Toddler Will Not Eat Meat Products

I wouldn't worry about it just yet. My oldest Now 14 did the same thing the only kinda meat I could get her to eat was McD's chicken nuggets. I just made sure she took her vitamins & other things in the protein group. As far as eggs have you tried putting ketchup on them or mix them in with something else she is eating. Not sure how old a toddler we are talking but as long as you don't feed her it by the spoonfuls but maybe just lightly spead on bread peanut butter will not hurt her my daughter was eating it when she was 1yr it was one of the replacements I gave her (just not the chunky kind get smooth)

Pinto beans (add in sour cream and/shredded cheese), refried beans (with or without toppings) and of course cheese are all easy kid foods for protein. My daughter has tended toward vegetarian from early on. Two weird things she will always eat: crispy bacon and spam that has been well-fried. She used to eat vienna sausages sometimes, too. Lately her favorite is Ranch Style BLACK beans (not the regular Ranch Style beans). She LOVES those any time day or night. Also, sneaking eggs into fried rice, pasta dishes, etc., is sometimes possible if you pay attention to breaking them up in the dish so they aren't so visible. French toast is a good egg dish that kids will often eat, too. We use Agave syrup or healthy preserves and NO powdered sugar to sweeten the dish. And quinoa! My girl is a huge fan of it. Can't get enough. It is a very very special food nutrient-wise. Look it up.

My son did not like meat at all until he was 5. The dr had no problem with that because he would eat tons of vegetables. So we would go out to an all you can eat and he would take one of the adult plates and load it up. He would then clean the plate off and all the adults around would comment on what a good eater he was.....

Now he eats meats and veggies as well although, some of the veggies he no longer cares for. (like green peppers and onions)

I raised my (very healthy) 16 year old as a vegetarian, so do not fret too much if your daughter won't eat meat right now. There are plenty of ways to get them the protein (or the amino acids in protein needed by the body), including dairy products, soy products and beans & legumes. I would recommend checking into the vegetariam cookbooks available for feeding children. In the meantime, there are ways to sneak meat into foods, such as adding a can of tuna to mac & cheese adding finely cooked ground beef or turkey to spaghetti sauce. Eggs can be baked into food in ways that they are unrecognizable. Hope this helps a little.

I know I'm swimming upstream here but let me tell you that the meat and eggs thing is not a big deal. If she is eating other fruits and veggies, she will get plenty of proper nutrition. Try to include broccoli, beans, spinach, or various nutbutters like almond or coconut butter too. Also, various blends of brown rices or other whole grains are great too. These proteins are better assimilated by the body. My 3 year old doesn't care for meat at all but will do chicken nuggets from McDonalds or Carls Jr. She is perfectly healthy and is well rounded for her age with her diet. I have never liked eating meat that much and I strictly nurse my 4 year old son. He is 4 months old and a big chunk of healthy boy. I don't have a problem with eating meat other than the fact that I just don't like it.

I had the same issue with my son (and still do!). Fortunately I was able to get him to eat this ravioli from Costco with spinach in it to give him some iron. It has pasta and cheese in it too, which most little ones like. Will she eat pasta with sauce that has had meat in it (even if the meat is taken out just to introduce the flavor)? My son is still picky and now will only eat bacon, chicken nuggets, cheeseburgers and the occasional piece of steak, but he LOVES peanut butter and jelly. We just had to keep trying until he got to where he is now. It's so frustrating but that's all you can do- keep trying. Good luck!

I would suggest beans - black bean and cheese quesadillas are a staple in our house. Would almond butter work in place of the peanut butter? Dairy has protein - how about smoothies with yogurt, banana and frozen berries? Also, it is good to be aware that your daughter is probably just fine, and will likely grow out of this. If her pediatrician is saying she is developing well, then it may reduce your stress level by making sure that what she DOES eat is very high quality food. That way, you know that everything she is eating is good food, and it may be easier to trust that she will get what she needs to get. Good luck!

Our son ate peanut butter (we did not have a nut allergy in the family though) at age 1. We just had to spread it really thin. He did fine with it.

Also, any beans. Black beans inside a cheese quesadilla would be good!

O soy yogurts are yummy and a good source of protien. Both of my kids love em.

H.,

Certain protein shakes with amino acids plus a good nutritional supplement should get her through her picky phase well nourished. You are welcome to read more at this website if you are interested.

www.shaklee.net/patriciamorrison/prodNutChildChallenge

With thanks,
P.

I have five children (two are grown and three are still at home, the youngest is 11). I had this problem with two of mine when they were toddlers. I think they get used to the sweetness of milk/formula. I simply mixed in sweet potatoes or whatever was their favorite vegetable at a ratio of about 1 part meat to 2 parts vegetable. Give it a try.

When my hubby was little, my MIL would tell her kids (when they didn't like something) that maybe they weren't big enough to like it yet. She would make them try a little bit just to see if they were "old enough" and if not, she didn't push the issue. My hubby says that he still remembers sitting down to dinner hoping that he was old enough to like what was on the menu! Once your little one is old enough to understand this method, you might give it a try. It has worked very well for us, too.

why cant she have peantu butter. all my kids and grandsons have had peanut butter since they started eating solids. but you may want to try lentilsand other types of legumes.you can also "hide " eggs in puddings and other foods. howabout omelets

Our toddler doesn't eat meat willingly either, and only eats eggs if they're scrambled. We've had really good luck with plain yogurt - and you can mix fruit into it if you need to. You could also try other dairy - cottage cheese or hard cheese.

Why no peanut butter till 2? We just waited till 1 year of age.

Good luck!!

My three girls will not eat meat, and I've worried about it. But dairy products have a lot of protein, and luckily my girls love beans. They also get nutrients from eggs that I use in recipes (like make your own pancakes instead of using a "water only" mix). It really all balances out and they get what they need.

I love bean salad and my daughter loved it at that age too. I mix several types of beans, for example, kidney, chickpeas & green beans, some olive oil & balsamic vinegar, crushed garlic, chopped red onion & a little salt. Mix it all together & let it marinate in the fridge. It's great on salads, and my daughter would always just eat them right off of her tray.

Have you tried beans and other legumes? They are a great source of protein. Good luck.

Hi H. -

You can add Spirulina (blue-green algae) to her diet. It is very high in vitamins, minerals and protein (65-70%) that is easily assimilated by the body.

You should be able to find it at local health food or herb stores.

Blessings,

M. M. Ernsberger
Certified Clinical Herbalist

Just an egg idea... my son (who just over 2) will only eat eggs one way, we call it "surprise eggs" my grandma made it.
You take a slice of bread (we like it better with wheat bread) butter one side, put it bettered side down in a pan on medium heat, then crack an egg right on top of the bread, use a knife to break the yolk and spread it around on the bread, let it cook for a little while on each side until the egg is cooked through and the bread is toasted to your liking. Some people also like to cut a small hole in the middle of the bread and crack the egg in that to kind of trap the yolk. Good luck! My son was the same way for a couple months, and now he is much better, keep trying, oh, have you tried cassaroles? My son would do chicken in a cassarole if it was shreaded.

My toddlers all went through a time like this. Keep offering a bit anyway, one day she will suddenly surprise you. In the meantime (it may take months), beans are a great source of protein. Even if you are not a big fan of pintos or lentils, she may love them. You can offer beans straight from the can (rinsed to reduce sodium), cook your own, or make lots of chili. There are some great ways to serve beans and legumes.

Hi H.,

Yes you are right...toddlers are selective:) You are being a good mom for wanting her to be healthy. Try not to stress too much about it though. Her tastes could change any day!
You can continue to just offer a few pieces of protien at every meal...eventually she might try it. I have heard alot of great responses about the book "DECEPTIVELY DELICIOUS" by Jessica Seinfeld. She has tons of recipes of sneaking in good for you foods in meals and children dont' know they are eating them.
You also might have a natural vegetarian on your hands. Don't force the issue...I'm not a vegetarian and I know meat products offer alot of really great nutrients for our bodies, but you can also try legumes and dark veggies. Also try protien powder in a fruit smoothie. If she can't eat peanut butter, try almond butter. It's way more expensive but it is healthier and packed with great nutrients. Check out vegetarian websites or books for more info.

Much good energy to you and your family.

In peace,
A.
mom of 4

Hi H.!

My son didn't like meat either. He was about 18 months when he started eating some meat and then it was only hot dogs. I just kept trying different meats every now and then and eventually he got into it.

You can try to give your daughter beans. I have a 14 month old who LOVES refried beans, black beans and kidney beans. Great source of protien and small enough for them to feed themselves.

Good Luck!

Hi H., I understand your concern about your child not wanting to eat meat.and in many cases, that is not really a bad thing. If you are willing to do some research, There are many foods that your child can eat that has plenty of protein. For example: , nuts and seeds and in raw fruits and veggies. Here in The United States, we concentrate on having enough protein.I would like to encourage you to talk to a nutritionist or travel to a nearby health food store and do your own research on protein. They have many books on vegetarianism and how you and your family can learn and benefit from diversifying your diet. My family drinks alot of rice milk. We do not eat alot of soy butr we have found foods that suffice by doing our own research. We eat ALOT of fruits and veggies too. I wish you the best of luck with your ray of Sunshine!
A.

How old is she?? Has she had eggs? I think they are a good source of iron and protein. My 17 month old loves eggs! We usually just scramble them for her and she just loves them. Have you tried chicken nuggets? My little girl is also a very picky eater and usually loves them. I would just keep offering the meat, possibly try dipping it in barbecue sauce. I know someone who had a little one who would not eat meat but if she put a little bbq sauce on it, the child would eat it.

Hi H.,
I have a 9 year old and she is a self proclaimed vegetarian we are meat eaters but she is not.Like your daughter it started out by her not caring for the texture then as she got older its more about the animals. Go to your local GNC store and ask for a supplement for kids that can replace the protein in your child's diet. They can help you choose one that will work best your child. Also there is a ton of vegetarian cook books out there for kids and they will give you all kinds of choices in protein replacements and they are fun to cook together... Good Luck

My son had the same problem, the only meat he would eat is chicken, he is now almost 4 and eats all kind of meats, so it is just a stage that she will grow out of, try sausage,do chicken,try shrimp,the first time my son had shrimp he loved it, he ate all his dads at the resteraunt, that was the first time he had it.

Have you tried putting sauces or gravy on the meat? That's what I did with my first (who also wouldn't eat meat) as soon as I put some marinara over her chopped chicken she gobbled it up. The only draw back I found to this was that it was pretty messy, but at least she was eating :)

I have the same problem with my 15mo son. He won't eat hardly any meat. He liked lunch meat for a little while but now he won't eat that either. He can't stand chicken in any form but will usually eat spaghetti. He doesn't really care for beans either. He's milk and egg protein intolerant so those are out. Soy gives him diarrhea. And he can't have peanuts, tree nuts, or shellfish until at least 3. I make sure he has enough iron in the food he does eat but I worry about the protein as well. You've gotten some great suggestions.

there is only one type of nutrient that you get from meat that you don't get anywhere else. be sure that she is getting a good variety of fruits and veggies, with the emphasis on green leafy veggies and she'll be fine! milk is a good source of protein, as is hemp milk. (soy is okay in moderation- but raises estrogen levels in excess)