"Mange Tout Kids" Do you know this children class? Post Reply

[mummynanny]

Hello,
I have a 2+ year old girl who just won't eat! She was diagnosed with anaemia that might be the cause of her disinterest in food and she is at the moment on some supplements that should put her iron levels back to normal and hopefully she will regain back her appetite.
I am little bit worried though that this non-eating problem might just be more due to her stubbornness and the terrible twos... I am trying to put her back to her normal eating routine - stopped all snacks between her meals and so on... But she just won't even taste anything I offer her. We are waiting for our appointment with dietician that is not until December. In the meantime I would like to help her to get some confidence of trying new food...
I heard of a class Mange Tout that is well-suited for toddlers who don't like to experiment with food. Does any one know little bit more about them? Did you take your children there? Would you recommend it?
I would also appreciate any help regarding a child who doesn't want to eat. I am willing to try anything to make her eat... Maybe there is something I haven't tried yet...
Thank you.

[twoundertwo]

I'd definitely recommend giving Mange Tout a try. I've only been along to the Xmas party with my non-eating niece last year but it was a lot of fun! There is no pressure on the kids to eat but they all seem keen to join in at least some of the tasting games and Lucy is lovely. I'm sure you could call her to see what she thinks?

Good luck, I imagine it must be very stressful for you!

[lemonzest]

I haven't been myself, but a friend took her kids along and strongly recommended it.

Have you tried getting her involved with cooking her food? A friend (who is an EXCELLENT cook!) had a child who didn't eat much, but now he'll try anything which he's helped to make.

Eg if you're making potato or root veg chips get them to pick them up once chopped and shake in a bag with some olive oil and herbs; rolling pastry, splodging jam into pastry to make tarts, stirring cake mix (you've probably noticed by now I'm a baker rather than a cook!!), shaking herbs over things, drizzling juice over fruit salad/olive oil over salad or things ready to cook, sieving flour, breaking and beating eggs, making fruit kebabs, spreading sandwiches, making homemade pizzas eg even just using corn tortillas and spreading with tomato paste, grating and sprinkling cheese and veg over? Seasoning chicken/fish ready to cook.

Probably nothing you haven't tried already?

[stayathomemuminsw11]

I definitely recommend the classes!

My daughter was never fussy, but we went as something different to do, and she loved it, and although she wasn't fussy, she did try things I'd have never have thought to try at home! The results with the other children were amazing-kids who wouldn't even touch fruit or veg at the beginning of term were eating by the end.

Lucy is AMAZING and also does 1-1 consultations (with great success) if you feel you need more help.

Good luck.

[audrey]

We attended 2 terms and my daughters just loved it. Learning about the fruit and veg, playing games around it and in the end tasting it, all in a very relaxed atmosphere makes even the most apprehensive child willing to give it a try. My eldest is still a fussy eater, but at least she is now much better and willing to try new things. The youngest was never a problem, but I took her along as the classes were so much fun. Highly recommended!

[Pod]

Thank you everyone for your wonderful feedback, it's great to know that our classes are having such a positive effect on your children and even inspiring you with new ideas of how to encourage your children to explore and experience new foods.

Food and mealtimes can be so fraught with emotion and anxieties. We all dearly wish to have healthy happy children who eat well, but it is never always that simple or easy. All children go through fussy, picky, food neo-phobic stages some stages lasting longer than others, children can restrict their food repertoire quite dramatically after being ill and struggle to re gain the variety in their diet for some time - seemingly surviving on bread and yoghurt?! It can be a really testing time and very worrying, some children struggle with texture and others find that sensory integration with food (getting messy or touching wet/sticky foods) can be really overwhelming.

At mange tout we offer the opportunity for all children 18mths-5yrs to explore and experience foods away from a mealtime in a playful and non-pressured environment - many of the techniques and games can be taken and practised at home using the same or different foods. Our classes are suitable for all children regardless of their food preferences, (some attend who dig in with gusto and others who are happy to just touch and smell the foods to begin with)

Sorry for the long post - just wanted to explain a bit more and offer anyone who is interested a free class - we are on half term (I am teaching Mange Tout in Lanzarote this week!) but email and quote NVN for your free class we start back on Wed 7th Nov 10am 11am 3.30pm and 4.30pm

pod@mangetoutkids.com

thank you

[Oeuf]

My wee one decided to stop eating when he was 2 as well. Took him along to the Mange Tout lessons which he loved and would often try the food on offer there, although would then not touch the same things once at home which made me realise that his not eating was purely a control issue.

Two and a half years on and he now has a much more varied diet, though still not a perfect eater, but then how many 4-year olds are?! He IS brilliant at eating fruit and veg though and whilst I cannot say that this is directly attributable to the Mange Tout classes he attended, they definitely didn't do any harm!

I do feel for you as I remember all too well the worry I went through when he first stopped eating (having previously eaten pretty much everything that came his way). I tried stopping the snacks as well but found that it was not working and only making us both even more stressed. As we all know they are all so different and do things for different reasons but if the eating thing is a control issue (which my son's was) then there is very little you can do but ride it, I'm afraid. I re-started the snacks (which helped us both get through the day!) and slowly, slowly he started to add more and more different foods to his diet. Good luck! xx

[Pod]

Hello NVN'ers

We start back today after our half term break, we are still offering free trial classes to those who text and quote NVN - so if you would like to come along and find out what we do at Mange Tout - text your child's name and preferred class time to :

07786806993

classes are on Weds at 10am 11am 3.30pm and 4.30pm at Broomwood Methodist Church Hall Kyrle Rd

Hope to see you soon