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General health

Daughter refuses to eat any meat

27 replies

VickiLeigh · 28/03/2017 18:07

Wondering if anyone else's children avoid meat? My daughter is 4 and whilst weaning and everything was mushy she ate what ever was given then started to drop out beef and chicken but still eat ham and sausages, has never liked bacon! In the last month she had completely refused to eat any meat at all and will gag if I try and persuade just one small piece of any meat at all. She eats fruit and vegetables willingly and always try's anything new I might offer but I'm just worried she's not getting enough of what's needed? She also avoids most dairy produce too but that's not surprising as she had a really sensitive tummy and had to be put on dairy free baby milk and we had to wait till she turned one to introduce dairy into her diet.... funnily enough she'll happily eat a child's size dairy milk bar which isn't frequent but tells me she can eat dairy...

Sorry for probably a rambling post but any suggestions would be great. Will be arranging a health visitor appointment too but it's on my mind tonight after another meal partially eaten

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Boooooom · 28/03/2017 18:11

Get some veggie recipes under your belt, she'll get everything she needs if nutritious and perhaps a supplement to be sure

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Stuffofawesome · 28/03/2017 18:12

You can be a perfectly healthy veggie kid. Could be texture she is sensitive to.

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VickiLeigh · 28/03/2017 18:20

I did wonder about texture but she's eaten it up until about a year ago when she decided to start dropping it off one by one

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SallyGinnamon · 28/03/2017 18:21

That was me! According to DM I refused meat during weaning too. And I've made it to 50!

Scrambled egg, macaroni cheese, beans on toast were my staples growing up.

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VickiLeigh · 28/03/2017 18:21

I'm definitely going to need to broaden my horizons on veggie dishes!

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ShoutOutToMyEx · 28/03/2017 18:26

I was like this as a child. I'm now 26, still a vegetarian and as far as I know perfectly healthy.

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Loulou2kent · 28/03/2017 18:26

So many little ones I know & both my dsis & sil stopped eating meat when younger. They both said it was too much effort to eat it but they both love and eat all meats now.

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tissuesosoft · 28/03/2017 18:30

DD doesn't like the taste of pork so I use the Linda McCartney sausages for toad in the hole, sausages and mash etc. Some Quorn lasagnes were on offer in a local supermarket and they taste really good. The Linda McCartney mozzarella burgers are great too

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VickiLeigh · 28/03/2017 18:36

I'll try those, I used to like them when I was on my own so happy to try again, my son is 7 and will eat meat till it came out of his ears! He got through 5 sausages tonight by finishing off his sisters, he hates when we have a non meat meal too. He also drinks milk like it's going out of fashion and will have cheese with everything. Such different children

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bluefeathers · 28/03/2017 18:52

Much healthier to be veggie, read this: How Not To Die: Discover the foods scientifically proven to prevent and reverse disease https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1447282442/ref=cmswwrcppapi_ujQ2ybNZK12C8

Don't be put off by the silly title, it tells you what foods to eat to avoid main diseases and illnesses in first half and then what to eat for max health in second half - all based on scientific fact so reliable. Also the Vegetarian society / Vegan society will have great advice,

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VickiLeigh · 28/03/2017 18:57

Thank you! Shall have a look at that this evening, just need to try and incorporate any changes into what I'm cooking already as everyone else loves meat Smile

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Sunshineandlaughter · 28/03/2017 22:35

Just give her a veggie substitute-veggie sausages, veggie quorn, tofu etc - v easy to put in oven next to the rest of yours tea usually.
I'm another life long veggie (25 years now) and I'm super healthy. 4 is quite young tho so I'd keep trying her on meat every couple of days. Try giving her loads of fish too.

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Sunshineandlaughter · 28/03/2017 22:36

I'd be more worried about your son eating 5 sausages in terms of health issues than you daughter eating none! Smile

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GoodDayToYou · 28/03/2017 22:42

My friend's little boy did this too - he just didn't want to eat any animals from an early age and was quite confident about it, like it was just obvious, even though it was unusual in his family. I think he's about 12 now and still veggie - completely his choice.

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Neolara · 28/03/2017 22:45

I never liked meat as a child.. Just didn't like the idea of it. I turned veggie as a young adult and have been veggie now for over 25 very healthy years.

Buy yourself some decent child friendly recipe books. It may be a life long preference.

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KindDogsTail · 28/03/2017 22:46

She may need a general vitamin supplement as vitamin B12 would be missing; if she does not eat anything dairy, she may need some calcium.
Make sure she gets fats if she is not getting them from meat or dairy - put olive oil,hemp oil, nut oil or on her food.

Get some advice of you are worried, but she can be very healthy.

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VickiLeigh · 28/03/2017 23:02

Sunshine, he thankfully has a really healthy appetite with everything so a one off of extra sausages I don't mind too much

I've had a chat with a friend that has gone fully vegan and have a few ideas for meals now and will have a chat with health visitor

I don't think it has anything to do with it being animals that's put her off both kids are fully aware of where everything comes from and have never expressed any upset over it but I might see if I can get a conversation going with her tomorrow about why she doesn't like it, I asked if she wanted me to get vegetable sausages and she was excited by that. So long as they are both eating and active and healthy I don't mind what route they take with their eating habits my only concern is what she may lack by not having meat and dairy so once I've got some substitutes or supplements I'll be a lot happier to indulge her until she makes her mind up either way

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tissuesosoft · 28/03/2017 23:32

These sausages are lovely, they cook really well in the oven and aren't dry. Another veggie favourite of ours is puff pastry with pesto sauce on the bottom, chopped tomatoes and feta/mozzarella cheese then into the oven to cook. For the meat eaters you could add chicken, ham etc on half of it. But so flexible you could do any toppings!

www.jusrol.co.uk/pastry-recipes/tomato-cheese-rocket-puff-slice

Daughter refuses to eat any meat
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VickiLeigh · 28/03/2017 23:37

I'm definitely getting these, not the first time they've been recommended, thank you! I always forget about throwing something together with puff pastry and the kids can help make it too Smile

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GraceGrape · 28/03/2017 23:40

Will she eat mince? I have a very similar 4 year old daughter, who won't touch most meat but will eat mince as bolognaise or lasagne.

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TwentyCups · 28/03/2017 23:43

Linda McCartney sausage rolls are also really nice!

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VickiLeigh · 28/03/2017 23:44

I'm making meatballs tomorrow (we have meal plans and I hadn't realised I'd be considering a diet change mid week 😂) so I'm hopeful if she helps she may eat them... here's hoping! With bolognaise (sp) and cottage pie etc she picks out any veg including onion! And pushes the meat to the side

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Bananice · 28/03/2017 23:46

My son is like this, although he has never liked meat since he was weaned. His favourite dish is tofu:
I cut it into "nuggets", roll it in some cornflour then pan fry it until crispy. He will eat this with rice and vegetables, in a wrap with salad, by itself... we have tofu at least twice a week. He will also eat paneer in a mild curry (although this is obv dairy) and salmon, raw or cooked very rare. These foods feature very often in our diet..... Wink

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geordiedench · 28/03/2017 23:50

OP, you could try veggie bolognaise/cottage pie using quorn mince, and frying all the veg then pureeing it so there are no lumps to pick out. Add some grated cheese on top and that's fine for protein.
So are beans or peanut butter or cheese on wholemeal toast.

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user1490759418 · 29/03/2017 05:05

Oh ! My son loves meat only and I am trying to give him vegetables and fruits.

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