My Son Won't Eat Meat - Corona,CA

My son only ate mac and cheese and apple sauce for the longest time. Until, one of my friends told me to let him dip his chicken tenders in sauce (ranch,ketchup etc,) after that he ate meat. As long as he had dippy sauce. Good luck.

My 3 yr old daughter had the same problem too! I found that just shredding the chicken/beef with my fingers and mixing it with rice n veggies works very well!

Hello Susie. I'm not sure what sort of help you are asking for exactly, but I felt compelled to write. Maybe it's just assurance, I don't know. Anyway, I don't blame him one bit. I have never liked meat, and probably never will. It might be a phase he is going through, but he might genuinely dislike it. I wouldn't worry about it. One thing I wanted to say though, is don't force him. My dad forced me while I was growing up, and I resented him for it, plus it made meal times something I really didn't look forward to. I don't like ggs, either, but I do love beans. If you are worried about his protein intake, cheese and peanut butter, as well as a lot of other things can give him the protein he needs. Not sure if he likes those things though.

Hi Susie:
Sometimes,toddlers will shy away from foods,simply because they've experienced indigestion or discomfort.At this age,they also like to think they have some say, as far as what goes into their bodies.They are beginning to communicate their likes and dislikes to you. They can get tired of certain foods. They're no different than you and I. They need variety,and want to experiment with those taste buds.Try some different foods on him.Red meat isn't all that great for him.He can get protein elsewhere. Try giving him more poultry and fish.Fruit cut up tiny. Make sure your not overwhelming him with big portions. Start him with tiny portions and let him request more. Sometimes they can feel defeated before they even begin."Holley Molley" "I can't eat all that" "No Way" "Take it away" Make him want more instead,and this will make for a better eater.I wish you and your growing son the best.

Don't worry. There are lots of things your son can eat. My three youngest have been raised vegan-no meat, eggs, or dairy. They are strong and healthy with healthy body weights.

There are a variety of beans. Try different ones in different ways (whole, in soups, mashed). You can be a little sneaky and mix them mashed with mashed potatoes.

Other ideas: lentils, sunflower seed butter (or peanut if there are no allergy issues), Quinoa (a high protein grain), peas, and hemp seeds. You can, if all else fails, buy a good protein powder. I recommend Naturade Soy Free-Veg formula. I do not recommend overdoing the soy protein because of the estrogen issues. The soy free formula is great in fruit smoothies.

IF he is eating dairy, it is high protein, but I would recommend adding a variety of other items. We don't need nearly as much protein as our society makes us believe. Do some research and find out exactly what the recommended amount of protein is for your son's age and weight is. Then you have a goal to reach for each day.

Best wishes.

I just wanted to let you know my son who is 2.5 also doesn't eat meat. I'm vegetarian (I do eat fish), but my husband is not, and has offered him meat, chicken, and fish on many occasions. Once in a while he'll eat some fish, but it's not often. He does eat eggs, beans (in a burrito with rice, cheese and avocado....maybe your son would like that? if you're not up for making them, Amy's organics makes a good one), peanut butter, lots of fruit and veggies. I also started him on a food-based chewable vitamin which he actually asks for every day. I did breastfeed for a long time (we just weaned a couple of weeks ago, so I knew he was also getting some protein that way). But my point is, he's very healthy and I wouldn't worry!! When my brother was little he would only eat "white food"...bagels, pasta, it was really limited and this went on for at least a year. He's a big strapping 26-year old personal trainer :)
One last idea if you're really concerned...you could try making him smoothies with fresh fruit and put a little protein powder in there :)

That's not so uncommon. Children often go through this phase. There are plenty of sources of protein aside from meat. He won't starve himself. Just make sure you are offering him good food and not junk. No candy, sweets, chips, soda. Fresh fruit and vegies. Peanut butter, soynut butter both have protein. He will most likely start eating meat on his own time. If he doesn't, good for him. He'll avoid a lot of hormones and antibiotics.

My 2 daughters and I are vegetarian. My husband is not. I am a family wellness coach and I will tell you what I know.

I know that there are MORE steroids and hormones in our meat TAHN our bodies can process.

I know that girls are experiencing puberty, as young as 8 in relation to the amount of meat they eat (hormones in the meat affects their own hormonal growth speed).

I know that medical studies prove that a vegetarian diet is easier to digest, provides a wider ranger of nutrients and imposes fewer burdens and impurities on the body.

I know vegetarians that are less susceptible to all the major diseases, and thus live longer, healthier, more productive lives.

I know that vegetarians have fewer physical complaints, less frequent visits to the doctor, fewer dental problems and smaller medical bills.

I know that their immune system is stronger, their bodies are purer, more refined and skin more beautiful.

I know this is what I want for my daughters.

All I ask BEFORE you force your sone to eat meat. Do the research.

There are many sources of protein out there, head to Trader Joe's or Whole foods and talk to them, they are pretty knowledgeable. They even do classes, you can even meet other families. Join www.MeetUp.com and find a vegetarian group in your area.

My family uses this for our main protein source : http://liveitdontdiet.isagenix.com/us/en/isaleanshake.dhtml and http://liveitdontdiet.isagenix.com/us/en/isapro.dhtml.
It is what we use and reccomend.

We all have our nutritional smoothie for breakfast and maybe one after school and we know we have the vitamins, minerals, nutrients and protein for the day.

Meat is over rated and over advertised. It is not like it was 50 years ago. Doyour reasearch and who knows, maybe your some will turn your family on to a healthier way to live.

B.
Family Wellness Coach

As long as he gets his protein from other sources, it's not a problem. None of my kids eat meat. They get their protein from cheeses, yogurt, peanut butter, etc. No worries.

Hi, Sue,

I've been a vegetarian for over 20 years. I'm almost a vegan (I rarely eat eggs or milk products.) I feel great now. My younger son, who is 18 months old, virtually never eats meat but seems very healthy and energetic. (He still drinks my milk, which I think provides him most of the nutrients he needs.) I recommend talking to a dietician or pediatrician about meatless ways to put protein in your son's diet.

Good luck,
Lynne E

Sue, have you tried vegetarian stuff yet? I am vegetarian, I do eat eggs and milk, my kids are also vegetarian, ages 3.5 and 21 months, and we eat refried beans, peanut butter and broccoli for our protein, you can also eat yogurt and cottage cheese for protein. Umm, morning star had veggie chicken nuggets and they are good and full of protein, I think. Try different things, also ask your ped if he can take a multi vitamin.

M.

Good Morning,

I am a vegetarian and soon to be vegan. Human beings do not need animal protein. Animal protein is harder for our kidneys to digest. You may want to purchase Prescription for Nutritional Healing from Amazon.com. You can use nuts and bean, legumes for protein, soy protein shakes,etc. You may also wan to have your chid tested for food allergies. If your child is allergic to certain foods, the body will not absorb, process and utilize what is being consumed. NAET.com is a group of allergists around the world who eliminate allergies. You may also want to purchase Say Goodbye To Illness by Dr. Nambudripad, who created NAET.

Be Well.

N.

Yeah, meat can be a tough one for some kids to eat for a while. I know lots of moms who thought they had budding vegetarians on their hands!
There are a lot of other sources of protein. Besides yogurt and cheeses and peanut butter, there are many whole grains that contain protein. One example is quinoa, which is actually a complete protein. It is very easy to make - just cook it up with some water, and then you can flavor it in a number of ways, or leave it plain, or add it to other foods. You can use it as a breakfast cereal, or as a side dish with dinner.
I used to make a variety of grains for my son and make my own baby food with them, but quinoa has been a long time favorite now. You can even add them to baked goods. I also sometimes add flax seed oil to his food as well, for the omegas and good fat.
Also, one thing that my pediatrician told me that made life so much easier, was to view his diet over the course of a week, rather than by day - meaning that I didn't need to make sure that every day he got every element, but rather to make sure that over the course of the week, it all balanced out. Kids will go through spurts of eating more or less, and liking/not liking different foods, so the idea of balancing over a week really gave me a little more peace of mind.
Good luck!

I hide pork finely chopped under a glob of apple sauce, and I squirt lemon juice on steak and my non-meat eating child usually eats it all up.
Good luck!

I've only been able to skim, but have seen some good advice. First, I'd definitely consult your pedi at your son's next wellness check. This way you'll find out if there are any serious concerns that need to be addressed. With my son, I continue to try different ways to make sure he gets the protein he needs. A few things that seem to be working are...
dipping sauces. My son loves organic ketchup and organic ranch dressing that I get at TJ's and Whole Foods. Just be prepared because they'll dip EVERYTHING in it. My attitude is if it's healthy and he likes it...fine. Also, try hummus. My son loves to dip chicken and vegetable crackers into the hummus. Edamame is great too. My son was shy at first, but he really started to like it when I would pop them into his mouth from the shell. Now he eats them like M&Ms. Miso and tofu are great too. Next time you go to a Japanese restaurant, experiment by giving your son your soup and the tofu. My son went crazy for this. Don't forget fish. This is very healthy, light, and a great source of protein. I hope this helps a little. Good luck!

let him choose. as long as he has stool, his body should be trusted more than a set of guidelines written for an "average" child.
V

I would not worry too much and do some research other sources of protein. I have a 3 year old son who is agile, strong and seems on track healthwise. He rarely eats meat and if any. We didn't push this..he just seems to not like it. He might eat a little sliced turkey but rarely. I was also worried but my husband is very pro non meat and all has gone well. One thing he can't get enough of is Avacado- 1 = more protein than a glass of cows milk.
I also recently read a book that had a unique perspective on good health without meat - it talked about the nations fear of removing meat from the diet and somehow depleting health..Not to comare a child to an animal but...it is interesting that Gorillas (needing quite a bit of protein to maintain their muscles/size) eat a 100% vegetarian diet. Good luck. I know it is hard as a mom when you feel like your child isn't eating like they should be! The only way my son will eat a vegetable is if we pretend they are "Tree Stars" like the dinosaurs in the movie Land before Time, eat. Yet he is growing and happy and healthy so I figure after enough time watching us eat healthy he will follow.

Dear Susie,
Our daughter is 2 and a half, and has only just started to eat meat. The texture seems to bother her. She usually spits it out as soon as it is in her mouth. Lately, she has started to eat sliced turkey from the deli, fish sticks, hot dogs, although usually just a bite or two. I know these might not be the best sources of meat, but this stage will pass. At least it's a start into the meat food group. Oh, and our daughter likes chicken or turkey-filled ravioli, too.
I think, in the grand scheme of things, kids will eventually come around. I think we all can remember not liking certain foods as kids, that we now love. ~T.

give him something to dip his meat in. my dughter who is 2 kinda stopped eating meat so i gave her a little catsup or bbq sauce or even ranch to dip it in. at this age children go throgh phases about what they want to eat. just keep offering it to him and feed him other protien rich foods.good luck!

Have you tried feeding fish? My son loves it steamed, sauteed, grilled, however! It's a great source of protein as well as Omega 3 fatty acids.-www.weelicious.com

He doesn't need it. Organic yogurt and keffir are good, also try organic peanut butter, almond butter, or tahini (sesame seed paste).

Hi Susie,

It could be a phase or it could be the way it is. You will just have to give it time. My little one has switched from chicken to beef, where she used to dislike beef. Just last night at the rodeo, I tried to feed her a turkey sandwich and she nibbled at it, then we got up and went to the restroom and she saw the grill and bought her a hot dog...she at the whole thing.

Try different types of beans. I buy a 4 bean salad that is kind of sweet from Costco. It is colorful and tasty. Otherwise, google protein foods and find something else that offers proteins.

Best of luck.

My daugher went through the same thing. Her doctor said not to worry, it's just a phase. She is now 3-1/2yrs and she still doesn't like meat/eggs. I can get her to eat chicken nuggets, beans, and nuts. Just make sure your son is eating plenty of fruits & veggies and dairy. Have you tried edemame beans? They're packed with soy protein. We use Shaklee products to supplement our daughter's health. They have really high quality vitamins. My daughter hasn't been sick in two years! They also have meal replacement shakes similar to Ensure, but better for your son's health. Shaklee has been around for over 50yrs and is the #1 natural nutrition company in the US. Their products are safe (over 80,000 quality control tests each year), effective, and environmentally-friendly. They have 60 scientists on staff so you can rest assured that these products will do what they say (clinical studies and patents). If you have any questions you can reach me at ###-###-#### or ____@____.com can also view the products at www.shaklee.net/greennutrition.