Processed food

I was wonderin how many people giv their kids processed stuff, ya know like fish fingers etc?
I have to be honest I have been SERIOUSLY obsessed with avoiding anything with salt in for Riley for so long and someone has mentioned to me that they think I am getting a bit ridiculous!

Riley has occasionally had the odd jar, but mostly I try to make my own food for him! and now he's 15 months he pretty much eats grown up food BUT i am proper pre occupied by salt/sodium content! I have no idea why I am such a nut job!
Does anyone think I am a fruit loop cos I count up the Salt levels in anything processed i giv him and make sure its less than 1gram per day! I sometimes feel like a right mean bum cos he doesn't get anything exciting like Macdonalds or sausages etc! But I seem to have a real obsession with it!
Its not that I think Anyone is wrong if they do give their kids stuff like this either, Its just me being looney!!

I have had a few of my friends and family comment on it and telling me to get a grip so just wondered if any of you wonderful Sofemmers had any input! Feel free to tell me to chill out!! lol

Love you all lots like jelly tots x x x x x x x x x
Nikki B x x x x x x x x

I also feel like a bad mummy!!!

I didn't know you wern't meant to give them tea my daughter always has abit of my tea when I make a cup! She's 3 now and does have mcdonalds once every blue moon. (well just the fries cos she won't eat anything else)
She only eats toast for breakfast, usually beans for dinner or those oven chips then she has pasta for tea but sometimes when I'm tired from being pregnant I give her pasta in 5 Ohmygod. I bet the salt is really high! She occaisonally has crisps, but very rarely and I have been known to give her chocolate sometimes

She won't eat anything else really. As some of you will know she has been in hospital from not eating enough and I've had social services on my back about it all anyway I was just wondering if anyone had any recipies I could try make for her. I am a crap cook, that being the main reason she gets processed food like beans and oven chips cos I wouldn't have a clue how to make my own chips

Love Kirsti, Daisy (3) and 28+2 Yellow Bump.xx

Hun dont feel like a bad mum

I am really sorry if this has made anyonw feel bad about what they give their kids, that was never the intention!
I was more looking for some reassurence because I was worried that my own obsessions meant that I was bein a bad mum!
I know that the odd bit of processed food will do kids no harm, and I think to be honest that I go a little overboard with how I worry about what Riley eats! Knowing me I am prob causing him issues with food for the future!

I dont think the odd drop of tea does any harm either hun!

I quite often make riley chips, I peel and slice the potatoes and cut into thin chips then I pop em in the oven till they are soft in the middle! If I wanna make them at tea time I might boil them slightly earlier in the day (just for like 5 mins) as this means they take less time to cook once in the oven!

I think I'll post a recipe ideas thread so we can all share our ideas!

hugs hun, Nikki x x x x

If you're mad i'm crazy

i only buy organic food and make most things from scratch...... i get our eggs and meat etc from a local farm and wont give cadene anything with salt in even if it means having to make it myself when i could just buy it e.g houmous.....the only exception is once in a blue moon she has beanns but i buy organic low sugar and salt, i've made my own baked beans too, see what i mean, crazy !!! it takes me so long going shopping cause i read EVERYTHING....! this is also because she is severley lactose intolerent and they hide milk in everything and even if she had a drop somewhere in her food she'd be screaming for hours in pain so i'm really obsessive over it..... MIL knows this and when she found out i was (FINALLY AFTER 6 WHOLE MONTHS in her opinion) weaning Cadene the first thing she tried to give her was a YOGHURT (which was also full of sugar)
i dont freeze her meals cause i dont like anything she has to go in the microwave..... i'd hyperventilate if i had to give her a baby jar or pouch just because of what i've freaked myself out reading about them..... and i'm the only person allowed to feed her so if anyone gave her anything i'd go mad and if anyone had given her a kitkat at 3 months i'd be typing this from prison
so i hope i've made you feel better hun...... for the people who said they give processed food etc then as long as you and your little ones are happy and healthy that's all that matters... you can get too hung up on these things (like me) and end up spending two hours in tesco's every week doing the weekly shop..............! if anyone wants any recipes i've got loads cause i love cooking......!
take care all xx danica and cadene xx

Oh and i forgot to say.....

We have veggies with most of our meals- i mush them up a little and squish them into her food
She loves brocolli! (i don't ...ha ha....i still find it difficult not to pull a face in front of her when i am eating it!)

Hi :+) some foodie ideas....

Thought i would join in......

I know what you mean about worrying about the salt thing but thankfully im not as obsessed now Lottie is nearly 15 months. To be honest i am glad she can eat what we eat (there are exceptions of course like really spicy or naturally salty food)

We cook our meal without salt....then take a portion out for her and then add salt to our meal (most meals cooked from scratch need some salt especially pasta sauces/potatoes and even rice) We do cook meals from scratch but only very occasionally will they be complex.

Lottie loves home cooked food and it doesnt need to be hard to cook. Some ideas and meals Lottie loves:

*Chilli and rice (not spicy but containing kidney beans etc)
*Cottage pie (veggie or mince) & peas
*Sausage and mash/beans (i dont worry too much about the salt she doesnt eat them all the time)
* pasta (soft and cut up)and home made tomato sauce (just garlic/peppers/onion and tin of tomatoes will do- we prefer passata which is just creamed tomatoes without skin and seeds nicer taste and in all supermarkets)
* soft new potatoes and cheese...maybe with tiny bits of ham thrown in
Throw a sweet potato in the oven (not literally..ha ha) and put some butter in it...sooooo easy and she (and i) love it!

Freeze extra portions to make it easier.

I also have fish fingers in freezer and the odd tin of kids spaghetti shapes for emergency!

Hope that helps :+)

Lou xxx

Grub

Hi Nikki,

You are not obsessed, you want the best for Riley.

Emily has fruit and veg that I cook and puree myself and baby rice and porridge which has no added salt or sugar. If we go out we use Ellas Kitchen Pouches which are organic and I mix with her rice and she loves them.

We are now getting to the stage where I need to be more adventurous with her foods, she is coming up to six months now and I need to look at other options I can give her - any suggestions??

We all want the best possible start for our children and if we can try and give them healthy food now then that is a good thing......

Love
Natalie & Emily x

hi nik

im a bit loopy about this too. not so much salt levels in particular, just that with processed food, i dont know whats in it and therefore, i dont like oliver to have it. the only thing he ever has now and again are fishfingers. i keep them in the freezer in case of an emergency and he does like them, but i dont let him have them very often. i make all his food from scratch and i really dont think that it is any more difficult than giving him ready made stuff. i tend to make up a big batch and then freeze it, so i can just get it out as and when. he loves fruit and will eat most veg, particularly if it is a bright colour!

he always has a banana and oatibix bites for his breakfast.

as for junk food as it were, oliver wont eat it, which i am sure is down to the fact that he has never had it. we were in mcdonalds with my niece a few weeks ago and she had nuggests. she wanted to let him try one, so i said she could, thought it wouldnt hurt for once, but he wouldnt eat it. i make my own pizza at home and he wont eat that either, or ordinary chips. i make potato wedges for him at home and he will eat them until the cows come home, but wont touch a ready made chip!

chocolate etc - i think everything in moderation tbh. i let him have the occasional bit, but not very often. he is just as happy eating fruit or yoghurt, so i dont see the point in giving him choc or sweets really. but he has the odd treat!

love kelly, oliver 18 months on sat and emilie, 19 weeks tomorrow
xxx

I used to be like it.....

but since Scarlett has turned 1 i have become more relaxed, she has also become a very fussy eater so basically anything that she eats is a result, she LOVES baked beans so she does have them quite a lot but the amount she has is so small that i think the salt content cant be that much either, i do still do my own food and she will eat mince and mash but to be honest her main food is jacket pot, beans and cheese!! I would never give her macdonalds cos we dont eat them but if we was at a BBQ she would have burger, sausage etc, she wont eat ANY veg so i have to mash up broccli and put it in the mince and mash!

Donna and Scarlett 16 months and 25 week boy bump.
xxxx

Oh no...am i a bad mum?

I give Rhys processed food all the time
I can't cook very well other than Sunday roast (which Rhys always has with us). I just don't have the time to cook either, not been too well, stupid pregnancy.

Does anyone have any ideas of quick/easy recipes that I could possibly freeze (just for when new baby arrives)? I feel like a crap mum now.

Thanks
Love Toni, Rhys (15months) and Lily bump (31+6) x x x

Hunny

It was never my intention to make anyone feel bad about what they are doing! it was more for therepy for me as I feel I am too Anal about what I allow Riley to eat! You CERTAINLY are NOT a bad mum!!! I am probably worse for causing soem sort of complexities about what he is eating!
A great idea that I do with riley is those "steam fresh" frozen veg bags! they microwave in like 2 mins and i put thiem with every meal riley has even sandwiches and such like!
please dont feel bad! I would hate to think I had made anyone feel that way! I am the oe with OCD about salt hun!

hugs
Nik x x x x x x x x x

Ah hun

((((hugs)))) You're not a bad mum at all, sorry if we have made you feel like that! I do go a bit over the top, I can be very protective about things and this is just one of those things... I am scared of doing anything wrong but not saying that anyone who does different is wrong if you see what I mean? When I was growing up we lived next to a family who just ate crap and had take aways every night, all overweight etc. I have seen what it did to those kids (and the parents!) and I think that always provokes a bit of an extreme reaction in me when it comes to food. I am sure the food you are giving him is fine and 100000x better than what they were eating... Plus I am generally fussy about what's in my food and not always had a great relationship with food.

There are loads of easy recipies online, most stuff freezes. I got given an Annabel Karmel book by a friend which is quite good but all her recipies are online anyway.

You are not a bad mum at all please don't think that!!! Don't beat yourself up just because you have been unwell you can't help it sweetie, you need to look after yourself as well.

Love and hugs.

Rach xx

Cheers

It's no-one's fault I feel like this, I do hate giving Rhys processed food, wish I could cook. lol. I'm classed as morbidly obese and I honestly thought that having Rhys would kick me in to touch. I don't feed Rhys the same crap that I eat, wouldn't dream of it. He get's a mcdonalds once in a blue moon. The one thing I do know is Rhys is getting a decent breakfast (kids size banana and weetabix).

I'm hoping to go to weight watchers when I've had Lily and start getting out a bit more, I have been stuck in due to fainting this pregnancy and all my doc says is to take it easy, I'm fainting because my body wants me to slow down (not very helpful).

I just don't want Rhys (and Lily) to turn out like me...

Love Toni, Rhys (15months) and Lily (32wks) x x x

Aww

chick your so not a bad mum and im sorry if you ended up feeling like it reading this post. I think the reason why i go so over the top with acey is because of me having crohns disease so im paranoid about passing it on (plus im a fruitcake lol).

But if ya did want some quick and easy recipes i can pm ya some and im sure some of the other ladies will help ya out too, but dont ever ever think your a bad mum because your not, your fab.

Love n hugz, Lu & Acey & Faryn Bump

PS. Pregnancy is pants at times eh? lol xxxx

Thankyou!!!

for makin me feel normal! i was worryin that I was some sort f nutter!

Hugs
Nik x x x x x x x x

Hey nikki

I am exactly the same although Keegan is six months younger.

If I buy tinned tuna or something I always look at the salt level. The other day I was looking at pre-peeled tomato, I didnt like the salt level so landed up steaming and peeling my own tomatoes I think the salt level was something stupid like point six of a gram

I have to thank a certain Ms Marshall and Sky news for my mini obsession with salt. I am concerned about dehydration etc etc . Nuts I know.

I do 'cheat' every now and then and will share hot chips or a sponge finger etc etc but on the whole I cook from fresh for Keegan, he has healthy fruit or rice cake snacks, baby yoghurt, carrot sticks etc etc and to be honest I find cooking for him easy to do really. If we have take aways, I generally still cook for Keegan seperately. He is a very good eater and generally eats my meals and eats well so it gives me a sense of acomplishment and I look forward to making his salt free and home cooked meals because of it.

You not alone and if you being called crazy then I will have to join your club!

Forgot to say

That's one of the main reasons I worry about salt content, like you I worry about dehydration - all the time!!

We'll have our own little club lol

Rach x

Hi hun

I am like this with Holly... I know she is only 7 months now but I am sure I still will be the same when she is Rileys age lol. You are only doing what is best for your little man, it's better than letting him stuff himself with crisps and sweets etc. like some people do. I do very occasionally give Holly the odd pouch of food (the organic ones with no additives or salt in) if I am out and about when it is a meal time. I was horrified looking at all the jars one day by the amount of salt in some of them and it put me off them all. I don't have a problem with anyone feeding them to their babies I am sure they are fine but I worry about stuff like that lol, I think it's partly due to the fact that she has always been fully breastfed so I am used to knowing exactly where her food comes from (me lol) and don't like not having that control if that makes any sense? I'm sure I sound like a loony lol.

I think that some of the supermarkets do a range of low salt / additive kiddies meals though but not sure if I will want to give Holly that or be able to afford it anyway lol! It's easier for me to give her what we have as I make it from scratch, and then I know what she is having as well. People can do what they like with their own children hunni but you are Rileys mum and it's up to you what you give him to eat. You shouldn't feel that you have to explain yourself to people!

I have a hand blender and just cook Holly a little portion with no salt and blitz it a bit for her yummy and it gets her used to eating the same meals us so it's cheaper too She had spaghtetti bolgnese blitzed with a few little pasta bits in for tea last night and she ate it, little lumps and all I was such a proud mummy

Rach xx + Holly 7 months

Hey hun

sorry im not gonna be any help whatsoever cos im exactly the same with Acey lol. I make all our meals from scratch more or less and Acey eats whatever we're having.

I was so annoyed the other day, my mum had had Acey for a couple of hours for me and when she brought him home he had an orangey looking sauce down his t-shirt. I asked what it was and after stuttering about for 10 minutes she finally admitted to giving him a tin of beans and sausage, omg i was sooo ... off lol. Even though i know one tin wouldnt harm him, but then that freaked me out thinking well she was going to try and hide the fact she'd given him it so how many other times has she hidden stuff shes fed him? and what if what shes fed him plus what i give him takes him over the 1g hes allowed..........(ya see im more of a nutter than you are lmao).

In my opinion (for what its worth lol) i think its fab what your doing, and your giving Riley a great start in life and teaching him the right foods to eat, which can only be a good thing right?

Love n hugz, Lu & Acey & Faryn Bump xxxxxxxxxx

Thanks lu x x

I am ten times worse than I hav let on in the original post! lol.
I am OBSESSED!!!! I almost killed a friend of mine when we were at her house, I went to the loo and when I got back Riley had a sausage roll in his hands and had it all in his mouth! I was SOO angry!
I also have a friend that was trying to INSIST that I gave Riley a cup of tea... then one day when I was out the room SHe gave him some.... Cue Riley's HORRENDOUS allergic reaction! (how typical) STOOPID COW!!!! I know she gave it him cos it was spilled all over the tray on his high chair, but to this day she wont admit to it!

I am SO glad there are people who get where I am coming from x x
Nikki B xx x x x xx

Omg

why do people do things like that? i wouldnt dream of giving somebody elses kid something i knew their werent allowed. And why you would want to give them tea in the first place is beyone me. Ive never 'got' that lol. her not admitting it....well that would have sent me over the edge haha, in fact she would now be an EX mate just for giving him it in the first place lol. The sausage roll thing, i think people just automatically put the two together Sausage Roll plus Baby!! another one of my pet hates lol (sorry i dont wanna offend anybody, this is just my opinion).

The main one that i can think of at the min (this is gonna get me wound up at the thought of it now lol) was at xmas time, my aunty and uncle were at my parents for a few drinks and what have you, we were there too. My aunty all of a sudden come out with the fact that she'd fed Acey a Kitkat a few weeks before hand. Now for one thing, by xmas we hadnt even started weaning him yet, and another thing we'd always said (even years before planning babies) that chocolate etc was a big no no. Once in a while as a treat fair enough (as in xmas n birthdays hahaha) but not all the time, or as a meal etc and certainly not for the first flippin thing he'd tasted!!!! I can feel my blood boiling again now lol, angry isnt even the word for it, i made my point to her in a calm(ish) way (was xmas and not my house) then walked outside and burst into tears lol. You just dont do that do you? she knew that we werent planning on giving Acey anything like that, so then to give him it at 3 months old, and without our permission.......

Anyhow ill shut up now lol.

And yeah it is nice to know that theres other nutters out there hahahaha
Lots a love n hugz, Lu xxxx