Julia wont eat meat anymore....

Julia use to eat meat a few months ago, but now she doesn't want anything to do with it, she spits it out or drops it off the table. I know she needs the protein, but what can I give her to substitute for it?

Is my DD going to be a vegitarian? or will it change again as she gets older?

TIA!

Re: Julia wont eat meat anymore....

Does she like eggs? cheese? beans?
Fish? How about veggie burgers and all the other veggie stuff? Milk also has a good amount of protein.
I'm sure it will change and she won't end up being a vegetarian, but you never know...

Re: Julia wont eat meat anymore....

Message edited 2/3/2007 10:08:55 AM.

Re: Julia wont eat meat anymore....

We went through this a while ago too...
I basically tried to substitute and give her eggs, cottage cheese, beans, etc. I also tried different things with the meat and made it in different sauces so that it wouldn't be too dry. She now loves chicken parm and meatballs in sauce.
Good luck!!!

Re: Julia wont eat meat anymore....

Posted by MelTodd604

Posted by ckdk

Does she like eggs? cheese? beans?
Fish? How about veggie burgers and all the other veggie stuff? Milk also has a good amount of protein.
I'm sure it will change and she won't end up being a vegetarian, but you never know...

She does eat eggs but not that often, she still gets her milk in the morning and night before bed. I have tired the veggie burgers but if it looks like meat she will turn her head and not want it.

I just feel bad cause my family is telling me how important meat is for her and that she has to have some of it, so I just dont know what to do.


ETA: She LOVES cheese but I think shes lactose intolerant because after she eats it she has bad diarreah and gets a rash on her tushy.

Re: Julia wont eat meat anymore....

I have the same problem. I hope its just a phase. Kevin will eat some meats (chicken, Teriyaki meatloaf, hot dogs) but others he just spits out or throws on the floor.

He won't eat pasta with meat sauce (or any sauce for that matter).

Try eggs, beans or maybe a little sauteed firm tofu for protein.

Here's an article on protein & toddlers (its a little old but still useful).

How much protein does your toddler need?
Pediatrics for Parents, April, 1995 by Linda D. Piette

Toddlers are picky eaters. Conscientious parents trying to provide a well balanced diet are likely to be frustrated. A two year old easily rejects food. Nutrition, culinary merits or other worthwhile food attributes usually do not matter.

Often meats are on the top of the reject list. Tougher in texture than other foods, meats are more difficult to chomp through and require extra chewing. This also means they require more time to eat. Toddlers prefer foods they can eat quickly. They are too curious about the world around them to have the patience for extra chewing and this is one of the reasons meats are less popular at this age.

Nutritionally speaking, meats are best known for providing protein. Protein is in every cell of the human body: from the hairs on our head to our toe nails, and everything in-between. It is a building block. For good health, protein is something everyone needs, not just bodybuilders.

For adults, protein is used for repairs. But for children it has another important function, growth. To grow bigger bodies, children need protein. Without the proper amount, children do not grow to normal height. There are other causes for children not growing tall, but in terms of diet, protein deficiency is the most common.

The good news is that surprisingly small amounts of meat, milk or cheese, give children the protein they need. Milk, a high protein food, is popular with most toddlers. Drinking two 8 ounce glasses a day gives average two year olds all the protein they need. Since yogurt is made from milk, it provides an equal amount of protein. This is not true of all foods made from milk (such as ice cream), so it is best to check the nutrition label.

Parents who want to know exactly how much protein their child needs can review the recommendations of The National Academy of Sciences. These apply to most children.

The following foods provide 8 grams of protein:

8 oz. of milk or yogurt, 1 oz. of cheese 1 oz. chicken, beef or fish, 1/2 cup red beans, 2 tablespoons peanut butter.

Many concerned parents find that when they compare their child's daily protein intake with the recommended amounts, they discover their children are taking in enough of this valuable nutrient. Those that find a problem are vise to double check figures before changing their cooking or eating style. Math mistakes are more common than protein deficiencies!

If the numbers prove too low, "extra-high" protein foods are helpful. Eggs, Parmesan cheese, peanut butter, dry milk powder, and wheat germ provide 2 to 4 grams of protein in every tablespoon. These are often added to other foods to boost protein. Small amounts are less likely to be rejected by a finicky toddler. For a child with low fluid intake or risk of renal condition, a doctor should be consulted before adding these foods.

Typical protein needs for children:

1 to 3 year-old 16 grams 4 to 6 year-old 24 grams 7to 10 year-old 28 grains

A child's protein needs are based on body size as well as age. The average 24-month-old weighs 26 to 28 pounds and needs 16 grams of protein each day. Children that are significantly bigger or smaller than others their age need more or less protein than the standard recommendation.

There are some children who are at risk for not getting the needed amount of protein. Studies of vegetarian children show mixed results, many have all the protein they need while others do not. Risk of inadequate protein for these children depends on the age of the child and the degree of food restriction. Generally the younger the child and the stricter the diet the greater the nutritional risk. Strict vegetarian diets that do not allow milk are not recommended for children under three. There are also medical conditions where a child needs more or less protein than the standard recommendations.

The best news of all for parents with toddlers is that national food studies show that most Americans eat plenty of protein. Popular foods like hamburgers, peanut butter, cheese, and milk often add up to provide four times the amount of protein actually needed. This is true for adults and children, even finicky toddlers.

Linda Piette is a pediatric nutritionist working in the Professional Center Early Intervention Program in Andover, MA and teaching at Fisher College, Malden Campus, MA. She is a co-auther of "Nutrition Resource Guide for Children with Special Needs' and consults with many child-oriented programs. She is a member of the American Dietetic Association and Dietitians in Pediatric Practice.

COPYRIGHT 1995 Pediatrics for Parents, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group

Re: Julia wont eat meat anymore....

Re: Julia wont eat meat anymore....

Does she like grilled chees sandwiches?

You should see what I hide in his "grilled cheese sandwiches"!

Any meat from dinner we make I grind up and put about a tablespoon in the sandwich. Then I cover it with cheese and grill it in the panini maker till it is flat. He has no clue!

Re: Julia wont eat meat anymore....

Re: Julia wont eat meat anymore....

Will she eat chicken nuggets? We get the Purdue Dino Nuggets (all white meat chicken) and he loves them. And he is a picky eater.

We also get some chicken in him with Campbell's soups - chicken and stars, chicken noodle, etc. We water it down so the sodium isn't too high. We've even resorted to Spaghetti-Os, and we cut the little meat pieces really small so he doesn't see them.

Jesse likes to look at books or play with toys while he eats so when he refuses his food, I ask him if he wants to play with that toy or book, he says yes, and I tell him he has to eat if he wants to play/read. I know - kind of mean - but it works. He eats a lot more this way without a fuss.

Re: Julia wont eat meat anymore....

I have always been worried about this too but according to that article we're doing OK on the protien front. She does drink 16 oz of milk a day and does have cheese every day. Plus if you look at the labels, a lot of other foods that she eat have some protien in them.

Emily has NEVER eaten protien. I joke with DH that she is a self-made vegitarian. She does, however, love tofu. I've gotten tofu a few times to give her. I think it just has a smoother texture and that is why she prefers it. She still only has 4 teeth and no side teeth so I think meat is hard for her to eat.

Can Julia be getting some teeth in, and that's why she's refusing it?

Good luck!

Re: Julia wont eat meat anymore....

I'm sure it will change as she gets older. Miranda isn't a big meat eater either.
What about eggs and cheese?
Miranda loves beans so we give her chili, taco soup, beans soups, lentil soups, etc.

Message edited 2/3/2007 2:48:51 PM.

Re: Julia wont eat meat anymore....

My dd is the same way. The only meat she will eat is chicken nuggets. I give her eggs, beans, soy yogurt. I have tried to think of a hundred ways to get more protein in her. I hide veggies in her grilled cheese so maybe hiding the meat in there would work for you. My child eats chicken nuggets, carbs and fruit. That is it. The ped says her tastes will change and she will be fine.

They are so cute but if they only knew how nuts they made us with this stuff.

Re: Julia wont eat meat anymore....

I'm raising my son as a vegetarian. My pediatrician is not at all concerned about him getting adequate iron/protein. There are plenty of other ways for children to get their nutrition, and much healthier ways, than through meat. Bxgell2 is also raising her daughter as a vegetarian and has amazing meal ideas. I'll try to find links to help you out. I really wouldn't worry.

ETA: There are plenty of cultures that do not eat meat and they are thriving just fine.

Message edited 2/3/2007 3:31:09 PM.

Re: Julia wont eat meat anymore....

Re: Julia wont eat meat anymore....

they go thru phases!! she'll like it again. what i do is just continue to offer it. one day, hopefully, she'll like it again!

Re: Julia wont eat meat anymore....

There was a thread the other day on vegetarian ideas for babies, I'll bump it!

Re: Julia wont eat meat anymore....

Thanks so much girls!

I feel better knowing Julia's not alone.

I do give her chicken nuggets but she throws them on the floor. She use to eat them all the time, now doesn't want any part of meat! lol