton is just more important. And there are vitamins in animals crackers and stuff!! So he is getting some nutrition from those foods!!

Look at his food like it is his medicine. you would not want to take your childs medicine from him would you? Think of it in those terms it may help you!! Also does he like cereals - dry cereals not the mushy kind? They are always fortified with vitamins. It also might help to buy the really babyish foods - really do you want to be eating gerber graduates snacks and cookies? LOL!! He also may love the freeze dried fruits that they offer - my kids always did! They are crunchy so he might like them!

There are ways to cut down on what you bring in the house for your son without getting rid of everything all together.

Do you shop weekly? Maybe buy just what your son would eat for the week - this way you cannot eat his food or he will go hungry. Mothers guilt should help with that!! Also consider buying the smaller lunch pack sizes - like the box of single servings - this way there is no big box open that you can grab a cracker here and there from. When you cook for your husband I assume you make him healthy diabetic approved meals? you should pretty much be eating the healthful way he eats. And if you are having trouble get yourself healthy versions of what your son is eating... there are many weird low-carb recipes for cheddar cheese crackers and stuff you can try out. This way you have your snack (that hubby will most likely be able to enjoy as well!) and your son has his! I just made low carb crackers using almond meal and coconut flour with cheese and egg whites - they are not bad at all and I enjoy a few of those while my husband has his triscuits.

I do not know how far out you are but they are pretty decent stats... I use this website a lot now... http://low-carb-news.blogspot.com/2009/03/crisp-nutty-cracke rs.html

she has some great recipes with not too crazy to find ingredients.