https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 04 Apr 2026 20:48:22 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2284125 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 18:41:47 +0000 skipper2010 2284125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can I just say how jealous I am of all your kids that eat veggies! No matter how many times I offer, DS will either throw them or spit them out. So a well balanced meal for us is usually pasta with marinara sauce, a side of fruit, and a yogurt. Haha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2283700 Sat, 05 Sep 2015 00:37:01 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2283700@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When we are home yeah. And I make it easy. Frozen veggies, fruit...not that tough to add. But tonight he had some hot dog and a pretzel at a baseball game (and a banana before we left). And lately he only wants carbs all the time which makes it hard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2283677 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 23:08:21 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2283677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I honestly you're doing a great job. My DD is 3 and she's so particular that even if I cooked a table of food, she'd only touch 2 things. Breakfast is now the easiest meal for us, with dinner being the hardest (she hardly eats). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2283624 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 21:16:53 +0000 blackbird 2283624@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think about it too much-we eat balanced so I know that trickles down to her. I usually offer a variety and she eats what she wants. But sometimes I just throw peanut butter in a bowl with a spoon and call it a day :silly: she's also old enough to ask for specific foods for snack, and as long as it's healthy, she can have it </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2283556 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 20:23:19 +0000 Mrs. Bee 2283556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>breakfast it's whatever we have time for -- cereal, a breakfast bar, yogurt, etc. lunch is probably their most balanced meal of the day. but for dinner i try to focus on protein and vegetables. they don't always eat well, but they're usually hungry at breakfast if they don't eat well at dinner.</p> <p>they're both just small at the very bottom end of the percentiles. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2283548 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 20:19:15 +0000 matador84 2283548@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>for lunches at school yes--a fruit, veg, meat, cheese and grain at the very least. other meals, not so much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2283547 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 20:18:00 +0000 Anagram 2283547@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, I don't even try to make every single meal "well balanced". I feel like offering a lot of foods on LOs plate makes her more choosy. Today we had a typical breakfast and lunch, but a "lazy" dinner because it's Friday and I didn't feel like making Lo something special, and DH and I had leftovers LO can't eat.</p> <p>She had a broccoli omelette for breakfast<br /> Banana and fruit/spinach pouch for snacks<br /> salmon with roasted sweet potato and mixed veg for lunch<br /> And dinner was oatmeal with raspberries, haha.</p> <p>So even though we had one lazy meal (dinner), overall the day adds up pretty well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2283485 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 19:00:43 +0000 regberadaisy 2283485@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@AmandaB8: yup, that's what i aim for too. A balanced weekly diet. I would say 85% of the time our meals have protein, veg and carb/grain. Grains are a great way for my child to eat protein and veg they might otherwise refuse. I never separate food into compartments. I feel that promotes pickiness.<br /> This week overall they've had eggs, fish, chicken, pork, rice, rice noodles, Tortilla shells, pasta shells, broccoli, peas, Edemame, corn, beef, grapes, bananas, oatmeal, cereal (granola and Cheerios). Not counting school lunches. Not a bad weekly combo imo! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2283476 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 18:51:29 +0000 Rockies11 2283476@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mine just had pasta, grapes, and carrots. So, no. I fail at this every day! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2283363 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 15:50:41 +0000 AmandaB8 2283363@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our pediatric nutritionist said we should aim for a balanced weekly diet - that way, picky days will balance out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2283301 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 15:00:01 +0000 twodoghouse 2283301@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At first we were trying to get everything in at every meal, but, man, that's exhausting. Plus, giving them too many options usually means they start to get frantic and things get thrown. I shoot for a balance over the course of the day. Breakfast is heavier on fruit and I rarely make a veggie for that meal. They usually get eggs, oatmeal, or French toast + fruit + yogurt half the time. But then the rest of the day is really heavier on veggies and protein, and we save fruit for "dessert" at lunch and dinner. If they had the option, they'd eat all fruit all the time, so I try to save that for the end of meals. They don't get carbs at both lunch and dinner, but they do have noodles a couple times a week, or bread with peanut butter a couple times a week for lunch. I don't know if I'm doing any of this right, but we have hit a good stride of eating so I'm ok with it. We are still working on eating meat, though. Fish is about the only one they will eat consistently! (They are 16 months) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2283299 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 14:57:51 +0000 BlueWolverine 2283299@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No. I try, but she eats what she eats. I decided early on that food was a fight that I just wasn't willing to have. She has a few go-to items (PB&amp;J, etc.) that I'll make if she just refuses to eat dinner, but that's it. I recently discovered that she likes red bell pepper so I cut up a ton of it, but that was apparently so last week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2283275 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 14:39:46 +0000 Alivoo01 2283275@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mauxie: Ditto. I try for meals, but sometimes, it's just not possible, but over the day, I try to balance so it's all good. Plus, depending on his mood, I can make a balanced meal, but he's only in the mood for the veggies and carbs, no protein. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2283225 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 13:48:38 +0000 Foodnerd81 2283225@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In general I try to have protein or dairy, a vegetable, and fruit, at lunch and dinner at least. Breakfast is almost always yogurt and cereal and fruit. Lunch and dinner vary but generally I offer a vegetable with the protein or cheese, then nearly always I give her fruit because she loves t and will always eat that. But plenty of times I don't have an easy vegetable ready and I don't feel like figuring something out. </p> <p>I never worry about making are to have a grain with a meal since so many snacks are carb heavy anyway- like I'm not stressed if she just has hummus and veggies at dinner since she probably has crackers for snack. </p> <p>Oh and when we are out I almost always give her veggie/ fruit pouches in addition to whatever she's eating. At least then she is getting something healthy along with the less healthy kids food. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2283220 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 13:43:50 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2283220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If we are eating out or have pizza he gets that plus maybe a pouch for some veggies. </p> <p>Typical day:<br /> Breakfast is a fruit smoothie plus a pancake that he just nibbles on.<br /> Lunch is crackers, cheese, cucumbers and grapes. Or grilled cheese sandwich, veggie, fruit.<br /> Dinner is whatever we have. Last night soup and bagels plus extra veggie for him. Tonight is burger and corn on the cob. </p> <p>He has snacks of fruit, fish crackers, etc. </p> <p>ETA: plus 15 ounces of WCM a day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2283217 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 13:41:57 +0000 californiadreams 2283217@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we just give him what we are making for ourselves, it usually contains a grain, protein, and a fruit OR veggie (rarely both). Some nights though we just do whatever is easy like getting pepperoni pizza take out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2283216 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 13:41:29 +0000 yin 2283216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, but I'm crazy. Their meals usually consist of a protein, grain, and two sides of veggies (sometimes three). They eat fruit as a snack throughout the day. I think being a food allergy mom has made me focus a lot on their health, and eating a balanced meal is important to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2283214 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 13:38:48 +0000 Mae 2283214@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Breakfast every day is yogurt or waffle + fruit. Morning snack is usually veg/fruit melts. Lunch is protein + veg + fruit. Afternoon snack is a pouch + some sort of dry snack she can run around with (cheddar bunnies, dried peas snack, dried beans snack, etc). Dinner is whatever we are eating but I usually add another veggie. We don't eat a lot of cooked veg for dinner ourselves so dinner might just be like, fajitas and chips/salsa. I'd give her the meat and peppers (which she doesn't like that much) + make her a veg she likes. Sometimes she gets fruit with dinner, sometimes not.</p> <p>I don't make a point to give her grains all that often. I guess I don't feel like they are really necessary to her diet? I mean she gets a waffle e/o day. And if we have something like pasta for dinner then she obviously gets that. But I don't specifically make her a grain product for lunch and dinner. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2283209 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 13:33:19 +0000 Cherrybee 2283209@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I try..... but it all comes down to what she will eat. Some days she will only eat broccoli and bananas, others days she exists solely on cake and crisps. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2283197 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 13:23:19 +0000 LuLu Mom 2283197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I usually do protein, veggie/fruit, and a grain/pasta/starch with each meal. It doesn't always happen but it is my goal. She doesn't always eat it, she's on a veggie strike right now, so I've been hiding those in stuff along with making her take her 2 bites. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2283194 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 13:21:39 +0000 daniellemybelle 2283194@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: LO is really into sandwiches so her protein &amp; grain is usually combined and then I do a fruit or veggie side. I like grape tomatoes because I sort of feel like they are frui-tables ;)</p> <p>@Rainbow Sprinkles: Going out to eat doesn't count of course! :)</p> <p>@mrsrain: Good for you!</p> <p>@lawbee11: I definitely try to offer healthy options but I just feel like I am doing fewer of them lately, ha... #lazy</p> <p>@mrsrugbee: I started out really against processed carbs like Cheerios and crackers but here we are... She definitely gets PLENTY of those. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2283193 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 13:20:05 +0000 mrsrugbee 2283193@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: I misspoke! We have all of the above but definitely not at every meal. Throughout the day or week it balances out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2283191 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 13:17:55 +0000 daniellemybelle 2283191@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsrugbee: In equal parts at every meal!? I used to be so good about at least offering one of each at every meal but it was just so much food wasted... I've started just going with "main dishes" I know she'll eat and a healthy side.</p> <p>@mauxie: That's a good way to think about it!</p> <p>This says 2-3 servings of vegetables per day - 1 tbsp per year of age! </p> <p><a href="https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/nutrition/Pages/Serving-Sizes-for-Toddlers.aspx" rel="nofollow">https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/toddler/nutrition/Pages/Serving-Sizes-for-Toddlers.aspx</a></p> <p>LO eats a lot more than 2 tbsp of her favorite veggies so that makes me feel better. But she only eats veggies 1-2 times per day lately... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2283190 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 13:16:18 +0000 hilsy85 2283190@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The plates I use for LO have 3 compartments so he gets 3 options! Usually a protein, grain or pasta, and vegetable or fruit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2283188 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 13:15:53 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 2283188@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If I have prepared the meal, yes. But if we are eating out or grabbed fast food on the run, then no.</p> <p>For example: I would make them a chicken quesadilla with broccoli and cantaloupe for dinner. But last night we went out to eat and they had corn dogs and french fries at the restaurant. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2283186 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 13:15:29 +0000 mrsrain 2283186@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We aim for fruit, veggie, protein, and carb at each meal. Sometimes we don't get them all, but we do our best! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2283184 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 13:14:14 +0000 lawbee11 2283184@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not always a balanced meal but if she's eating something unhealthy I offer something healthy as well. Like last night she wanted pizza so she had pizza but with a side of broccoli and carrots. Or when she has chicken nuggets I'll give her a side of apple slices instead of fries. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2283181 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 13:13:13 +0000 mrsrugbee 2283181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I try to avoid the starches as much as possible because when they're around they'll become more than 1/3 of her meal. So when I'm in charge, we eat fruit, veg, meat, dairy and legumes in equal parts. DH is a carb fiend so she eats plenty of toast, crackers and cereal with him IMO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2283169 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 13:08:20 +0000 mauxie 2283169@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Now that LO is older, I think of it as a daily goal (not each meal). Some meals are more protein heavy, some grain or dairy.. and fruit/veggies throughout (or in the form of smoothies). I think it evens out in the end! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-always-offer-your-lo-a-well-balanced-meal#post-2283162 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 13:06:18 +0000 DillonLion 2283162@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I try to do a variety, but she has her favorites that she will always eat (yogurt, applesauce) so those are almost always on the plate. </p>