K.P. asks from Raleigh, NC on April 26, 2009
20 Month Old with Egg Allergy
what do I feed a picky 20 month old with egg allergies!!! I am trying to vary his diet since all he will eat is mac and cheese, fruit, some veggies and yogurt. He is not a big fan of meat but in the last two days has been eating chicken nuggets. I am a working mommy with not alot of free time to cook...help!!!
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A.R. answers from Raleigh on April 27, 2009
Try beans. Black, red, white beans or any kind of lentils. Boiled them with onion and salt, very simple. My daughter has loved them since the day she tried them and they are packed with nutrients.
You can also try tofu. When she was younger, I used to buy the extra-firm one and cut it in small cubes. I'll crush cheerios and dust them with that. Big hit.
Good luck.
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A.R. answers from Raleigh on April 27, 2009
Try beans. Black, red, white beans or any kind of lentils. Boiled them with onion and salt, very simple. My daughter has loved them since the day she tried them and they are packed with nutrients.
You can also try tofu. When she was younger, I used to buy the extra-firm one and cut it in small cubes. I'll crush cheerios and dust them with that. Big hit.
Good luck.
1 mom found this helpful
A.C. answers from Charlotte on April 27, 2009
My daughter also had an egg allergy and I'm happy to say she just grew out of it (she is 7). So hopefully one day it'll pass. In the meantime, try making pasta sauce and puree all the ingredients you don't want him to know about. I make it with garlic, onions, carrots and chopped meat and then puree it and the kids never know. You can also freeze it in ice cube trays so it's available whenever you need it. You can also try meatballs (kids tend to like those b/c they are soft). Substitute milk for the eggs, it works great. You can also try beans and eventually, peanut butter, for protein. If he likes mac and cheese, great, but make your own and put lots of healthy cheese in it. Pizza is another good option. Finally, don't despair, my daughter was impossible from ages 2-4 and now she is a wonderful eater. Just don't let him get away with being picky once he's old enough to understand (a food chart works great-they love to try new things and then add it to their "foods I like" chart). But that's a little way off. Good luck!
1 mom found this helpful
E.T. answers from Memphis on April 27, 2009
My oldest son was allergic to eggs until he turned 3. He was also a very picky eater. He ate a lot of chicken nuggets, fish sticks, pasta, spaghetti o's, pizza, and peanut butter and jelly. You can hide a lot of foods in pasta sauce...just cut it up really small and he will never know it's there. My son just turned 6 and although he's still not a great eater, he's finally starting to try more foods, but it takes a lot of encouragement!
M.S. answers from Johnson City on April 27, 2009
Try using probiotics. There's been a lot of research done in the past several years. Check out these recent posts on my blog.
T.C. answers from Lexington on April 27, 2009
Sounds like a pretty typical diet for EVERY kid between the ages of 18 mos & 6 years old!!! Don't try to push too much. If he will eat that, keep it on hand all the time. My 4 yo has gradually decided to start tasting things on her own and that is MUCH more easy and much MORE pleasant than the fighting and constant stress we created at every meal time. As long as your child is healthy, leave the diet alone. The hardest thing is us as parents accepting what our kids are willing to do...and truthfully, unless he is sick form the diet, let him alone :)
K.W. answers from Memphis on April 27, 2009
My son doesn't have any allergies, but he is still somewhat picky, he is also 20 months. But his pediatrician said that their appetites usually decrease around now and not to worry about not eating. Just give them a variety and let them eat what they will. Hope this helps
E.F. answers from Louisville on April 27, 2009
I've got a 22 month old and a 3.5 year old. You're doing fine. If all he eats is mac and cheese and apple sauce for a whole year he will still be fine. Don't pressure him it or make it an issue. The rule to feeding kids is they get to say how much but you get to decide what and when. Soon he will be wanting to try new foods and stealing from your plate like my 3 year old. I throw in a Flintstone and some chewable D3 vitamins for my picky eaters.
D.P. answers from Raleigh on April 26, 2009
I wish I could help you with this. Toddlers with food allergies are picky ones. I have a 2 1/2 year old with an egg allergy, and although some progress has been made with the variety of his diet, it has been VERY slow. He also does not really like much meat other than hot dogs. I have had luck with chicken and rice- minus the chicken. He will also eat rice and gravy. He likes chicken pastry- leave the chicken in big chunks and have him try a little. If he doesn't like it, then just give pastry. And "cheeseburgers"- minus the burger. We buy hamburger buns and put cheese on them, melting them in the microwave. Also, spagettios (or spagetti without meat) and cheese pizza are a hit. You can also try cereal bars, rice krispies, egg-free waffles (they sell them at Harris Teeter) or cheerios for breakfast. Biscuits with honey or apple butter are a favorite. Recently he has is having a fad with fish sticks and vienna sausages- although I am sure this will wear off soon. I hope this helps... just encourage him to try something new. If he doesn't like it, don't push it. A picky toddler can be a very stubborn one (as I am sure you know). Best of luck!
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