https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 10 Apr 2026 09:07:53 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dairy-free-healthy-kid-food#post-2083752 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 16:04:11 +0000 jedeve 2083752@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: I think that's part of our issue. He knows he can get backup food. He was so sick for so long with the dairy allergy (it took six months to diagnose and he threw up the whole time) that we were definitely focused on just getting food in him. So now we have to change that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dairy-free-healthy-kid-food#post-2083626 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 14:28:50 +0000 Anagram 2083626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: My LO can have nut products, but we are still avoiding dairy and soy. I think one piece of advice I've tried to internalize is that it can take over 15 exposures to a new food before a kid "likes" it. I think I read that somewhere here on HB way back, actually.</p> <p>And for my LO, I find that's kind of true. I have given her foods countless (countless!) times and have had her refuse it, and I just don't let it stop me from offering it again. Like...she used to not eat white potatoes in any form--last night she suddenly chowed down on 2 whole potatoes (the smaller kind), that I'd thrown in a roast, along with carrots and onions.</p> <p>Sweet potatos are always hit or miss--even in fry form--but I still give them to her 1-2 times a week and figure at some point, she will catch on.</p> <p>For the longest time, LO refused hummus, but now she gobbles it up--like she can eat half a container of hummus herself, if I let her.</p> <p>In know it's been said a lot on HB, but I really like that saying "You as the parent decide what foods you give LO, and they decide what they eat and how much". That means, sometimes my LO only eats 1 of the 3 things I give her. I don't get out a "backup" favorite food, I just let her end the meal, figuring she will be more hungry at the next one. Exceptions are when she's sick.</p> <p>Things my LO likes to eat: </p> <p>fruits: bananas, blueberries, oranges, grapes, pineapple<br /> vegetables: broccoli, green beans, peas, occasionally sweet potato in some form, occasionally something random like carrots or cauliflower or butternut squash<br /> meats: roast beef, brisket, rotisserie chicken, the Aidell's sweet onion meatballs (they are the only ones MSPI friendly), breakfast sausage<br /> breakfast: eggs in any form, oatmeal, squash pancakes that I make in big batches and freeze</p> <p>snacks: hummus with crackers, fruit, the baked puffed peas from Trader Joes, the "garden tomato" long gerber puffs (the only ones that are soy and dairy free), cheerios, guacamole with crackers or with the above mentioned peas.</p> <p>I've been sick since December with my current pregnancy and have found a TON of convenience foods that are MSPI friendly if you want specific brand names. I have many days now where I just can't cook, and since LO is MSPI, I can't just give her a sandwich or mac n cheese or something.</p> <p>Some kids are just picky--and there's not a lot you can do except keep exposing them to new foods and waiting for them to come around. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dairy-free-healthy-kid-food#post-2083358 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 12:13:16 +0000 blackbird 2083358@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jedeve: I raise a skeptical side eye to that brag (because the brag in and of itself makes me think...ehhhh maybe not, lol). Kids are just fickle!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dairy-free-healthy-kid-food#post-2083347 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 12:09:03 +0000 catlady 2083347@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO had MSPI and we originally suspected nut allergies as well so she ate alot of dairy and nut-free foods at first. Some favorites are: hummus with pita and chicken, rice and beans and guacomole, pasta with veggie/meat sauce, chicken and rice casserole (we had to make the base with rice milk so it was dairy free, but that was pretty easy), beef stew, and chili. We often grind up bags of frozen veggies in the food processor and throw them into stuff (like pasta sauce) and it works great to get some extra veggies in there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dairy-free-healthy-kid-food#post-2083336 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 12:01:22 +0000 jedeve 2083336@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for the ideas, guys! LO does like some of those things. Fruit, fish. </p> <p>I think I am just frustrated because before having kids I was so sure I would do everything "right." I breastfed, I made homemade baby foods, I exposed him to allergens early, I gave him food we were eating, I expose him to new things multiple times. </p> <p>But...no. He still got allergies, and is not like the "OMG roasted brussel sprouts are his favorite food!" kids that show up on my news feed all the time. </p> <p>I realize having a picky toddler is far from abnormal. I guess I just thought I wouldn't if I did things the right way. But allergies haven't helped, that's for sure. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dairy-free-healthy-kid-food#post-2083274 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 11:26:08 +0000 Bluebonnet 2083274@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Weelicious (website and cook books) has a ton of ideas for kid friendly (and family friendly meals). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dairy-free-healthy-kid-food#post-2083266 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 11:21:11 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 2083266@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We do a lot of "dippers", so carrots in hummus, chips and mild kid friendly guacamole (avo and tomatoes- no onion, no spice). Sunbutter and banana or apple. Usually I can get something healthy in with the dipper tactic.</p> <p>Edamame is also a big hit in this house. My girls are huge fruit eaters, but we started with dried blueberries and cherries. Now they prefer raw fruits. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dairy-free-healthy-kid-food#post-2083259 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 11:15:23 +0000 ShootingStar 2083259@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Quesadillas with veggies and dairy-free cheese like Daiya? We sauteed coconut crusted haddock last night and D LOVED it. Normally I just dip tilapia in italian seasoned panko, but the haddock came pre-crusted. I've also had a lot of luck with using the food processor to chop up things like spinach and adding it to meals. When I make spaghetti and meatballs I'll put in chopped mushrooms and super chopped spinach. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dairy-free-healthy-kid-food#post-2083243 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 11:03:19 +0000 blackbird 2083243@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@avivoca: We added cheese one time, too, and i highly recommend it! I hope your family likes it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dairy-free-healthy-kid-food#post-2083241 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 11:01:39 +0000 avivoca 2083241@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: I'm definitely making that pizza spaghetti pie this weekend. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dairy-free-healthy-kid-food#post-2083225 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 10:55:10 +0000 blackbird 2083225@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like I am sharing this recipe a lot here, but I made this with pepperoni: <a href="http://paleomg.com/almost-5-ingredient-pizza-spaghetti-pie/" rel="nofollow">http://paleomg.com/almost-5-ingredient-pizza-spaghetti-pie/</a> and E devoured it. But the next time, I made it with ground beef? She was not impressed. My kid really likes cured meats, though (who doesn't?)....bacon, sausages, turkey hot dogs, pepperoni, salami, that kind of stuff. </p> <p>And pork tenderloin, too. I brined it and then rubbed it down in a no-salt seasoning (figured it had salt from the brine) and she ate a gross amount. I sliced it real thin and it was tender and probably cooked to about medium? </p> <p>We've also had good luck with fish. Maybe the texture? Mild stuff like flounder. </p> <p>She also used to eat these like crazy: <a href="http://www.staceysnacksonline.com/2011/01/broccoli-bites-for-kids.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.staceysnacksonline.com/2011/01/broccoli-bites-for-kids.html</a> and you could just skip the cheese or use a non-dairy cheese. Anything patty form, she seems to be ok with eating. You can also use shredded zucchini or carrot, I'd guess. </p> <p>When I notice E starts getting into a rut with foods and wanting the same things over and over again (like, mac and cheese and hot dogs) and then subsequently not eating the other foods we do offer at meal time (we just had a really tantrummy week as far as dinners go, UGH), I don't offer them to her for about a week (so...this week, no mac and cheese/hot dogs, heh), which sort of forces her to eat other stuff with us again. </p> <p>What about beans? like a chili of some kind? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dairy-free-healthy-kid-food#post-2083219 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 10:52:57 +0000 avivoca 2083219@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about other fruits? H loves apples, bananas, raisins, and recently, clementines. I don't know how to get more vegetables in her, but she has had a green smoothie before so I may try that again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dairy-free-healthy-kid-food#post-2083199 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 10:41:11 +0000 jedeve 2083199@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is allergic to dairy and to all nuts except almonds. He also doesn't like spicy stuff because his skin is sensitive and it irritates it. </p> <p>He is getting increasingly picky lately and refusing foods he used to like (coconut yogurt, berries) and has never been into vegetables unless puréed. I swear at this point he is living off of pouches, meat, sandwich bread, and sunbutter. Also crackers, pasta and muffins. </p> <p>Any idea for really kid friendly food to help expand his horizons? We did goulash and that was a hit. It has lots of vegetables grated into it.</p> <p>Help! I need other ideas. He can't live off of jelly sandwiches! I think he has been kind of scarred from hearing "no you can't eat that" so much and is hesitant to try new foods. </p>