Toddler-led meals.

Just wondering about this.

I did baby-led solids (for the most part) with DS; we did the odd spoon-feed but I tired of that after about one meal, a week after DS started "eating". He's three now and will eat most things. He'll try even more. Including raw onion this weekend (it was "yucky"). I just gave him what there was and it was up to him how much and what he ate: I still do this. He gets to pick meals or side dishes some nights too.

If DS had his way, we'd start the day with porridge, have fruit for a snack, then "scrambled snake" (scrambled eggs and tinned spaghetti on toast) for lunch, more fruity snack, sandwiches/banana cake/mini-quiches/carrot and hummus for tea, then chicken a la king or sausage, beans and chips for dinner. Maybe roast beef with all the trimmings for a change. Followed by a fruit yoghurt or ice-cream. It's not an ideal diet but it's actually quite balanced and letting him dictate all the food one day a month means he takes an interest, helps cook, and is more willing to try something new if he knows he can pick a dinner another night.

Actually, looking at what DS asks to eat when he picks the food, I'm really pleased that his menu would be so healthy!

I just wondered if anyone else let their toddler pick food, including helping with the supermarket shop with what we should eat in the week (DS picks some of the week's fruit). Do you let your toddler have a say in the meals? Or is this just proof of some sort of parenting problem with me? (Also shown by the fact that DS has his own chopping knives, rolling pin and wooden spoon.)

Also, when does BLS stop? I know my mum and MiL would chop up food into bite-sized pieces and feed DS if he lets them. Does it stop when the pureeing stops for their peers? Or when I can just put DS in the kitchen and come back half an hour later to dinner on the table?

My ds is 4 1/2 and he definitely has a say in picking the meals.

I shop to a list and a menu plan, it's actually easier for me if dh and ds choose 1 meal each for the week that they like. Dh is usually shepherds pie but ds changes his quite often. Sometimes it's oven fish and home made chips, or home made pizza but lately he's chosen zucchini slice or chicken pie. He's branching out in helping me cook and I think he likes how much grating and egg cracking he gets to do with zucchini slice! :lol:

I think it's great that he's involved in what we eat, he understands that treat foods are just that, treat foods, and usually reserved for birthday parties or special occasions and he'll quite often take a piece of fruit over a piece of cake. The more exposure to different foods kids have from young ages the better I think!

I don't cut his food up, haven't for almost a year now, unless he asks for help. We try sit together for most dinners and he does his best to hold his knife and fork the right way and cut his own dinner. We were at my Aunty's place for Easter and a family friend was still cutting up her daughters meals.... she was 6!!! Surely by 6 they should be able to cut up roast veges and turkey????

Oh..... and there's no harm in having them help with the dishes after either!!!! :ROFL:

Ryn, I'm interested in the tea - dinner part. By tea do you mean afternoon tea and if so what time is that...mid afternoon or late afternoon? Then when is dinner? (Sorry just a bit confused because here in Aus tea is what you eat at dinner(night) time). :lol:

I think what you're doing sounds great...kids will definitely eat a more varied diet if you involve them with the preparation. My DD is 2.5 and a bit contrary so I don't let her choose as such at the shops, but I remember when DD1 got a bit older she really enjoyed helping me to choose dinner and buy all the things for it, but not so interested in the actual preparation...it has literally been in the last 3 mths (she's 11) that she has suddenly switched on to food preparation (not for want of me trying either) but I think if you can get your DS interested from an early age then that has to be a good thing!

My DS1 is 2.5 yrs old and he loves helping me cook... he will eat a lot better if he is involved too./ he tells me things that need to be put on the shopping list as well... i think this is great and hope he gets more involved soon..
Dr Sears has a theory about allowing kids/toddlers access to the fridge/cupbaord when they are hungry - promotoes independence etc. i like this and am doing it with DS1...
I often give him 2 choices in the morning what he would like for dinner - and he chooses...
i love the idea of a whole day when he dictates what he has - will incorprate that later...
bring on the fully child cooked meals and washing up - i dream of that!

Well if it's your problem then it must be mine too.
I love that they take an interest (rather than an obsession). And as 'informed' as we think of ourselves in terms of nutrition, I think it's just amazing that they instinctively know what they need to eat.
DD has her own things in my kitchen (when it isn't packed in storage) and both of mine are a fixture at the bench.
I also find shopping much more enjoyable when there is co-operation and wanting to help as opposed to something they do but aren't involved in.

I give the children options, and they are allowed to pick from them. They definitely help with grocery shopping as well as food prep. If it was between a sandwich and nuggets then I would say it's up to me to choose, but if he's choosing healthy options and you're not making 10 different meals there is nothing wrong with letting them choose. IMO ;)

I must confess to asking DS if he wouldn't rather have XYZ if I want something else - most of the time he thinks that's a good idea so goes with it. I'm intending to have DS cook a meal all by himself (albeit supervised) at about 7. But if he can do it earlier I won't complain! He can already help load and unload the dishwasher, have to wait til he's taller to do washing up.

As for meals, we usually get up and break fast (anywhere between 6.30 and 8.30, sometimes twice if DS can get it), then we have a snack about 10ish, lunch at around 12.30 (I would prefer a bit later but DS doesn't). Snack when DS is peckish, about 2ish, then a high tea at 3.30-4pm. PiL prefer a tea at 3pm, so sometimes we go earlier but don't have a snack if we're going to PiLs for tea. Dinner is served at 6. If DH isn't around then I won't eat much and have a late dinnre with him. If DH and I are around but not hungry, we eat a bit with DS but have a supper later (we don't eat a supper if we have a big dinner). DS goes into the bath at 7, so doesn't get a supper atm.