Atten: Food Girl

[Kathy]

FoodGirl, I have a question that I could really use your input for as a dietician. I have a son who really suffers from mood changes when his blood sugar is low. I try to give him protein with every meal to help avoid some of the drops he gets (You should see him an hour after my husband feeds him frosted flakes!) Do you have any suggestions for meals for lunch time. I try to give him yogurt or peanut butter and jelly, but it is getting old. He fights me on traditional turkey, ham, etc. I would really appreciate any help you may have re: this. Thanks!p.s. I think that is particially why I considered Atkins because I am the same way and feel great with protein. Does that make sense?

[food girl]

Kathy,
First let me apologize for speaking so strongly about your MD. My GP was prescribing Phen-fen and I still went to him. I still like him and occasionally rib him with the old "i told you so". I work with cancer patients and I am so concerned about increased ca risk with high animal fat/animal protien diets. Tho I must admit that overweight is a ca risk as well. I did reply with a post with all of this but it disappeared into never-never land in my computer! So, I hope that helps you understand my perspective a little. The Zone and Sugar Busters are a bit more liberal, but are basically low-calorie diet plans.


Weight loss is such a touchy and complicated issue. I really regret getting involved!

Ok, I don't know a whole lot about pediatrics. It sounds like you are on the right track with trying to include some protein and fat in each meal. This is one of those times that I defer to the pediatrician. You might need to get a blood sugar check just to make sure that everything is OK.



[This message has been edited by food girl (edited 08-30-2000).]

[Kathy]

Thanks for your response! Let's put it behind us (I posted a response to you on the original saga!) The pediatrician says he is okay. I get hypoglycemic as well and I know giving him juice as some people recommend is not the right way to address this in the long term. I just get lost about what to feed him..I guess I will stick to grilled cheese and french toast for breakfast! My husband's doctor recommended V-8 since my husband is not great with vegetables. I have been giving him yams and spinach but he is a hard sell! (He was diagnosed with Cancer on his tongue in January..Thank God he is okay!) Thanks again!

[Shelly]

Kathy, I am not a pediatrician, but I am a pediatric nurse as well as a mother. Some things to try might be nuts (but only if your son is over 2 yrs old), cheese cubes, and/or eggs in any form. Maybe you could try new ways of giving him peanut butter like PB and banana sandwiches on whole wheat (complex carbs are best), pb on apples or celery, etc. What about cottage cheese or cream cheese, plain or mixed with some kind of fruit? I hope I've given you some ideas. I know how frustrating it can be to have a child that doesn't want to eat. GOOD LUCK!

[Kathy]

Shelly, Thanks so much for the great ideas! I forgot how much he loves peanut butter and bananas! I was getting nervous about packing lunches. He is 7 and can not function with low blood sugar! (And he hates the lunch room!) Thanks again!

[Beth]

Some of my favorite lunches when I was young were leftover hamburgers and meatloaf sandwiches. You can make those lean. I occassionally send my sone to school with a fat free hot dog or cheese pizza lunchables. He used to like string cheese and cheese cubes. Will your son take a thermal container for things like macaroni and cheese, soups or other hot foods? That expands the options.

[Kathy]

Beth, thanks so much! I never thought about anything else beside soup in a thermos. He will always eat macaroni and cheese and stew. I have much more hope for the lunchtime battle!