Almost 4 Year Old Still Refuses to Eat Meat.

There is a book by Jessica Seinfeld called Deceptively Delicious. There are many recipes that add protein and healthy options to food. We made the chocolate chip cookies with chick peas and they were good. I have three very picky children ages 3, 6, and 9 and they couldn't tell the difference. Good Luck!

I would like to share two things with you. By the age of 4, I was much like your daughter and just could not handle eating meat. The older I got the more it intensified and I think I knew on some level that meat was a dead animal and I did not want to eat it. There has been much research done since I was a child (born in 1956) and they now suggest that a certain type of personality in a gifted child relates to early vegetarianism. I am going to attach the link for you to read about children who express at an early age that they do not want to eat meat.

http://www.leb.k12.in.us/pdf/district/Curriculum/highabil...

Now, the other comment I have is that when I was working as a nurse at Children's Hospital there was a girl, age 15, who had expressed for years she did not want to eat meat and her father in particular demanded she eat what was cooked for dinner. She often threw up. Finally, when she became quite ill she was admitted to Children's Hospital and she was diagnosed with Celiac Disease which prevents the digestion of meat.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/526813-diseases-that-pr...

All the best,

Kelsey

My almost 4 year old son doesn't like meat either. He will eat cheeseburgers and breakfast sausage but turns his nose up at any other type of meat. In addition to cheese, eggs and beans for protein we give him chocolate milk to drink. However, we don't use chocolate syrup, we use carnation instant breakfast. He is happy that it tastes like chocolate and we are happy because of the vitamins and protein that is in it. Good luck!

I have a 4-yr old that has always had an issue w/ the texture of meat...we say she was born vegetarian. Well, over the last year, I have also gone vegetarian (technically, we are pectatarian meaning we eat dairy, eggs, and fish) due to concerns w/the way we raise meat (antibiotics, hormones, etc) and organic is just too expensive. I have found that getting enough protein is NOT an issue. As a society we tend to consume way more protein than we need. Various things I've read indicate that most people need 45-55 g of protein per day but most Americans are consuming in excess of 75 g. I have struggled w/getting enough iron for both me and my daughter. Strangely, my son doesn't seem to have an issue w/iron even though he's eating what we are (he does eat a lot more fortified cereal though) I still haven't gotten anyone to eat lots of dark green veggies other than froz. spinach mixed into all kinds of things. Anyway, because we eat dairy and eggs, the B vitamins really haven't been an issue. I take a multivitamin w/iron everyday. And the kids get Flinstones w/iron about 3 times per week. This is mostly to make sure we're good on iron but it's good insurance on the B vitamins too.
Anyway, to the heart of your question...replace some or all of meat w/ black beans in many recipes. Make sure you're serving whole grains for most of your grains as they are much higher in protein. Good luck on vegetarian cookbooks - most are not going to make the rest of the family happy (presuming they are used to midwestern meat and potatoes type diets). the Jumbo kids vegetarian has been okay for us. If you find a good one that would make a man from S. Dakota happy...let me know!
Staples in our house: spaghetti (meatballs on the side for my husband); quesadillas (black bean or refried bean for us, chicken for my husband); burritos (I keep a stock of browned ground beef in the frig so I can put meat in one or two for my husband); fish; lasgna - 1/2 vegetarian, 1/2 meat; split pea soup (the kids LOVE this); lentils or white beans in pretty much any soup; tacos - refried or black bean for us and again we keep pre-seasoned beef in the freezer for my husband; omelets (kids love breakfast for dinner); sometimes I'll throw a hard boiled egg or a cheese stick on the plate if I think we need some protein. Occasionally I'll do a "meat" dish in which I use Morningstar or Boca. Strangely my daughter does not object to the texture of the fake meats even though I think they're pretty similar.
Its been a journey getting away from MEAT (centerstage) w/ a couple of sides and I still feel like we eat some strange meals and I'm still figuring it out. But the kids are happy, healthy, and thriving and I feel so much better that I no longer care if anyone thinks we are eating strange meals (including my dear husband!).
Good luck!

My daughter is the same way, with the exception of chicken nuggets, hot dogs, and pepperoni. But that's all she'll eat meat-wise, and since those choices aren't super healthy, I try not to give them to her every day. I buy vegetarian hotdogs and vegetarian corn dogs, and she doesn't seem to notice a difference, so that helps. She is really picky about all foods (she will gag, just like your daughter!), and we NEVER force her to eat, but I refuse to make her a separate meal, so I just modify what we are eating. Mainly, I just take the meat out of her portion of dinner--she gets spaghetti with butter and cheese (she won't eat red sauce anyway), or quesadillas instead of tacos, etc. She eats a lot of other protien during the day, like yogurt and eggs at breakfast time, and cheese for snacks, sometimes peanut butter on her waffles, things like that. I have been told by our doctor that since she is growing fine, I shouldn't worry about her diet too much--I should be more aware of how she eats for the week, rather than each day. Your daughter may grow up to be a vegetarian; there's no harm in that! Just make sure she gets enough dairy protiens, beans, peanuts/other nuts(if she tolerates them), and see if she likes any of the soy products out there--we really like the Morningstar Farms soy corn dogs and breakfast links, and Smart Dogs soy hot dogs. I personally like Boca Burgers, but no one else in my house will eat them...

Hi! I have a 22 mo. old that doesn't care for meat either. Or, if I find something that he will eat, it only lasts for a little while and then he rejects it.

So here are my suggestions:

- Smoothies. You can get high-quality whey protein concentrate (16g per serving), mix with 1 cup of milk and your choice of fruit (blueberries and bananas are a big hit in my house), 1-2 Tbsp. peanut butter (assuming no allergies and usually only w/the bananas), and a little honey. Blend well and you've got a protein-packed drink.

- Tofu. Because it doesn't carry any flavor of it's own, it can be added to anything: chili, soup, salads, casseroles, stir fry, etc. There are a ton of websites out there with recipes and tips on how to use it. You wouldn't have to make two meals either - just added whatever protein at the end on the plate. My son loves it just sauteed in a *little* oil with some garlic powder and salt.

- Soy products. My son like the "chicken" nuggets and corn dogs. Probably mostly because he can dip them, but it's still a protein source. Experiment with different brands and textures to see what she likes the best.

- Eggs. Now my son won't touch an egg, but it's a great protein source as long as you get the yolk in there too. Since your daughter is older, have her help you make eggs several different ways and then have a taste-testing. She can decide which way she likes them the best.

- Milk. My pediatrician recommended using chocolate or strawberry milk to at least get milk in him. I buy ones with lower sugar and no added artificial sweeteners.

- Nut butters. Try peanut, almond or go to a health food store and have your daughter make her own (Fred Meyer and Winco have them).

I don't know of any good way to hide meat in food - especially the ones that are high in the B-vitamins. If you can't get any red or white meat in her, make sure you look at a vitamin supplement. There is one B that you can't get in high enough quantities from anywhere except meat.

Good luck!

It could be a texture problem. I have a niece who has a problem with the texture of meats, so it is hard for her to eat them. If so, she will probably, but slowly, grow out of it. My niece has made some progress. My daughter also doesn't eat alot of meat.

Keep in mind, there are other foods that are high in protien, and other nutrients. Vegetarians go along time without meat, they have many other sources for thier protien.

Most dairy products also have a good aount of protien in them,especially cheese. Soy products also, soy milk, especially the chocolate, is actually pretty good. Peanut butter and other nut butters are an excellent source of protien. Any nuts are also high in protien. Don't forget eggs or beans/legumes. Veggie meats, I've never tastedthem, but they might be good.

My daughter did the same thing to a degree. She still isn't fond of steak, pork chops or anything she has to take time to chew for a while. For her I think it was the texture and cheweyness of the meat. We rarely eat red meat at all actually.
She will eat chicken fingers, chicken enchildads, chicken with bbq sauce and we do a lot of ground turkey like spaghetti. She will eat a cheeseburger and I buy turkey hot dogs and she will eat those too. She has slowly started adding more types of meat she is willing to eat. Mainly anything with ketchup and bbq sauce is a winner!! She will eat salmon and loves shrimp. Have you tried fish? I wouldn't worry about "red meat" as much as she does need meat for the iron and protein it offers. It may and probably is a phase and right now I wouldn't worry too much. Maybe ask your Pediatrician about protein shakes for her. Making it a big deal will just make her more adament not to like it as she is getting your goat not eating it.
I 100% agree about not cooking seperate things, serve what you serve then she can eat it or not. Then nothing else later if she doesn't eat!!! Period. I would talk to her about the importance of eating meat, why it is good for her body. But let it be her choice and see if you can supplement the iron and protein in another way until she comes around. I find it hard to believe she will continue her adversion, but if she does then maybe up her intake of beans and other things that vegetarians eat.

You might take a look at some vegetarian cook books and add some of the main dishes from those into the menu mix, and get some hints from them on how to balance her diet. If the eats dairy and eggs that makes it easier since they have a lot of what she needs. There are cook books for picky eating kids but they may be pushing veggies, you might check some to see if there are meat substitues in there too.

Personally I like to have some of the Gardenburger substitues, they don't pretend to be meat too much. Boca and Morningstar Farms also have some substitues but Boca is supposed to be more meatlike according to people who don't really want vegetarian just healthier options. The textures might appeal to your daughter and get her used to something that looks like what everyone else has.

Good luck. Maybe the pediatrician will have some sugestions, that is where they got ideas for my grand-daughter's diet.