18 mo Won't Eat Most Meats...Meal Ideas?

jesslw · June 2013

My 18 month old son refuses to eat most meats and always has, since introducing them. I can get him to eat certain processed "fake" meats like chicken nuggets and premade sausage patties and some lunchmeat but he won't have anything to do with fresh meats. No beef whatsoever. He's growing fine, 95th%tile for height and 75th%tile for weight and I don't have any real concerns for him not getting the right nutrition, I am mostly just at a total loss for meal ideas! Any veggie moms out there with toddler friendly vegetarian recipes? Anyone else with kids who just refuse to eat meat?

mben1119 · June 2013

DS won't eat it anymore. I still continue to offer it, in hopes that he'll start again.

lchitt · June 2013

I found that I was offering too bland foods. My dd loves chili! Not hot but not a mild mix either. She also loves filet! Yes gonna be an expensive date one day! Lol my LO just doesn't eat much period. Be thankful they are eating; good luck!

julesg86 · June 2013

My husband and I are both vegetarians and have been raising our daughter to be a vegetarian also.

I best veggie protien that I have found thus far that my daughter loves is lentils. Trader Joe's has some great ones that are in the fridge section--already cooked (just open the package and serve). I put them inside quesadillas with cheese and peas and that is my daughter's favorite meal. She also eats them plain or mixed with hummus.

There are veggie meatballs that are delicious too from the freezer section. Serve those with a little bit of parmesean cheese or some pasta with sauce.

Another tip from our pediatrician appointment last week was to have our daughter eat cheerios (or other iron fortified cereal) for breakfast each day and for an afternoon snack, because they have the best source of iron for kids this age if they are not eating meat. They can't get enough iron from veggies alone at this age like adults can.

Katie829 · June 2013

I don't serve any red meat or pork. We are not big fans of it.

DD loves turkey meatballs from Trader Joe's, veggie burgers, beans, ground turkey/chicken.

We have never served deli meats or chicken nuggets.

vrj0522 · June 2013

lchitt:
I found that I was offering too bland foods. My dd loves chili! Not hot but not a mild mix either. She also loves filet! Yes gonna be an expensive date one day! Lol my LO just doesn't eat much period. Be thankful they are eating; good luck!

This for us too. My LO hated meats but when I put them in soups, he would eat them just fine so I would hide them in soups/stews and he would eat them without a problem. He eats them alone much better now although not always.

vrj0522 · June 2013

lchitt:
I found that I was offering too bland foods. My dd loves chili! Not hot but not a mild mix either. She also loves filet! Yes gonna be an expensive date one day! Lol my LO just doesn't eat much period. Be thankful they are eating; good luck!

This for us too. My LO hated meats but when I put them in soups, he would eat them just fine so I would hide them in soups/stews and he would eat them without a problem. He eats them alone much better now although not always.

KellyAnn911 · June 2013

mabenner1:
DS won't eat it anymore. I still continue to offer it, in hopes that he'll start again.

Same here. He used to eat anything I gave him. He's been refusing almost all meat for about 2 months. I still offer it in hopes he'll come around.

I got him to eat London broil the other day. I stuck a piece in his mouth and before he could spit it out DH and I clapped and cheered for him. We got him to eat 4-5 bites this way.

blushingbride_08 · June 2013

Try meatloaf. My LO did not like certain textures of meat but meatloaf is soft enough and he gobbles it right up. I also give LO lots of beans for protein and iron.

jesslw · June 2013

KellyAnn911:
mabenner1:
DS won't eat it anymore. I still continue to offer it, in hopes that he'll start again.
Same here. He used to eat anything I gave him. He's been refusing almost all meat for about 2 months. I still offer it in hopes he'll come around.
I got him to eat London broil the other day. I stuck a piece in his mouth and before he could spit it out DH and I clapped and cheered for him. We got him to eat 4-5 bites this way.

lol We've used the "clap and cheer" method a few times ourselves.

Thanks, ladies. All very good ideas/advice!

JWSchwarz · June 2013

DS loves sausage, and will eat ham. I think most meat cooked alone is too dry for them. Adding to a sauce or soup is a good idea.

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