Child won't eat red meat

[charliemong]

Hi first post ladies so be gentle with me please.

My little boy (5) is a fussy eater and will only eat chicken (mainly nuggets) while I know it's normal for children to go through phases. Does any one have any ideas of how to introduce red meats and get a more varied diet down him.

A concerned dad.

[JoNapot]

My kids didn't seem to like the texture of meat for quite a while.

Even mince seemed to annoy them at first! The best thing I found was to give them the gravy with their vegetables and mash, new potatoes mashed into the gravy absorb plenty. This they would eat. Sausages always seemed more popular so I bought high meat content ones.

Also stew or casserole with a little of the softened meat shredded for them worked ok eventually. You are trying to habituate them not get a set amount down them at this stage.

[LovingLola]

I think the child is 5 years old - not 5 months.

[Graphista]

Doesn't need to eat red meat as long as it's a balanced healthy diet in other ways. To replace iron - egg, milk & other dairy, seafood, beans, dried fruit...

[charliemong]

Yes he is 5 years old he does not like red meat or most veg for that matter I mash up Cali and stuff in mac and cheese and the like to get veg in him that way. Just wish he would eat more stuff like red meat and veg

[confusedandemployed]

My DD struggles to eat red meat. She finds it rather tough. She'll eat a bit more if it's slow-cooked but still tends to leave most of it. She's 4 btw.

Doesn't really bother me, she eats loads of chicken, fish, green veg, lentils and other pulses etc. If she's going ti like red meat eventually she'll get there. If she isn't going to like it, she won't be alone.

[AdalindSchade]

Children don't need red meat.

[confusedandemployed]

Sorry just seen he's not keen on veg. Have you done the usual hiding veg? Blended for pasta sauce, curry etc?

[Neolara]

I refused to eat lots of red meat when I was a kid. I've now been veggie for nearly 30 years. It may be a life long preference.

[thethoughtfox]

Make home made chicken nuggety things with panko breadsbreadcrumbs mixed with parmesan. This will have more of a proper 'meaty' texture than the pastey texture of remade nuggets.

[charliemong]

He gets veg hidden in other stuff he eats. He has turned into fussy eater since me and his mum broke up. He used to eat anything put in front of him. (3 1/2 years ago that was he is starting to try new stuff like spaghetti Bol so maybe it's a phase?