Processed meat or no meat at all?

[Velvetvilla]

So my DC hardly eat any “real” meat. They are generally picky about food. I am NOT looking for advice on this, as we have tried it all! Including “like it or go hungry” (spoiler: they go hungry).

so my dilemma is……

There has been a lot in the news recently about how bad processed meat is for our health. Wondering if it is better to give the DC a small amount of processed meat (such as good quality sausages) or better for the DC to have no meat at all? WWYD? It’s not like they would be eating a variety of other protein sources that vegetarians normally do, like beans and pulses, instead, because there is no way that they would eat these! At least, not at the moment.

Not at all! My DS wouldn’t touch a spag bol. His dinners always consist of a serving of protein, carbs and veg. But I am very limited in options for all three. He won’t eat anything like a curry, or a stew, or pasta with sauce on it even (yet he will eat it plain?!)

I have tried, but it’s not even that he is being fussy - he will actively gag and get upset when I have tried to get him to try something new and that’s not something I want to put him through!

All meat is processed.
It is the ultra processed that is supposedly the issue.
Get your meat from a decent butcher and avoid all the pre packed meats with water, sugar and god know what additives in them.

Absolutely this! I’m not convinced you have much control over how good of an eater your child will be - other than offering them stuff.

DS (7) now regularly asks to try thing from my plate now so we are getting him more adventurous that way, while he eats his meal of plain spaghetti, raw carrots and cut up sausages 🤦‍♀️

I’d be inclined to remove all nitrate/nitrite containing processed meats altogether.

We have a friend who’s a colorectal surgeon and they are the one food he will not allow his children to have.

I'd say no meat, rather than processed meat. Alternative protein sources required though.

Personally I think what you don't eat is as important for health as what you do, so I'd be looking at every alternative protein source before resorting to processed meats. Nuts/nut butter, Greek yoghurt, cheese, milk, eggs in various ways etc.

They don't have to eat meat at all. I've raised mine vegetarian because I am, although they do eat meat outside of the house.

It's definitely easy enough to give them enough protein with dairy products, eggs, nuts, pulses (if they'll eat them) etc. The only concern might be iron- eggs have got lots in in they'll eat them though.

The only tricky one is a vegan diet- that's when you have to be careful.

Hi, I’m pretty sure fresh sausages aren’t included in the processed meat being dangerous research. There was a kick off at the time by the British meat industry that it meant salami and similar but in the uk where we think of sausages differently the wording was confusing.

Cancer research uk doesn’t include them in their definition of processed meat. Below is copied from their website:

What are ‘red’ and ‘processed’ meats?

First, let’s clear up some definitions.
‘Processed’ meat is meat that’s not sold fresh, but instead has been cured, salted, smoked, or otherwise preserved in some way. This includes things like bacon, sandwich ham, corned beef, and some sausages, such as hot dogs, salami and pepperoni. Processed meat does not include mince, homemade burgers, or sausages which you find at your local butchers or supermarket.

Hope the kids enjoy their sausages!

I’d buy them some age appropriate vitamins and just focus on trying to expand their repertoire a bit without stressing too much about content. I saw you said they don’t like home made chicken nuggets. Annabel Karmel had a recipe in one of her baby food books for chicken and apple balls where you blitz the chicken in the food processor so its really smooth texture. I used to serve them to the whole family. Kids loved them. Not processed at all, just very appealing.

Sorry what are you talking about. Beans are an absolute British staple, it is unusual to hear of kids not eating beans. Lentils not so much anymore except in soup or daal. However, the OPs kids just sound picky and I think a covert veggie diet makes sense.

Mushrooms are absolutely vile and are banned in our house - my daughter recently had one and spat it out - made me proud. So think taste is a mix of nature and nurture!

In a way was talking exactly about nature & nurture (Asking OP to clarify whether they cant eat as they have textural issues which OP verified is the case, or wont eat because they have tried one way and not liked it or because its never served). And my example was a specific situation where these specific (not all!) British families told me their kids don't eat beans (With exception of baked beans but not bean stews, salads, burgers etc). In any case, you are right, its nature and nurture. Some cant eat them others wont eat them. And am ok with it all (except if someone is asking for advice).

And I am bringing mushrooms to your house. Mushroom starter, mushroom rice, and mushroom creme brulee. No spitting! 😁

Should you not take vitamin b if you do not eat meat?

A lot of vegetarian and vegan foods are just as processed. Natural whether meat or non meat is the safest and healthiest.

Also a mum to an ASD child and his protein comes from chicken nuggets, fish fingers, battered fish fillets, cheese, milk, yoghurt and eggs! We can occasionally get him to eat a bit of roast chicken (work in progress - it s a naked chicken nugget dude!) but he will eat homemade fish fillets and nuggets although I don’t often have time to make them. Again not sure I’d get him to eat pulses but he eats plain couscous so maybe he’s eat lentils, who knows?

We are lucky he eats a good range of fruit and a few veg - he eats so many carrots he can probably see into a black hole let alone in the dark 🤣