If your kids didn't eat meat

Or did they? I'm getting a little frustrated with the fact that they never eat meat. They will eat fish sticks and that's it. I'm not worried about their nutrition -- they get plenty of protein from eggs & dairy -- but it's just annoying because it restricts the number of dishes that all 4 of us can eat together.

I know it is common for toddlers not to eat meat (and to be finicky in general), but just wondering when your kids became more willing?

 

This is still an issue for us with DS. He hardly eats any meat. He will eat chicken, but not always. And an occasional hot dog. He used to eat everything we gave him including pork, turkey and beef. But at some point he decided to hate all food.

 

Have you tried Chicken Nuggets? My guys are kudos for those. They also go crazy over Sausage patties.

 

Mine are so off and on about meat. They also occasionally eat fish sticks and sometimes hamburger and hot dogs when offered. I personally find hot dogs gross, so they only eat those every once in a while. Sometimes they eat chicken tenders, but that's hit and miss. They will not eat non-fish stick fish or regular grilled or baked chicken. I just serve the meal and keep dishing out the meat and hope they eat it. If they don't eat it, they have their cup of milk later. I try not to worry about what they are eating, it's made meals less stressful.

 

My girls eat meat, but only if it is served the way they like it!

They will eat chicken if it's cooked on the grill, or if I cook it in the crockpot so it's nice and soft and easy to pull apart. They will also occasionally eat it if it's mixed in with something else, like in a hot dish. And hot dishes work well for dinner for all of us, because if they don't like something in it they will just eat around it.

Sometimes they will take a few bites of pork, but again, only if it's cooked in the crockpot so it's nice and soft.

They don't really care for hamburger, either in patty form or loose, like in meatloaf.

Bella eats hot dogs, but Josie doesn't really like them.

 

QUOTE(Snittens @ May 24 2007, 12:36 AM) [snapback]266596[/snapback]
I try not to worry about what they are eating, it's made meals less stressful.
I'm trying to subscribe to this philosophy too -- and actually I don't really worry about what they consume (or don't) -- it's more that I hate to offer something and have it be wasted. And it's frustrating never knowing whether to expect them to eat something or not (although with meat I guess there is not much suspense!)

We also seem to do pretty well with hot dishes (although where I come from, we call them "casseroles" -- "hot dish" always makes me think of Prairie Home Companion! ) They like things that are mushy and preferably contain cheese. They take after their mom.

 

It's not all about protein- make sure your kiddos are getting enough iron. Iron is mostly found in meat- some starch sources and fortified cereals- especially baby cereal and fortified baby yogurt. My girls pretty much refuse meat- we have hypersensitivity sensory eating issues. It's been a really rough road here. Since our multivitamin that they have to take does not contain iron- I have to make sure they are getting it from other sources. I TOTALLY understand the frustration with not being able to prepare certain dishes- mine have it further than just meat- eggs are out, texture stuff is a no go,- eats odd and totally unpredictable.

 

Mine don't eat meat either. The occassional fish stick or chicken nugget, but even then not usually a whole piece. It does make food options limited. They won't usually touch casseroles either. Sometimes they'll eat the small pieces of meat on Totinos pizzas, but if they're very big they pick that off too.

Marcy

 

No meat here either... other than chicken nuggets and hot dogs... and even those are hit-or-miss. I've tried a variety of different options... meatballs, hamburgers, sausage, crockpot chicken, but none have gone over very well. Our pedi says to just keep trying. I can't wait until they realize that I'm not trying to poison them and that these things actually taste good Of course, they refuse ice cream too... strange kids!!

 

QUOTE(kaysyd @ May 24 2007, 02:12 AM) [snapback]266711[/snapback]
It's not all about protein- make sure your kiddos are getting enough iron. Iron is mostly found in meat- some starch sources and fortified cereals- especially baby cereal and fortified baby yogurt.

Thanks for mentioning this -- I hadn't really thought about it. I just looked up a list of good sources of iron and I think they are probably getting enough, especially at breakfast. They will eat 2-3 eggs each, and this morning they each ate enough Cream of Wheat to equal a 1-oz serving of red meat! They do OK with beans too. I'll keep an eye on it more, though -- thanks.

Catherine, mine refuse ice cream too. I think the coldness bothers them.

 

QUOTE(Minette @ May 23 2007, 09:42 PM) [snapback]266677[/snapback]
I'm trying to subscribe to this philosophy too -- and actually I don't really worry about what they consume (or don't) -- it's more that I hate to offer something and have it be wasted. And it's frustrating never knowing whether to expect them to eat something or not (although with meat I guess there is not much suspense!)

We also seem to do pretty well with hot dishes (although where I come from, we call them "casseroles" -- "hot dish" always makes me think of Prairie Home Companion! ) They like things that are mushy and preferably contain cheese. They take after their mom.


Me too. I never know if they are actually going to eat something or not. It's hit and miss with vegetables too. Ainsley is actually refusing mashed potatoes now. Who doesn't like mashed potatoes?
Mine tend to like casseroles too, but with it getting hot out, we're not really making them for dinner. My husband makes a killer homemade mac and cheese that the kids love and I can sometimes mix some veggies in it.

 

QUOTE(Snittens @ May 24 2007, 11:43 AM) [snapback]267319[/snapback]
Ainsley is actually refusing mashed potatoes now. Who doesn't like mashed potatoes?


Mine haven't touched mashed potatoes since about 10 months. Crazy kids!!

 

QUOTE(Snittens @ May 24 2007, 12:36 AM) [snapback]266596[/snapback]
Mine are so off and on about meat. They also occasionally eat fish sticks and sometimes hamburger and hot dogs when offered. I personally find hot dogs gross, so they only eat those every once in a while. Sometimes they eat chicken tenders, but that's hit and miss. They will not eat non-fish stick fish or regular grilled or baked chicken. I just serve the meal and keep dishing out the meat and hope they eat it. If they don't eat it, they have their cup of milk later. I try not to worry about what they are eating, it's made meals less stressful.



I am repulsed by hotdogs! We used to give the girls organic soy dogs (look just like hot dogs), and apparently Lola had a stomach bug and threw it up all over the place, this was right before the girls' first birthday. Ever since then I cannot bring myself to feed them hotdogs.

I buy a lot of morningstar "meat" products (they are actually meatless...). The girls LOVE the "chiken" tenders dipped in bbq sauce.

I also made a homemade pasta salad not too long ago. The girls also loved that, and it's nice because you can add whatever you want to it, including meats-veggies. In mine I put carrots, broccoli, cheese, onions, olives and salami with italian dressing. You can use whole wheat noodles for an even healthier spin on it.

Good luck!