Reply to Help me- recipes and strategies for a picky, unhealthy eater with weight concerns

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[quote=Anonymous]I think it was Parenting magazine that had a few variations of oven "fried" chicken that you could try as a stepping stone away from nuggets and toward grilled or roasted chicken. Even Shake & Bake would probably be better than the packaged nuggets. There was also a story from a mom of an overweight child that discussed how they were handling it as a family. I can't find it online though. The article had some sidebars from doctors, who recommended using the CDC's BMI calculator and chart. Apparently for kids you are supposed to calculate the BMI, and then find the percentile for that.

At age 8, I think your DS is also old enough to learn about why he needs to make good choices and participate in the menu planning and cooking. Supposedly those activities will make him more likely to try (and maybe even like) the foods. In our house we also talk about what different foods do for our bodies. We need to make good choices in order to be able to run fast, do well in school, keep healthy hair, skin, eyes, teeth, etc.

My DD is pretty picky, but she does OK with raw veggies that she can dip in ranch. Carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, sometimes even broccoli. We try to serve two veggie options at dinner and she has to have two scoops total and can choose how to distribute that (one of each, or two of one). For alternatives to nuggets, she also likes grilled lemon chicken and "mexicali" chicken (marinated in lime juice, olive oil and chili powder). Flank steak is a favorite in our house, as is BBQ pulled pork or chicken. She surprised me and likes beans (refried, baked, or simmered), which are a good source of fiber and protein. Might be worth trying some smooth vegetable soups, too. Split pea, butternut squash, carrot, cream of broccoli. Most are surprisingly easy to make, although a little time consuming. I think a lot of picky eaters object to the texture. And you can make a soup fairly mild in flavor by thinning with broth.

Examine your food options and try to eliminate as many of the "white" foods as possible: white bread, potatoes, white rice, pasta, cereal.... Replace with the whole grain (brown) alternatives or eliminate altogether. Over time, these can mess with the body's reaction to glucose and cause weight gain.

Become more active as a family.

Also, remember that some (all?) kids get chunky right before a growth spurt. That doesn't change the fact that you should all try to improve the quality of what you are eating, but don't panic about his actual weight.[/quote]

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