my toddler wont eat meat can he still be healthy without it?

Question

i have tried giving him those soft luncheon meats turkey, bologna, chicken...etc. i have tried giving him soft pieces of meat that he CAN eat, but he doesnt WANT to eat any meat at all. he spits it out or throws it on the floor. he does eat cheese and drinks milk. he also wont eat eggs, boiled or fried. so he mainly eats fruits and veggies and breads and cheeses. can he still be healthy without eating meat at all? also is it normal for toddlers not to like to eat meat? we are goin in for a doc checkup soon so i will be sure to ask the doc, but what do you guys think?

all very good awnsers

Answer 1

That can lead to a low iron count. My son did the same thing. Now the doctor has him on a vitamin plus iron chewable. You can't force them to eat something they don't want to, but you can make sure they stay healthy.

Answer 2

It depends on how old. Is he still on formula? If so he is getting all the nutrition's he needs from that. If not then he should eat some meat or some thing with protein. Try beans all different ones have proteins. I have to do that with my daughter because she doesn't eat meat either. She loves fruit. I did get her to eat Gerber Graduates Lil' Sticks. Chicken and turkey flavor. I break them into pieces and she will eat maybe 2 for dinner and a lot of fruit. The other thing I give her is Gerber Graduates ravioli's with meat inside. It works because she doesn't really taste meat. Good Luck

Answer 3

He can be healthy without meat but you need to replace the lost protein as meat is one of the highest sources and toddlers need plenty of protein for growth. (Any vegetarians you know might be helpful).
They can get protein from dairy products so it is good he is having cheese and milk and fruit & veg, but he might need a boost. My toddler has a toddler formula once a day in case he isn't getting enough nutrition from what he eats. He eats a cooked meal at night in which I usually grate vegetables and puree meat (minced beef or chicken usually - he won't eat them served in their natural state!). Have you tried this - there are so many ways you can prepare foods in which a lot of the goodness is hidden and they don't know what they are eating!
I wouldn't worry about processed meats - most have little nutritional value anyway and are usually salty and full of preservatives.

My toddler's diet consists of a bowl of cereal at breakfast, a vegemite sandwich and fruit for lunch, and something yummy I cook for dinner (meat & veg based) followed by yoghurt (plus 3 drinks of milk each day). I hope he gets enough! Toddlers can be very fussy so just offer an interesting range of tastes and textures and keep trying with things that they don't like as tastes change and they have to get used to new tastes. Don't worry - I've never seen a starving toddler!

Answer 4

The doctor will no doubt give you a baby vitamin to just make sure he is healthy. If he doesn't go to your chemist and get one. It will just make sure he is still getting his essential vitamins.
Both my boys are big eaters and went through a stage where they hated red meat. It didn't faze me, because they still ate everything else. The doctor I go to said about the vitamin pills. They decided they liked meat after a few months.
Are you Australian?? If so give him some Vegemite. I used to put a dab in their vegies for tea. It has a lot of vitamins in it, as well as lots of things growing kids need.
Sounds normal to me, not liking meat. I am a vegetarian, but my kids and their dad aren't.
Good Luck xxxxxxxxx

Answer 5

I'll weigh in on it too. Yes, he can grow up just fine without meat. My daughter decided she didn't want to eat meat anymore when she was 3. She's 24 now, eats meat when she feels like it, but not a lot. I just got some good books on raising a vegetarian kid and gave her lots of food choices. (The Internet was still called the Library back then.) You've gotten some great food suggestions already, so I won't add to it, but don't worry, he'll be fine.

Answer 6

Kids all have their issues!! Mine won't drink milk of any kind. Meat provides protein and iron. You can give it in other ways. Grains (rice, wheat, oats,corn, etc) combined with a legume (peas, beans) generally make a full compliment of protein. Also, some toddelers that won't eat eggs will eat custard (which is pretty easy to make...lots of eggs and milk)

Answer 7

My daughter (almost 6) has never been much of a meat eater either. Occasionally she'll eat a chicken strip, or spaghetti with meat sauce. That's really it for meat, and no eggs. I think some kids just don't need as much protein as others.

Answer 8

No problem make sure you include protein in his diet, I had the same problem my daughter would chew the meat and then spit it out after ingesting the juices, It will clear up in time or you will have a Vegetarian in your home.

Answer 9

Well, it's good that he won't eat bologna - it's nothing but nitrates and other junk! But in answer to your question, yes he can be healthy without meat. Vegetarian kids can be just as healthy, and often healthier than kids who eat meat because they eat more produce. Try baked tofu, peanut/almond/sunflower butter, kidney beans, hummus, etc. There are lots of other foods with protein in it. My ped told me he would much rather see my son eat tofu (certain family members were trying to convince me he would never get enough protein and nutrition from it) than hot dogs, bacon or bologna. Try whatever works for your son. Take care!

Answer 10

There are a lot of vegetarians around, so he doesn't have to have meat, but he needs protein. Try giving him pulses or soy stuff for that.