Child Wont Eat Meat

I have a son (5) who doesn't want "to eat animals." He'll question all food items, including eggs. I found Ezekiel bread in the freezer section made from sprouted grains, low glycemic (good for my diabetic hubby) and contains all the protein he needs. I lightly toast. I also sneak cut up chicken, and do bean/ rice dishes.

My oldest daughter would only eat hot dogs & bologna when she was little. She grew out of it!!!

Although - now we only eat fish & chicken - for health reasons, mostly!

Every kid goes through being picky about certain foods - they either grow out of it or not. Don't worry too much about it - he won't starve!

There are lots of other ways to get protein - peanut butter, beans, dairy, etc.

Will he eat fish sticks?

Two of my kids wouldn't eat ground beef at all until they got older. I think it was all visual, they will eat it most of the time now. I just learned not to mix all their stuff together especially with tacos or something similar, that way they would eat something!

I'd like to add my voice to the vegetarians. Humans do not need to eat meat, in fact our digestive systems are much more suited to a plant-based diet. I've been vegetarian for 38 years and vegan for 15 years. Both of my children were raised vegetarian and one is now vegan and is raising her children vegan, and we are all extremely healthy. Humans don't need cow's milk either, in fact it is quite harmful to humans, causing many diseases. There are many many plant sources of protein (the most concentrated protein is in legumes including soy, nuts, and seeds, but many vegetables contain some protein). It is a myth put forth by the meat and dairy industries that humans need animal protein, we don't. In fact, most people eat way too much protein. I think the fact that so many young children refuse to eat meat shows that it is not a natural food for humans. If they really understood where the meat comes from, there's no way they would eat it. I'd suggest that you get a good vegan cookbook and start experimenting, you would be doing yourself and your children a great favor!

I wouldn't worry about it. If you put too much emphasis on it he may never want to eat it. You said he likes meatloaf. You can grind any type of meat up and make it into a meatloaf and grind some carrots, spinach or any healthy veggie in with it. Throw an egg, rice or bread crumbs and some seasoning and you've got a somewhat healthy meal. My kids love stir fry, I add a little terriyaki sauce and they love the little bit of sweetness. Beans are another good alternative, including lentils and peas. Soups are good to make for kids and you can always throw in a little meat in small pieces. Maybe it's the chewing he doesn't like. Smaller pieces and make sure its good and moist. Good luck.

We're vegetarian so we never eat meat. My daughter eats the super high protein tofu at Trader Joe's. Boca and Morningstar Farms both have lots of tasty meat substitute products. Beans are an easy option too. One of my favorite quick recipes is black bean soup:

2 cans drained and rinsed blaok beans
2 cups broth (I use vegetable, but any will work)
1/2 cup salsa
1 teaspoon cumin

puree it all in the blender so it's creamy (also helps hide what it is)
heat until warm and top with cheese, tortilla chips, green onions, sour cream, etc.

My 15m old daughter isn't a big fan of meat either but she LOVES Trader Joes turkey meatballs. If you have one around you I'd suggest giving those a try.

My son doesn't particularly like meat either. Ever think you'd have to say "no more fruit or veggies till you eat your meat?!?" as long as he takes 2-3 bites I am ok with it. He loves cheese and yogurt. so he gets protein there. He also likes Peanut Butter... I do make him take at least one bite to see if he might like it. if he doesn't he doesn't have to eat any more...but he got one bite down! He likes beans also...bean burritos. I sometimes ask what he wants and he seems to eat better when I cook what he wants. Sometimes we do breakfast for supper as he likes eggs and cheese. He likes breakfast burritos...Good luck!

My son went through a faze like this. He would eat everything on his plate except the meat (even in foods like soup and spaghetti). I didn't worry much about it, he ate veggies and starch at a lot of meals. He would eat tofu and eggs, so I made sure he got some of those each day. He's pretty much over it now, but still prefers rice or noodles to meat. I think it has to do with the way meat looks, but I don't really know for sure.

Maybe he doesn't like the texture of how you are cooking it. I don't like red meat that isn't cooked completely it is too squishy in my mouth and seafood has that same texture so I don't like it either. How small are the bites he gets, I cut my kids meat up into small bites so they don't have to chew it forever to be able to swallow. Oh and my son likes to dip most meat in ketchup or ranch dressing. If he still won't eat any meat then beans are a great source of protein and you could use the powder as well, make him a shake with it or add it to his cereal or oatmeal. Dairy products as well are a good source and eggs.

This is normal. It could be the texture of the food. It could be that he does not like to chew it, maybe he has a tooth coming in.
It is not going to hurt a child to miss out on meat once in a while. So what I did, and do is to allow my children to chose what part of the meal they will or won't eat. Anything with sauce is the meal for us that is hard. I have one that love's sauces, one that hates sauces, one that hate meat, and one that will eat everything. So we break the meal down and put the pasta in one bowl, sauce in another, and the meat in yet another and let the kids build their own. Salad is the same way.
Anyway, the rule in our house is if you don't eat what I fix then you can have a PBJ (peanut butter and jelly sandwich). I have one child that seamed to love on PBJ'S for a few years. Thank goodness he has outgrown it.

I introduce new things a little at a time. I ask that they take one bite (except spinach, which I learned the hard way not to make them try if they are very stuburn.)
I ask them why they do not want to try the food.
And when I cook meals I keep all of my children's likes and dislikes in mind. I try to put something on the table that they all can agree with. Cottage Cheese is one of those things. Fruit, or Salad is good.

Good luck, just wait until the teen years when they decide they are vegetarians.... those are the fun years.
B.
www.SouthSoundDoula.com

My daughter (10) is the same way, she doesn't eat anything but chicken, shrimp or steak when it comes to meat! And there is no way I can afford shrimp and steak all the time lol. I don't stress over it. I make sure she eats cheese and when she comes home from school, she has something with peanut butter. She also really likes bean burritoes, so that helps some. Mostly I don't stress it, I do make her at least eat 5 bites of something if she gives me the yuck face before even trying it first.

With my boys I have learned if they help prepare the meal they are more likely to eat it, my 3 year old loves to help me cook!

And then there is my god-daughter , she is known as skinny-minnie, doesn't like meat...unless its pork chops or bacon. She can eat almost 1/2 pound of bacon if we let her!

Children can only control a few things in their lives and what they eat is one of them, don't battle over it, you will only get a really big headache.

It seems as if it is something that many kids go through. My child wouldn't eat any meat at all. I could give him a piece of lasagne (he loves noodles) and he would eat the sauce, noodles and cheese, suck every last bit of everything off of the hamburger and spit that out. Up until age 2 he had never had chicken. He is an adoptee from Russia. We eat 80% chicken in our house so that was a problem. What he did eat were gobs of mashed potatoes. So I would cook his chicken separate from ours or cut a little bit off of ours and chop it up into a mince with one of those food choppers that you pound and mix it into the potatoes. Worked like a charm. Anything covered in potatoes went into his mouth.

He will now eat steak, chicken, ground beef, and most fish. We don't eat pork and he won't eat turkey.

Now my niece on the other hand is like your son. She will only eat chicken (a very specific brand and only cooked 1 way) and ground turkey (again a specific brand and only cooked one way). My SIL has tried nothing to correct it so she eats lots of cheese pizza, mac n' cheese and pbj.

Everyone has certain likes and dislikes. My youngest would not, will not eat red meat. He's done this since he was a toddler. Chicken, pork, white fish. If it's in a sauce or on a pizza, that's a different story, but he prefers cheese pizza. Oh and the chicken has to be nuggets or chicken breast strips. He won't drink milk, likes milkshakes, yogurt, cheese, cottage and ice cream. Lettuce is pure evil, but loves all other green vegetables. Grows his own tomatoes every summer/fall in patio pots. Do they out grow this, well he's 17 now, 6'5" and a 3 season athlete in school. If he throws a fit, won't eat it all, then find something that he will like and incorporate it in your menus. I refused to be a shortorder cook, we found meals taht everyone liked. Once he started cooking, his tastes expanded. Ownership makes a difference. It will be okay. He won't go hungry. Good multiple vitamin on the side.

My youngest will not eat meat, but he loves dairy and peanut butter! As long as he is getting some protien in then there is really no reason he has to eat meat. My husband and I both eat meat, and still offer it to my son at dinner. At lunch and breakfast I try to serve protiens I am more sure he will eat such as yogurt, eggs, or peanut butter (he loves it in a bowl to dip his apples in!).

Blessed be

My son and I don't eat meat at all...He is 3 now, and understands the reason why I don't eat it, he gives the same reasons more or less (my husband does eat it). My point...if your son refuses right now, there is plenty that he can eat instead for protein. Keep in mind, though, that it is likely that every parent has the same question as you - just with a different type of food, all kids refuse to eat some things!

For Protein, try tofu (straight from the package, stir-fried, cooked into things), milk and dairy products (i.e a container of yogurt has 5g, which is an adult serving - forgot the percentage, but obviously it is a higher percentage for a kid), soynut butter, peanut butter, edemame (soy beans)...basically soy and dairy, and eggs, and fish if he will eat it - salmon (particularly sushi) is my sons FAVORITE food!

my son is 4 he has doesn't eat meat. He is very bright he knew his ABC by 1 and a half, could read by 3. All on his own motivation. we had toys around,puzzles, games nd i read to him alot,but thats it. He is a little above average in hight,a is his dad and I so that seems normal. He is happy and social.... so in short I don't think you have any problem .... maybe a blessing in these economic times. YOu have goten alot of advice on sorces for protine, you will find that it isn't hard to get enough. Personaly I would limit his soy intake some children don't deal with it so well, behaviorly. But beans are great! nuts and dairy, whole grains, He will do just fine.

My 9 yr old has always been like that - he's soooo picky! Especially with meat! He has started asking to try things the past 2 months & it has totally helped! He'll grow out of it!

Both my older boys are going through this. They have been for awhile. M oldest loves steak but that is all we can get in him. I am a vegetarian so we only eat steak once in a awhile. I dont have a problem making chicken they just wont eat it. What i have resorted to doing is there is this sloppy joe mix made by Lloyds. You can get it in chicken pork beef you name it. It is mixed in this origianl bbq sauce. they eat it up. you warm it up and put it on a bun or biscuit...yum they love it. worth a shot. you also can make sure he gets his cheese intake. that has a lot of protein. they also have these frozen meals called ful tank. i am not sure how much protein is in them but it is worth looking into. they are sold at wholefoods and in the health food section of fred meyers. good luck!

My son has never liked meat. He will eat an occassion hot dog if they are all chicken or all beef. Sometimes a chicken nugget if it is smothered in ketchup. His protein comes from cheese on pizza, mac/cheese, egg whites (he doesn't like the yoke), egg noodles, protein infused pastas,PBJ sandwiches, things like this. I have talked with his doctor about this since he was very young -- his is now 14. The doc said as long as he gets 25-30 grams of protein a day (for his weight) - that should be fine. But I keep trying to introduce meats - by the way, my son is now 14. He's been like this since he started solid foods -- he says meat just does not taste good to him --- who knows why...I just try to watch labels for protein content.
This is a big challenge in our household for meals --- but he is healthy, happy and a very good student. So my advise to you is be creative -- it will be ok. Good luck!

I am sure it is just a phase, keep trying! My daughter has just declared that she hates hot dogs after eating them in the past with no complaints. I am just taking them off the menu for awhile until she forgets that she doesn't like them.
In the meantime if you are worried about protein you can add tofu to just about anything. My daughter loves it and when she was being picky about food and started getting skinny I just added it to everything, even mac and cheese.

One of my kids wouldn't eat meat unless it was easy to chew. He liked hot dogs, ground turkey like in meat loaf and especially bologna. I found an all natural chicken bologna which was healthier, and tried to have soft meat leftovers around so he could get enough protein, even if we were having steak or something that he had trouble with.

Have him help with dinner. It is amazing what pride in making your own meal will do. Really explain to him all the parts that are going in, and have him stir things, mix things, and help with all parts. We have kiddos who don't like meat, but now that we have them in the kitchen they seem more open to a lot mroe foods!

C.

My daughter was the same way when she was young. I worried about her too. She would eat chicken if it was in something like chicken and dumplings, but that was it. She preferred her veggies (and still does). She liked beans so I fixed that a lot and she ate a lot of peanut butter. She started this from the beginning, when I started feeding her solids. Some kids just don't like meat and stay that way through life. That's ok because I think they still get their proteins in the other foods they eat. She is now a beautiful, healthy 22 year old. I'd say, feed him what he will eat and don't worry about it too much. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches always are a good source and kids love them. Have you tried tofu? He might like that too. Good luck.

As someone who was raised vegetarian, I would say that meat really isn't that essential. The truth is that most Americans get far too much protein as it is. You might like to read the book "New Diet for America" to learn more about this. There was once a lion that refused to eat anything with blood in it, making her a vegetarian. You can read the story here: http://www.vegetarismus.ch/vegepet/tyke.htm

Here's what you can do in the mean time. There are a lot of "veggie meats" that you could use to substitute. Mixing grains and legumes (beans and rice, for example, or beans and tortillas--think tacos, or peanut butter with bread, etc) creates a near complete protein. If he'll eat milk and eggs and cheese, then serve them. Tofu is high in protein, but I wouldn't use it every day (we eat it 2-3 times a week usually).

How do you cook tofu? There are a lot of good recipes on the Internet, but I would say just experiment. One easy way I like to do it (and fairly quick, too) is to dice it and season it with Chinese 5th Spice and a little ginger (you don't need much of either, just a few dashes per serving of the 5th Spice and 1 or 2 of the ginger), add enough soy sauce to where you don't need to add salt, and let it sit while you chop some onion, saute, and then add the tofu with chopped mushrooms and cook until the mushrooms are done. This goes well with a savory main dish. We often eat it with hashbrowns or tater tots. Try using cumin, chili powder, and salt to season the tofu, and cook it with onion, tomato, bell pepper, and cilantro. Or crumble it with basil and oregano into spaghetti sauce instead of meat. Or use it instead of ricotta cheese. Or slice it about 1/4 or 1/3 inch thick, bread it (use soy sauce or something salty to make the breading stick) and pan fry or bake it to use in sandwiches. You'll need to add some salt, since tofu has no salt on its own. Mashed with a chicken-like seasoning (think powdered chicken broth), you could add mayo with diced onion and celery and make "egg" salad sandwiches. Okay, so some of those ideas aren't exactly substitutes for meat, but it should give you a few ideas on how to use tofu.

And don't worry. I grew up eating cooked cereal 5 times a week with toast, and we didn't eat a lot of protein, and I turned out fine. My brother did too. There are plenty of options now, more than there were when I was a kid, so you shouldn't have to worry.

I have one daughter who doesn't eat meat and one who is a meat lover. The oldest since she was a baby didn't like meat.
I just made sure she had other foods that supplement the nutrition she wasn't getting from meat. I make a vegetarian spaghetti sauce that she loves. I don't eat a lot of meat myself but my husband is a meat and potato man. I cook meat every night and she chooses not to eat it. She is healthy and hasn't had any problems health wise for it. I don't see a problem if you are able to get him to eat a well balanced meal minus the meat. At some point in time he may change his eating habits. Some foods my kids wouldn't eat as toddlers they eat now. I present a well balanced meal every day and sooner or later they start eating foods they thought they didn't like.
The one exception is my oldest girl who still doesn't eat most meat. Occasionally she will eat a chicken leg or even meat loaf but for the most part she still rather have veggies and staples. As long as she gets what her body needs I don't have a problem with it.

Will he eat beans...? They are so nutritious, as well as inexpensive! :) Blessings to you and yours!

Sometimes I think it's a matter of picking our battles. If you make too much of a fuss, he may dig in his heels even deeper. Sometimes it's just a stage and he'll snap out of it as he gets older.

In the meantime, you could always introduce protein shakes but only give him a small portion of it. Perhaps you could put peanut butter on crackers or make him a peanut butter and banana sandwich. Nuts are always a great source of protein as well.

Sometimes we are bewildered as to how our kids even grow when they are such picky eaters but somehow....it always works out.

S.
http://www.DeliveringWellnessToYou.com

My son doesn't like meat so I just don't give him much of it. He eats lots of other protein sources like beans, peanut butter, and he loves vegetables. I just try to remind myself that he has so little control over his life that he should get some choice in what he wants to eat and as a bonus meat is expensive and beans aren't!