GF suggestions for a picky toddler

[isto]

We had to take our 18 mo. old off all gluten. He was kind of eating the GF meals I prepare, but he was also eating snacks of cheerios and ritz crackers or cheese crackers.

Now I am finding it VERY difficult to even think of snacks for him! I tried rice crackers - they were too hard for him. He does not like ANY raw vegetable.

Meal time is not any easier. He does not like cooked veggies, potatoes, he will eat only small amounts of rice. It is very difficult to think of things to feed this child!

I made him Huevos Heinzo for lunch. He took two bites and decided it was 2 bites too many. He won't even think about eating them plain.

I gave him a peeled and cored apple. He ate a few bites and decided he didn't like it.

The only thing he ate recently and ended up having 4ths was brown rice pasta in meat sauce. Now I have no more pasta in the house and no where to run and get some more.

I'm hoping other people with small children will have some ideas

I want my son to eat!
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[jayhawkmom]

Hmmm, my 13 month old is gluten free, and loves bananas, rice pasta, GF cereals that we have in the house, rice sembei snacks, mashed steamed veggies - etc. I doubt any of this is going to help you though.

[Fidissimus]

Try the meat sauce over cooked brown rice. Also to get some veggies in him, steam carrots and puree them and add them into the spaghetti sauce - he won't be able to tell.

Has he tried avocado?
Will he eat hot dogs?

What else does he like to eat. Maybe that'll help us think of similar things that he might go for.
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Cheers!
Jenn

GF BD: Feb. 2001
Free of wheat, barley, rye, oats, rice, dairy, eggs, almonds, pineapple and brewers yeast.
http://graindamaged.blogspot.com/

[Eeyorific]

[ostrich]

SUBSTITUTE CHEERIOS!!

*tries to hug Kristie through the screen*
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Ostrich :>--O==={

I lie below, you float above
In the pretty white ships that I am dreaming of

[Eeyorific]

[isto]

It is hard to say what he will eat because one day he will eat something and the next day he balks at it.

He does eat hot dogs with some consistency. He has difficulty with most *real* meat, because he cannot chew it up. Ground meat he does pretty well with, as long as it is tiny bits and mixed in something. He would probably eat bologna, but I hate to give him processed food.

One day I had some leftover whipped potatoes and soup, so I mixed them together and heated it for him. He liked it.

He used to love applesauce - every morning he insisted on applesauce and cheerios for breakfast. Now he seems to have gone off applesauce. More was on my floor this morning than in his belly.

Thanks for all the help so far!
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[isto]

I bought peanut butter Panda Puffs from envirokidz in NY. Our toddler likes them. When he is done eating them, whatever is left he rolls around on his tray and plays with.
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[plain_old_donut]

Although my daughter did not have celiac as a toddler, she was an incredibly picky eater. She survived and thrived on two wonderful GF products - cheese and peanut butter.

Grated cheese will help most mashed or soft veggies to dissappear, and peanut butter makes almost any fruit enjoyable, and even some veggies. Celery is a great carrier for peanut butter and raisins. Carrot sticks also go well with PB. Carrot sticks are a little easier to eat than baby carrots, in my opinion.

Rice cakes are another good choice, topped with PB and bananas, or whatever your son will eat on them. Quaker plain and lightly salted are GF.

**Edited to add that I know this is an old post, but I'm new here and thought this might be helpful to new parents of picky eaters.

[Fidissimus]

When I run out of ideas I like to go here:

http://www.wholesometoddlerfood.com/

Most of the recipies can be adjusted to be GF. I made the Fruit Dutch baby in a cast iron skillet and am still trying to perfect it so it's not too eggy but also works as a GF item. However not a wee little bit was left of any of my attempts! I'm sure they'll be something on that site to help inspire you...

[aklap]

[plain_old_donut]

[superdog]

have you tried vanilla yogurt, hot dogs, lasagna, pizza, hamburgers, tacos, refried beans with rice and sour cream and cheese, spaghetti, dino bites(chicken nuggets that are gluten free) they also have gluten free waffles and pancakes, how about some homemade bannana shakes, candy apples, these are just a few of the things that my kids love and that i can think of off the top of my head. ooh yeah almost forgot the homemade french fries, i got one of those potatoe things that cuts up the potatoe like curly fries, kids love em. or how about for some snacks whip up some homemade dip with some chips, my kids love salsa but you can also make some nacho cheese dip. man i think i am getting hungry now. better go grab something, hope one of these ideas help you out. if you need any recipes let me know. i personally love the gluten free corn flakes the kids like em with a teaspoon of sugar on them.

[isto]

I can get him to eat the occasional hot dog. A few nights ago he ate a few bites of pizza. If i make homemade fried corn tortillas, he will eat those, but not with anything touching them! I've been making GF quick breads and he likes those, but only eats from a loaf once or twice, then rejects it. I think he gets bored quickly. He won't eat veggies. I can sometimes get a few bites of corn in, but that is it. He does like homemade fries - my husband makes awesome handcut fries (garlic, sea salt and pepper!)
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