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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To give my weaning DD Quorn?

79 replies

Spice17 · 10/02/2013 15:09

Should have namechanged to 'Clueless' as I'm trying to get to grips with weaning and, well, I'm not.

Basically I'm Veggie and DH isn't but will eat meals I cook like Spag bol and curries etc with Quorn in. DD is 4 months old, so I've started to think about weaning and am after genuine responses because I really don't know if this is OK or not.

Can I give DD Quorn and other meat substitutes? I know it's not to everyone's taste, but is it OK/safe?

I'm thinking with Spag bol etc, as long as it's salt free, she could have a bit of that. I always put veggies in it anyway, so could skip the Quorn or often a cheaper substitute just unsure if it's OK?

TIA :)

OP posts:
foreverondiet · 10/02/2013 15:18

In terms of veggie protein sources personally would start with dairy, pulses, eggs and soya (in that order) and if thats all ok then quorn too - just remember quorn is quite processed so wouldn't be my first choice - see here:

link

Good luck though my kids all love meat and fish and not very keen on veggie protein or veggies!

Dillydollydaydream · 10/02/2013 15:20

My ds is 3 and seems quite sensitive to the quorn mince. He's had it twice and both times he's been sick afterwards. I'm not sure if this is purely coincidental as everyone else has been fine but I'm not risking giving it to him again.

maddening · 10/02/2013 15:21

I don't know - I am veggie too and quorn triggers my ibs - I would contact the vegetarian society for advice.

Ds is 2 and recently tried a bit of one of my cauldron sausages and didn't seem to suffer any discomfort - but they don't do anything to me while quorn makes me feel awful - so I would worry about the effect on a 4 mth olds tummy - it's probably just me haha :)

My ds and df eat meat but with me only we do without meat (unless df has been batch cooking and I have a portion for ds out of the freezer)

HeadfirstForHalos · 10/02/2013 15:24

DH and I are veggie so are raising the dc as veggies too. I left quorn until after they were 1 as I'd heard it can disagree with the digestive system.

I stuck with beans, lentils, cheeses, tofu, and egg (after 9 months).

JenaiMorris · 10/02/2013 15:24

Isn't Quorn full of wheat or something? I know bugger all about it tbh.

A million years ago when I started weaning ds we were advised to avoid wheat till at least 6 months (which I believe is the minimum age people are meant to start weaning these days).

JenaiMorris · 10/02/2013 15:26

Ignore me. It's made from fungus.

tabulahrasa · 10/02/2013 15:26

They advise not giving it to children under one because it's not high enough in calories, occasionally would probably be fine, but not too often.

It does contain eggs though.

Original poster
Spice17 · 10/02/2013 15:27

Thanks all, really useful link too forever much appreciated. Think I will skip it, can always add afterwards for me and DH.

Maddening triggers my IBS too and someone else has said the same to me, apparently very high in fibre, so that may be why, not exactly sure why I still eat it probably because I'm greedy!

OP posts:
user12785 · 10/02/2013 15:28

We are all veggie, my dcs eat Quorn with no problem at all and love it, but I did wait until after 12 months before introducing it. And to all you meat eating anti-Quornites: at least I can guarantee 100% that my dcs haven't been eating horsemeat!

Birdsgottafly · 10/02/2013 15:28

You shouldn't give Quorn before at least nine months old.

Quorn is a meat subsitute which is low in calourie and fat, good for adults who don't want a diet full of just veg, but there is no need to feed it to a baby.

It has a lot of fibre, which is usually what causes a reaction in IBS and children.

SamanthaStormer · 10/02/2013 15:30

When feeding my two at that age, I asked the health visitor whether or not meat substitutes such as Quorn were allowed for babies, and she said they were not suitable.
Something to do with Quorn being low in fat but filling, so they get filled up but not enough nutrients which they need.
Can't remember the exact wording but it was something like that!
Try stuff like lentils, beans etc instead

JenaiMorris · 10/02/2013 15:30

Ffs. here

JenaiMorris · 10/02/2013 15:30

The ffs was aimed at myself btw!

NotGeoffVader · 10/02/2013 15:33

We started out with tofu, egg and so forth when weaning DD. She's 2 now and has been eating quorn on an off for about a year.
I'm veggie, DH isn't but we eat veggie meals at home and we agreed to raise DD veggie, with the cover that when she is old enough to chose, she can eat meat if she so wishes. (Though I won't be cooking any - ever)

Original poster
Spice17 · 10/02/2013 15:39

Thanks again further posters and Grin to Eglan

God weaning scares me!

OP posts:
badguider · 10/02/2013 15:44

I find quorn very odd and I am happy to eat tvp and tofu as meat substitutes (I am not veggie but limit my meat intake).
Having seen how quorn is made I can't help feeling it is very "manufactured". Beans and lentils have to be better protein for a veggie baby.

eragon · 10/02/2013 16:38

its made in large vats and is a mould that is skimmed off the top. its a black type mould that is processed to go white and form structure. egg white is used for part of that process. So is not vegan nor suitable for anyone with egg allergies.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 10/02/2013 16:53

DH and I are vegetarian but DC are not.
DD (who eats anything except tuna) likes Quorn but it gives her the most horrendous wind Envy

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 10/02/2013 16:54

Ugh eragon you really sold it to me there Grin

photographerlady · 10/02/2013 16:55

With you being veggie you know it's quite easy to get protein and tofu and quorn easily avoidable. I never eat the stuff personal and veggie 20 yrs.

stubbornstains · 10/02/2013 17:04

It's funny old stuff isn't it? I eat shedloads myself, but have never given it to DS, who is now 3 (I've just started offering him the odd bit from my own plate, but he doesn't seem keen). I do have doubts about how good it is for you, being both highly processed and quite mysterious (cheers for the enlightenment eragon!). I'm sure one day there'll be a whole expose about Quorn...

TheMightyLois · 10/02/2013 17:06

I wouldn't give Quorn to the dog. Stick with natural foods for weaning.

Losingexcessweight · 10/02/2013 17:07

Please dont wean before 6 months old.

Reasearch has shown that weaning earlier has strong links to adult stomach problems much later on in life like diverticulousis etc.

Thats why they now recommend min of 6 months as the babies stomach is too immature to cope with anything but milk.

TheMightyLois · 10/02/2013 17:08

(Quorn makes me throw up btw - for some reason my body can't digest it so it comes back up again - so no, I wouldn't give it to a baby)