Carb free diet for toddler...HELP

[Anonymous]

We were just adviced by the pediatrician that our 3 year old pasta, rice, potato, bread loving dd must go on a carb free diet for the next 2 weeks due to constipation issues.

I have no idea what to serve her when I cut out those 4 things...lots of ideas will be greatly appreciated.

[Anonymous]

That's not carb-free: that's simple-carb-free.

To get things moving: Most fruits, most vegetables, bran cereal (or muffins), things with ground flaxseed in them. And LOTS of liquids.

[Anonymous]

Great idea to use Flax...I think I have been Flax seed oil in Whole Foods and that would be easy to add to her food. But how do I make a filling dinner based or vegetables or fruits?

[Anonymous]

You don't want just the oil, because that can be pretty gag inducing. Buy the Spectrum flax meal (= ground flax). The hulls of the seeds have a lot of fiber.

You can stick a lot of veggies into pasta sauce and use soy-ish stuff instead of or in addition to ground beef. Serve over whole-wheat pasta.

Will your DD eat oatmeal? Stir flaxseed and dried fruit into it. Pooptacular.

Raspberries and pears will also make things happen.

[Anonymous]

Why cant you just give her prune juice? Any citrus will make her poop actually. Raspberries, oranges etc.
Also cereal. Or how about a sip of 7-11 coffee? That would do the trick! LOL!!! In all seriousness, cant you give her something that will make her poop rather than just eliminate carbs?

[Anonymous]

Watermelon works, blueberries, too.
Avoid bananas!

[Anonymous]

OP if your carb lover is anything like mine a lot of these suggestions won't work. My son is a picky eater and a lot of fruits and veggies are out of the question for him. What he is obsessed with that is pooptacular is any kashi product. I like to call it kashi go poop. He is obsessed with anything they make.

[Anonymous]

Op here. Thanks for all the great suggestions. I can easily incorporate more fruit/vegetables and raisin bran/oatmeal etc in the morning. The problem is lunch and dinner since I can't just serve her straight up fruit or vegetables (or cereal) during those meals. Anyone have ideas for actual meals I can make? Like what do you serve with chili (which she loves) when you can't serve rice? A dish that has lots of beans or other vegetables that will move things along?

[Anonymous]

fresh papaya and pineapple

Whole grains (brown rice, Kashi cereal, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat bread, popcorn)

fruit smoothies every evening.

[Anonymous]

Some ideas -

Sweet potato fries (to serve with food)
Tofu - my kids love it sauteed in butter with garlic and a little salt.
Cheese sticks

With the "no carb" - can your child have whole grains If so, I make a zuchinni banana bread with whole wheat flour and brwon sugar which my kids also love. I also add a plum to their morning cereal.

We also buy whole wheat spinach pasta (but again, not sure if you can have whole grain carbs).

Good luck!!

[Anonymous]

Did I miss something? Is she a vegetarian? If not, chicken, beef, etc. My DD is a big fan of pulled chicken and beef (BBQ style).

[Anonymous]

OP - you actually CAN serve just the chili with no rice. Ot wil some cut up fruit on the side. There's no rule that says what constitutes a meal.

For all your child knows, you have suddenly converted to some new religion and for 2 weeks you must avoid rice and flour products. She's three. Tell her you are Pastafarians, you don't eat pasta this week. She'll never know!

Can you serve whole grains? Popcorn? Whole grain crackers? Whole grain cous cous?

Serve some meat your child likes, along with three or four fruits and veggies -- steamed if need be with something to dip them in.

Also try a garbanzo bean salad.

[aprilmayjune]

I agree with a PP, have you tried the things that might help the process along before going to this extreme?

[Anonymous]

Is it truly carb free?

My carb loving son loves whole-wheat couscous (Trader Joes and Harris Teeter carry it). He also loves whole wheat crackers. Wheat things makes one that has extra fiber, but it's hard to find. It's a great side for many dishes.

Go Lean Cruch Cereal is a favorite and chock full of fiber. And yes, when my son doesn't like dinner, I let him eat it.

And you can serve meals without a carb.

As for helping the problem, mango always works wonders for my son.

[Anonymous]

For things to serve with chili, you could try cut up pieces of avocado in lime juice, chopped tomatoes, cilantro, shredded cheese and sour cream. If you add enough chilies to it your DD won't have to go on a carb free diet!