Selfsufficientish.com

I've had a couple of times when son no1 has gone through a week or so of refusing to eat anything green or new. I'm afraid I'm quite a 'stern' mum, I cook 1 meal for the family that all are welcome to eat if you don't try it then you go without. No making up with favourites as that only teaches them to that being stubbon and behaving badly gets your own way and if that means a couple of evenings hungry then so be it. Harsh I know but I can't afford to cook different meals for everyone. No2 son eats everything and always has done, not keen on sweet potato but will eat some- so don't make a big thing out of it, but dont pander either- thats what is for tea take it or leave it.....if he's anything like no1 son he'll soon get the message and at least try things. This advice may not be agreed with by everyone but I know its worked for us.
Good luck

Kind thoughts
Deb

I figured a long time ago that I can never know the truth of the great egg debate. I've heard it said, with some authority, that eggs are high in cholesterol, and you need to limit your intake of them. But I've also heard it said, with some authority, that the type of cholesterol in eggs is not the sort that is bad for you, and that eggs are in the clear.

Who do I believe? I suppose it's just a question of choosing your side.

Anyway, for most of my life I've eaten an egg a day, sometimes two, for breakfast, right from childhood. I love 'em. I guess I'm quite a lot overweight, so a while ago I cut back to one egg every other day for six months or so. Didn't notice any benefit anywhere; didn't lose weight; didn't gain energy; didn't become youthful and sprightly; didn't become more attractive to women. So I'm back to an egg for breakfast every day.

There is a new egg campaign here, saying "an egg a day is ok" There is also a website, with lots of eggy stuff, including this http://www.eggs.org.nz/nutrition.php

I also have 5 YO who is extremely fussy, always has been. I realised quite recently he is practically vegetarian, so I am pleased he does like eggs and dairy. He is one of those "fresh air" kids too! He tends to be quite cranky too, sometimes I don't know if he's cranky because he's hungry, or if he won't eat because he's cranky...probably both in a way.

I always figure that if a child is running about etc - then they are getting enough food intake.
next you have to ask yourself if the way in which they get their calories is a healthy way.
please don't think I am having a go at anyones - parenthood is the art of the possible! some thoughts: the chocolate spread on bread - is that for meals or inbetween? When my son was smaller I made it clear to anyone looking after him that he could snack all he liked between meals - so long as it was real food - carrot sticks.. fruit, etc - if he did not want his meal cos he was full of healthy things.. no problem. The cereals are probably fortified with vitamins, so watch that you are not overdoing the rdas with your drink as well. Don't overdo the egg thing - could put him off too

and my suggestion about an omlette was more to get him interested in food - make it together he can beat the eggs etc. if he does not want to eat it - fine, you have it!. It's more about food not being all about battles.. how it can be fun too etc

I don't think fat is a big issue for kids - if they are not overweight and are charging about - really I would not worry the fat/cholesterol side of the diet - a pizza is great food for kids - carbs veg, protein . Its sugary things that I would limit.

I eat a fair amount of eggs and don't think anything of it! My mum who had a heart attack 18 months ago and has high cholesterol is limited to 2 a week (and no salt, fat etc etc) ...... so it's not going to harm me to eat 5 or 6!

Agree with what Boots said earlier about giving her kids eggs when their hair or fingernails weren't looking good. I used to give a raw egg to one of my cats when he was looking a bit ratty and in days he'd get a gleaming glossy coat.

Maybe we should be eating raw egg, not cooked!

If he got interested in eggs by seeing chickens, try maybe getting him to grow his own peas, or beans - then he's got the pride thing, he grew it, and he knows that it will be good because he took so much care and attention over it.

Then maybe you can get him to help you harvest strawberries, or squash and see if he likes them because he's seen where they come from.

Maybe he's just a bit picky about where his food is coming from - he saw that the eggs came from the chickens and that the chickens were happy for the eggs to be taken and eaten, so maybe if he sees the peas coming from the ground after he's planted them and looked after them, or he can see the strawberries coming off the plant, then he might be more willing to eat them.

Good idea Fee but Ive done all that too lol. He loves growing and picking the veggies but has no desire to want to try them. I shall kepp trying. He looks mighty healthy and has boundless energy so Im not too worried at the moment - it was more the question about how many eggs he could eat. Thanks everyone for their help.

my mum used to all sorts of things to try and get us to eat more veg - it wasn't until fairly recently when i was saying to himself 'remember when you were a kid and you would get given a bowl of frozen peas to eat in front of the telly just like popcorn' that I found out everyone else did not do this!!

When my son was born he was early and hadn't developed the sucking reflex so we tube fed. I worked really hard with him to make him suckle - and eventually it worked - but it was what seemed to be the start of problems with food. When he was older and in his play pen I'd make sandwiches with interesting fillings such as cream cheese and apricots, chocolate spread and rasins, banana etc and and chunks of cheese or fruit etc then leave them within his reach. That way he could help himself - no pressure, try different tastes at his pace and genreally learn that food wasn't a threat. Now - like Boots the only thing he won't eat is tomatoes - but will eat the sauce the soup and the pizza base!!! My daugher on the other hand could't get enough mackrel when she was a baby -if fact she ate so much of it she even smelled fishy!!! lol

Good luck - I'm sure it will be ok in the end

according to some studies, the link between eggs and cholesterol is minimal, and is outweighed by the health benefits associated with eating eggs- the vitamines and protein and such.