Hellobee Boards Topic: Do you plan out your LO's meals or wing them?

Hellobee Boards Topic: Do you plan out your LO's meals or wing them? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 30 Apr 2026 08:50:53 +0000 Corduroy on "Do you plan out your LO's meals or wing them?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-plan-out-your-los-meals-or-wing-them#post-1885040 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 21:46:57 +0000 Corduroy 1885040@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Lately, I plan in the sense that every meal is oatmeal. I just never know what protein and veggie I'm going to add to it. Kemma on "Do you plan out your LO's meals or wing them?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-plan-out-your-los-meals-or-wing-them#post-1885020 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 21:09:53 +0000 Kemma 1885020@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Miss A eats what we eat and because I'm a SAHM we eat all our meals together. Breakfast is always porridge, lunch is on a rotation (noodles, eggs, Cheerios sausages, vege soup, leftovers etc) and dinner is whatever I decide to cook (usually meat and vegetables) plus fruit and yoghurt for LO. Foodnerd81 on "Do you plan out your LO's meals or wing them?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-plan-out-your-los-meals-or-wing-them#post-1884994 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 20:32:52 +0000 Foodnerd81 1884994@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @daniellemybelle: we do a mix of both- prob half and half. I do find the winging it meals have so much more clean up, so I'm trying to plan a little more, plus it helps me use up leftovers faster. But still no plates here. We have gotten to the point where she curiously turns it over so the food falls on the tray, instead of plate and food on floor- improvement! I definitely start with the appetizer while I finish everything, an always save fruit for last because otherwise she would eat only fruit. tororojo on "Do you plan out your LO's meals or wing them?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-plan-out-your-los-meals-or-wing-them#post-1884650 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 14:55:41 +0000 tororojo 1884650@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I wing it, usually I put 3 different things on her tray (cheese, carb, fruit for the most part) and may add more depending on what I'm eating or what we have on hand. I do the same thing for packed lunches, plus a pouch. She won't eat meat (except for chicken nuggets), beans or pasta but planning would be so much easier if she did! (18 months) avivoca on "Do you plan out your LO's meals or wing them?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-plan-out-your-los-meals-or-wing-them#post-1884599 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 14:19:11 +0000 avivoca 1884599@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We wing it or she eats what we are eating. The other night we made a pizza and I made her some rotini and sauce for dinner since I didn't want her to have pepperoni. JennyG on "Do you plan out your LO's meals or wing them?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-plan-out-your-los-meals-or-wing-them#post-1884586 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 14:15:04 +0000 JennyG 1884586@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Breakfast is oatmeal followed by cheerios and fruit. Sometimes he eats it all, sometimes not so much. Lunch during the week is leftovers from the day or two before. Dinner is whatever DH and I ate the night before. That being said, I always have grilled chicken, some sort of pasta, some veggie, and melon in the fridge to round out a meal. @ShootingStar: I always start with the least favorite and put just that on the tray. Then we work our way up. If I start with cheese, I might as well throw the rest of the food on the floor myself. Smurfette on "Do you plan out your LO's meals or wing them?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-plan-out-your-los-meals-or-wing-them#post-1884577 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 14:11:04 +0000 Smurfette 1884577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @travellingbee: I made cheese ravioli last night. I was shocked she wouldn't eat it. I put the sauce on the side since she isn't a huge fan. She ate sweet potatoes only. ShootingStar on "Do you plan out your LO's meals or wing them?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-plan-out-your-los-meals-or-wing-them#post-1884566 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 14:06:53 +0000 ShootingStar 1884566@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I guess I half plan/half wing it. Breakfast is always yogurt during the week, on the weekend he might get eggs instead. Lunch I totally wing it. In the morning I grab a bunch of things and put them in a container. Yesterday it was leftover meatballs from the night before and steamed broccoli from 2 days before. Today it was sliced deli chicken (that DH and I book took on sandwiches), shredded mozzarella and a cup of mandarin oranges. For dinner I try to feed him what we're eating and I make sure I serve a veggie. But I've learned if I give him something to start with that he loves (like cheese) then he gets mad if that's not all he gets to eat. Dude will eat like 5 pieces of cheese in one sitting. illumina on "Do you plan out your LO's meals or wing them?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-plan-out-your-los-meals-or-wing-them#post-1884541 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 13:51:32 +0000 illumina 1884541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Wing them. I usually have enough on standby to make a meal for her. travellingbee on "Do you plan out your LO's meals or wing them?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-plan-out-your-los-meals-or-wing-them#post-1884525 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 13:47:46 +0000 travellingbee 1884525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ At 18 M, he pretty much eats what we eat, but if he doesn't eat it, he usually ends up having a bit more fruit. For dinner, we usually do a veggie/fruit pouch to start while I am serving the food. Then he gets a serving of whatever we are eating. After that I give him fruit as a kind of dessert since if I give him fruit first, he will only eat that. He never goes hungry and almost always tries at least some of what we are eating but I will admit that I tend to cook things that I know he will eat. (Last night we had sausage and peppers, tonight we are having ravioli and green beans etc.) Baby Boy Mom on "Do you plan out your LO's meals or wing them?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-plan-out-your-los-meals-or-wing-them#post-1884465 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 13:11:51 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 1884465@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I wing it for breakfast and lunch but then we try to have dinner as a family so that gets somewhat planned. LuLu Mom on "Do you plan out your LO's meals or wing them?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-plan-out-your-los-meals-or-wing-them#post-1884459 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 13:08:56 +0000 LuLu Mom 1884459@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My LO usually eats what we do, and if it's something I don't think she can handle then it's more of a free for all of stuff from the fridge that I can easily throw together. MapleMoose on "Do you plan out your LO's meals or wing them?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-plan-out-your-los-meals-or-wing-them#post-1884444 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 13:03:10 +0000 MapleMoose 1884444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I plan somewhat due to LO's food allergies. I can't just give her some of what we ate or leftovers from a previous meal we had. I always give her a variety of foods at meal time so I have to think of options ahead of time when grocery shopping. mrsjyw on "Do you plan out your LO's meals or wing them?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-plan-out-your-los-meals-or-wing-them#post-1884421 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 12:57:24 +0000 mrsjyw 1884421@https://boards.hellobee.com/ A little of both. We always have yogurt, fruit, peas, etc. that are DS' fave/staples. Bfast is almost always yogurt, fruit, eggs, and sausage, sometimes a bread product. Lunch/dinner are more on the go supplemented with sides that we always have for him. He eats what we eat mostly. We are not short order cooks. Mrs. Sunshine on "Do you plan out your LO's meals or wing them?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-plan-out-your-los-meals-or-wing-them#post-1884414 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 12:54:29 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 1884414@https://boards.hellobee.com/ A little of both. My LO is 1 & I'd just like to say that a plate would never work at this house. She would toss it & it's contents all over the floor in a heartbeat! lol NeekieRose on "Do you plan out your LO's meals or wing them?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-plan-out-your-los-meals-or-wing-them#post-1884406 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 12:51:42 +0000 NeekieRose 1884406@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I wing it a lot. She mostly eats what we are eating, but if I'm not hungry (yah nausea at 14 weeks...) or DH isn't home I pretty much do the exact same thing as you. mrs. tictactoe on "Do you plan out your LO's meals or wing them?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-plan-out-your-los-meals-or-wing-them#post-1884397 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 12:47:44 +0000 mrs. tictactoe 1884397@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I don't plan, but I also don't give him something else if he doesn't like what I prepared. I try to offer a variety of things at one meal, with at least one thing I know he will eat, but if he refuses, he doesn't get something else as a replacement. Mrs.Panda on "Do you plan out your LO's meals or wing them?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-plan-out-your-los-meals-or-wing-them#post-1884395 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 12:44:57 +0000 Mrs.Panda 1884395@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My LO isn't here yet but when I nannied this seemed to be a pretty popular trend. I will likely do the same when this LO gets here and eats solids until probably a year to 18 months, then she'll get what we're eating. Andrea on "Do you plan out your LO's meals or wing them?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-plan-out-your-los-meals-or-wing-them#post-1884379 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 12:37:42 +0000 Andrea 1884379@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I wing it a lot, but that doesn't mean that I offer them something different if the original food is rejected. If they don't eat a lot of it, they can wait until the next meal. JerricaBenton on "Do you plan out your LO's meals or wing them?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-plan-out-your-los-meals-or-wing-them#post-1884352 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 12:24:23 +0000 JerricaBenton 1884352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Breakfast I just decide in the morning. Lunch is leftovers or whatever else we feel like so that's kind of on the fly. She eats what we eat for dinner so I meal plan on Sundays. If I decide at dinnertime she needs something else I'll boil up some pasta or cut up some fruit on the fly. Mrs Green Grass on "Do you plan out your LO's meals or wing them?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-plan-out-your-los-meals-or-wing-them#post-1884350 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 12:23:05 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 1884350@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My method looks just about exactly like yours. I try to have things on hand or leftovers, but a lot of it is giving him a course while I microwave or toast the next... Smurfette on "Do you plan out your LO's meals or wing them?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-plan-out-your-los-meals-or-wing-them#post-1884342 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 12:19:13 +0000 Smurfette 1884342@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Yep! Breakfast, I just think about the night before, what can I grab if she doesn't wake up in time to eat at home. But I always make sure I have something on hand for dinner if I know she won't eat what DH and I are eating. We just started doing family dinners at 18M. I will add that I always have deli meat, chicken nuggets, Annie's Easy mac, applesauce, and fruit cups on hand. So I need something and fast, I have it. Anagram on "Do you plan out your LO's meals or wing them?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-plan-out-your-los-meals-or-wing-them#post-1884320 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 12:08:40 +0000 Anagram 1884320@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I plan the meals, but not in a super organized fashion. When I grocery shop on the weekends, I always buy 4-5 meats and 4-5 vegetables, a couple of fruits, eggs, breakfast sausage, and then maybe some pouches and puffs or something similar. Breakfast is almost always 1 egg, 1 sausage Snacks are always fruit and maybe a carb like puffs or cheerios Dinner is always a meat+1-2 vegetables, and leftovers are always LOs lunch for the next day. So on a Sunday night I might make Salmon, green beans, and broccoli for LOs dinner. As soon as it is cooked, I pack half of it for Monday's daycare lunch. So lunch is done already. Monday night, I will just pick out whatever meat + veg I feel like for LO's dinner and again pack half of it for the next day's lunch. hilsy85 on "Do you plan out your LO's meals or wing them?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-plan-out-your-los-meals-or-wing-them#post-1884293 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 11:59:42 +0000 hilsy85 1884293@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I plan out LO's meals in that he gets a complete meal, but I don't meal plan, as in I know what he's eating for lunch and dinner the entire week. Sounds lke you're just feeding your LO in courses, which is fine :) Might get easier to do meals once she starts eating more of the food that you guys are eating for lunch and dinner. daniellemybelle on "Do you plan out your LO's meals or wing them?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-plan-out-your-los-meals-or-wing-them#post-1884284 Wed, 01 Oct 2014 11:57:16 +0000 daniellemybelle 1884284@https://boards.hellobee.com/ When LO goes to school 2 days a week, I pack her lunch the night before & I try to do a variety of things so she will eat well and her teachers think I'm with it ;) But when she's at home for meals, and we are not sitting down as a family, I just put her in her high chair, give her an appetizer of puffs or shredded cheese to keep her occupied and start raiding the fridge! I just kind of dump different things on her high chair tray as I go... I might slice a banana right onto her tray while a piece of bread toasts or veggies warm up in the microwave. And then when she finishes that I might give her a pouch or yogurt until she acts full. She eats several courses :) I've wondered though if I need to start feeding her proper meals on a plate instead of winging it now that she's almost one! I also don't want to teach her that if she rejects one food, Mommy will just come around with a different one.