My soon to be 3yr old son won't eat meat...?

Question

He has never eaten meat in his life. We have tried to blend it in to other things, but he can smell it and won't eat. He eats nuts and veggies , pasta and crackers, and that's about it. Our Doctor told us not to worry, but i can't help think he will have intellectual delays.etc..
I've tried to supplement, but he won't eat beans etc...
Has a multivitamin with iron every day..

Thankyou.

I'ts me: Super idea. Never thought of tofu. I will definitely try it. Thankyou.

Answer 1

I didn't like meat when I was young but eventually towed the line in the end.

I suffered badly with eczema for 24 years requiring daily use of steroids and moisturizer to keep it under control.

Then I became vegetarian and what do you know the eczema cleared up. Were they related, I don't know, but maybe, on a case-by-case basis, the body knows best.

I am now vegan having been vegetarian for fourteen years, and I can honestly say that, animal rights concerns notwithstanding, going veggie has been one of the best choices I ever made.

When I was young I ate for fuel. It was only after becoming vegetarian that I actually began to really really enjoy my food.

One factor, however, I think has played a very important part in that, and that is since I live in the Far East I tend to eat a lot more fresh vegetables and less processed food than vegetarians might normally in the West. Leave the mushroom quiches and veggie sausages etc for when you eat out, stick to simple stir fried and steamed nutritious natural veggies, legumes etc at home.

That thin, pasty looking sick vegetarian you might see is the one who eats everything out of a packet. A bad diet is a bad diet, vegetarian or otherwise. Keep things fresh and natural, limit processed foods and you will not go wrong. Supplements will not be necessary. Your son will likely get a fuller complement of varied nutrients from a good vegetarian diet than from typical run-of-the-mill meat based fare.

Tofu is a fabulous source of protein if that is a concern, and I doubt even the most die-hard meat eater would turn down a plate of spicy Sichuan Dou Fu Gan for a burger.

I'd strongly recommend getting an Asian vegetarian cookbook or two. Dishes are fast, easy, nutricious, inexpensive and most importantly DELICIOUS!

Answer 2

He's an only child, isn't he? I had the same problem with my daughter. It is probably a bit of shyness. When my daughter was in daycare, she wouldn't touch her food, and going potty was simply NOT DONE! It came down to the fact that she could not get comfortable with having an audience. This was solved, eventually, by allowing her to have a "clubhouse" to eat her lunch in. She simply needed some privacy. As for the potty problem, we worked out a schedule for her. She got the bathroom all to herself for ten minutes every two hours. It turned out that the biggest issue there was she was afraid that someone might hear her going potty, so these ten minutes were arranged to coincide when (almost) everyone was outside. It took a little while, but she did get used to it, and gradually worked into becoming part of the group. She was just so shy and not used to having other people around.

Answer 3

I had this problem with my son up until recently. He will be 3 soon and would not touch any meat but chicken nuggets. I have finally decided that he will eat what we eat otherwise he gets nothing. Now, first let me explain that he can choose what he wants for breakfast and lunch (within reason), but when it comes to dinner he must have a little of what we are eating. He had enough to eat during the other meals and his snack that he will not starve.

Here's an example of how something new went in our house just the other night:

We were having burgers for dinner and he always refused to eat it. I put a very small patty on his plate and cute it up for him with some ketchup. With that he had some fruit and cheese on his plate. Once he saw the burger he pitched a fit because he "doesn't like it". He continued to cry and we told him that we wanted to eat without crying so he needed to go in the corner. He went willingly and then after a few minutes we asked him to join us. He did and for whatever reason sat down and ate every bit of that hamburger patty. The same thing happened when we had chicken. He is now broadening what he eats with meat. Even if it is dipping it in ketchup (we have ketchup on his plate with all the meat so he has that option if he likes...might sound gross but he loves it and he's getting his protein).

Be thankful that your son eats his veggies...mine won't touch them. That's what we are working on next.

Good luck...this may not work for you but don't give up!!

Answer 4

My oldest is three going on four, or should I say 15 lol
when he was about two - two and a half he all of a sudden wouldn't eat meat....didn't want hamburgers or anything.
So I offered him options, chicken nuggest with katchup, hotdogs wrapped in cheese in bicuit dough, I would still put veggies and fruits on a plate for him, and more times often then not he would rather eat the fruit and veggies.
Now he is getting closer to four he likes his meats, luchables, hot dogs, hamburgers, but sometimes he will just take a bite suck on the meat for a little while and spit it out in the garbage....
However the pre sliced sandwich meats he likes and gobbles them right up.
his wait has always been great and when he is missing the stuff we get from meat, he will find something else that fixes it, like some veggies and fruits and juices, He still doesn't like beans, but if they are refried beans and in a bean burrito with lots of cheese he will eat it right up.

Answer 5

As long as he gets the protein and iron he needs, it shouldn't be a problem. My friend's daugter is 12 and she has been a self-proclaimed vegetarian since she was 2. Feed him foods like tofu, eggs, and fish for protein. Broccoli, spinach, kale, and other dark green vegetables have lots of iron (and calcium... added bonus!).

It is possible that he's allergic to animal proteins. My brother started refusing to eat pork (no matter how cleverly disguised) and it turned out that he had a pork allergy. Your son might just not like meat, but you could always have him tested.

Answer 6

If your Dr. says not to worry then don't worry. I have 3 sons and when they were younger they would not eat anything green. I cook and use a lot of vegetables, beans etc and I taught them to pick the green stuff out, I would even give them a cup to put them in, I know they still got the benefits of the vegetables and "yucky green stuff" without being forced to eat them. and believe me my children are very healthy! you can cook alot of vegetables with your meats, just let him know he doesn't have to eat the meat pieces.
Also don't try to ever force him to eat meat or try to trick him into eating it, kids eat what they need and if he is taking a vitamin he will get the extra vitamins he may need from that.
hope this helps you and good luck!

Answer 7

there's no rule that kids need to eat meat. I wouldn't eat it as a kid and it still kind of grosses me out today.

My son won't eat meat,not even a chicken nugget from a fast food place. So we live with it. He does eat peanut butter, tofu in stir fry, and eggs, all great sources of protein. He eats green veggies so he gets plenty of iron.

As long as you are covering the bases by offering a vitamin, don't stress. You can't FORCE him to eat but you can give yourself a lot of stress about eating... it's really ok. My parents tried to force me to eat and all it did was become a battle of the wills.

Good luck!

Answer 8

There are lots of protein sources besides meat. Just make sure he gets plenty of dairy and/or eggs so he gets enough vitamin B12. We don't make any B12 and it is only in animal products and fungus. See if he likes mushrooms. You can mix bean into some foods. You can also buy flavorless protein powder. He probably likes peanut butter, yogurt, cheese and chocolate milk (use ovaltine). If he eats that everyday he gets plenty of protein and you don't need to worry. Iron is supplemented in bread and cereals so with the multivamin you give him I'm sure he will be fine.

Answer 9

Try other things that form a complete protein, like maccaroni and cheese and peanut butter foods. Kids like those. Eggs also have protein too, so try scrambled eggs as well. Nuts are already in his diet, so those should help suppliment his lack of protein. Try some shelled sunflower seeds. If you can get the non-salted ones, you can add as much or as little salt as you wish, or cinnamon and sugar for a sweeter snack. Yogurt is another good way to add calcium and protein. Make your own by buying plain yogurt and adding chopped up fruits, crushed granola, and sugar as you desire.

Answer 10

You know at that age they go through stages... all four of my children at meat one month then the next the wouldn't eat meat, and did the same with veggies and other foods.. Maybe right now the texture of meat is what he doesn't like, if he tried it once then he might remember the feel of it!!
Your dr. is right as long as he is healthy and developing normal then don't worry!!! he might surprise you one day and eat it !!