Similar to other parents, my daughter once she started eating solid foods was fussy about what she would eat. It seemed she preferred her fruits and vegetables and would only really eat those. We would mix her food up with meat, chicken or fish with the veg and she would just pick it out or move it to the side.
We tried hiding it inside of rice balls, as well as meatballs which consisted mainly of veges. From fruits and veges came on a crunchy/crispy phase, which meant deep fried, but this sort of proved to be a good thing. As we deep fried little fish, and she would eat them like chips. However, I became worried about all the excess oil in the deep frying. Although we patted it dry with paper towel, or let it rest and soaked as much out we could I figured there had to be a better way.
I started to do the egg wash and breading of fish, egg, chicken etc with a little success as it turned out crispy, by baking on a low heat and then broiling till it was more crispy at the end.
Then one day while shopping at the grocery store, I was in the organic aisle just browsing around and came across Mungbean Pasta. I thought I may give it a try, and so I made it for her at daycare and then on the way as usual I told her what was in her lunch for the day.
At the end of the day when I picked her up after work, I opened her lunchbox and was excited only to find out that she had finished everything but the pasta! I turned around and smiled at her, and asked her if she even tried the pasta and she shook her head "no."
I then told her, "You do know that the pasta is made from mungbean right?" Then I had a piece, and she started reaching out and trying to get her lunchbox from me. I passed her a piece and she gave it a try and then asked for the lunch box.
I let her have the lunchbox while I drove home, which would take about 20 minutes, and too my surprise when I arrived home. It was all finished and the lunchbox was empty. The only problem was now, "would she eat dinner?" At dinnertime her grandma was feeding her some shrimp, which she wouldn't touch. She ate her rice, and her veg of course.
Sort of upset, grandma walked off with the shrimp, and saw me with a bowl walking over to my daughter. She watched as I asked her if she wanted more of the same pasta that she had at lunch for dinner? My daughter screamed out excitedly as she reached for the bowl and finished it.
I then showed Grandma the box that it came in and she smiled as it was higher in protein, but had the carbs and alot of fibre as well! Down below are just 2 of the different types of pastas, I finished up the mungbean pasta and couldn't find the box from the blackbean. There is also red lentil pasta amongst many more out there.
Please feel free to share and tag anyone that may find the information in here useful or handy! I know my wife and I aren't the only ones whom have had this problem! As well if you have some other suggestions, I would be grateful if you would comment below.
As well to those parents with fussy eaters like mine, don't worry it gets better. My daughter now eats chicken, fish, shrimp, pork, beef, but still does prefer a plant based diet. It just takes a little time, and for some a little more. Feel free to comment if there is another topic that you'd like more information on.