Hello!

My daughter is allergic to all dairy, soy, eggs and peanuts. She is also pretty fussy. I’m struggling to find food she will eat and when I do she’ll eat it once or twice and then not again. I try to feed her 1 meal a day of what my husband and I eat, but she mostly won’t touch it. Any food ideas would be great.


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  • All meat, fruit, and veg are on the table.


  • I guess whole foods are your best option ie fruit and vegetables. A child will not like or reject foods several times before taking to them. If she’s hungry, she will eat. It sounds really challenging, all the best


  • Try rice porridge (congee). You can cook it with some carrots and mince chicken.


  • Grains can be an issue for some toddlers/children./adults.
    Some are unable to digest them properly and make them feel ill.
    Has your daughter ever had to have tubes down her throat for any reason? That can cause ongoing issues which may not be obvious to see by a medical professional. You could try giving some food different names such as you could call Cauliflower white trees and Broccoli Green Trees. I have a relative who was allergic to cauliflower as a baby but eventually outgrew the problems. Perhaps try putting white sauce on them using a different type of milk. There is a variety of non dairy milks. Some people have preferences because of the difference in the flavours. I have a relative who can only have non-dairy milk who is also allergic to soy milk. Some non-dairy milks are sweetened, I know there is 2 varieties of Almond Milk. Some vegetables actually contain a gas which can cause stomach discomfort. My Mum was advised that if you lift the saucepan lid or the lid of whatever cooking them in it lets at least some of the gas escape. After doing that she was able to digest cauliflower and cabbage. Raw cabbage can be a huge problem for some people. Some people use it in salads, and not only in Coleslaw. Has your daughter been tested for possible allergies to other foods at all?? I also know a girl who gets mouth ulcers if she eats strawberries at all. Some little ones cannot handle herbs or spices at all, also food like onions leeks garlic, capsicum. chillies either.


  • I have spoke. To a dietician and allergy specialist. She gets a wide range of fruit, veggies, meat a. D grains but is becoming very fussy. Every baby lead Weaning recipe seems to be full of everything she can’t eat. I’ve tried making them by replacing with allergy alternatives but they fail big time. The dietician and allergy specialist just said to keep going despite her fussiness. I’m just worried she’s not eating enouh


  • Have you talked to a nutritionist? They should have great ideas.


  • I would just be cooking meat, veg and grains and flavouring them with herbs and spices (spices don’t need to be hot). My daughter loves a splash of balsamic vinegar on roasted veg with herbs. I found a website called Allergy Awesomeness that may have some recipes to help you out. Here’s one of the recipes. https://allergyawesomeness.com/egg-and-dairy-free-frittata/


  • Maybe a vegan type diet that’s mostly plant based?


  • Try mixing up fruits and vegetable each day or preparing them differently. Im a coeliac and so many of the products I buy for myself are also good for other allergens. Try looking for vegan and gluten free products, just remember to read the ingredients because many ‘may contain’ soy.


  • Pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and potatoes are great vegetables – steamed and mashed. Pretty much any fruits and vegetables. Pastas and noodles with vegetable sauces. Keep offering different things :)


  • I found the best way to get my picky eater to eat was to eat the same thing. I always make sure there’s one thing on her plate I know she loves. It was slow at first and she would often only have a bite or two of the “main” part but she’s great now and will taste anything. Just last week she ate brussel sprouts! Most family meals can be easily altered to suit her dietary requirements. I find vegan recipes are great for dairy and egg allergies. Look up cauliflower pasta sauce. It’s delicious, has hidden veg and white! Kids seem to love white food haha


  • Fussy eaters love finger food. Sweet Potato Mashed and made into 2cm -3cm Balls and baked to make like chips I even make the sweet potato into long chips and bake the kiddies love these. You could roll them in bread crumbs. My lot likes honey carrots I also do turnip chips and mash balls. I use tricky words like .. wow these are too yummy… I ate 4 how many can you eat.. make it a game. Dinner doesn’t need to be formal all the time. In the warmer months a picnic rug out the back yard can be fun and food presented in different ways is fun too. Try Bamboo Paddle Skewers these Potato balls are fun to place on them as well as making it a colourful display. Veggies and small meatballs cooked on the BBQ on Bamboo Paddle Skewers are a winner too. Try Pineapple and slices of sausage, cherry tomato, Lebanese cucumber. Chicken mince balls glazed with cranberry sauce another kiddie favourite.


  • Fruits and vegetables are great as you can mix it up with different textures and shapes/sizes. Even trying to make zucchini pasta could be fun and super healthy. You would have to look more into it but we just recently tried oat milk and I must say it is delicious but you would have to check that it is ok for the little one (with sugars etc).


  • I read somewhere that toddlers need to be constantly offered food even if they refuse as it takes several goes for them to accept anything , may be consult a nutritionist as sounds like she is allergic to few things


  • Maybe make it fun, put it in pouches or cut things into shapes.


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