How can I get my 2yr old to eat protein in any form?

[cookiestar]

I'm really starting to get concerned about the complete lack of protein in my DS diet. He has been refusing all meat for about a year despite being a complete carnivore for about 6 months post weaning. This was OK as he would happily eat fish, cheese and occasionally eggs and beans, however over the past couple of weeks he now refuses to eat these. Any help from Mum's of vegetarian children or some clever meat hiding receipes would be very much appreciated!

My DS isn't veggie (I am), but he eats quorn more happily than he will meat. Less chewing!

Does he eat pasta? If so I have a very nice recipe for a pasta sauce with lentils. Does that count as proteins?

He eats pasta by the ton, and lentils most definitely count as protein so I'd love to get your recipe please BlueberryPancake.

How old is he cookiestar? Is he old enough for peanut butter? A great source of protein; Have you tried hummous? My 2 year-old LOVES hummous and embarrassed me at McDonalds recently by asking where the hummous was to dip her nuggets into ; Also don't forget yoghurt, but buy decent ones. Will be back with more ideas soon...

Doh, just re-read title about your 2 year-old...

My son was the same when he was between the ages of 2 and 5 1/2. If I made him eat meat mixed up with veg he would vomit lavishly. He could vomit on demand, he didn't tantrum with screaming he would vomit. I became very good at catching it in his bib and carrying on with the meat and veg. I would blend mince in gravy for a shepherds pie or blended mince with lumps of veg in spag bol, blended mince or chicken mixed into mashed potato and tomato ketchup, coated in bread crumbs and fried. Frozen mince cooks alot softer than fresh. Also Sainsbury's sell tinned chicken which can be mashed into tiny bits that can be disguised in a pasta sauce. I also made a cheese, mashed potato and ketchup flaky pastry pasty. I also saw a recipe for baked bean cheese and frozen chip pizza. The beans have protein. What about fish cakes? It was mainly a power struggle, he knew I couldn't make him swallow it. We operate the take it or leave it policy. Do persist as he now eats chicken and at the weekend he enjoyed roast beef!!

When I said pasta sauce it has to be a white coloured sauce as he will see the chicken bits!

Would he eat pancakes or eggy bread? Baked beans?
What about quinoa?
If he'd drink smoothies, you can try blending tofu into them.

Baked beans on toast is almost perfectly balanced in terms of all the amino acids in protein.
Will he eat nuts in any form?
Peas and broccoli have protein.

Will he eat soup? My 2yr old has started loving soup esp with bread to dip in and I can hide all sorts of things in soup! Lentils obvious option but meat works well too. Also I was surprised to see that veg like broccoli and cauliflower actually has a surprising amount of protein in.

BornToFolk just about to suggest pancakes, eggy bread and baked beans, jinx!

My 3 are all a bit reluctant with meat, certainly will not sit down to roast beef and all the trimmings.

Just bear in mind that protein doesn't have to be in the form of meat.

Spaghetti carbonara was a life-saver here when DS was off protein.

Does he like fishfingers? Mie is a bit like yours but what helped her was helping me...yes it's a PITA but she reall enjoys helping me cook and will often eat more.

If he likes soups (especially blended/smooth ones) then you can add red lentils to them. I always add red lentils anyway to tomato soup, squash soup and carrot soup to make them more filling.

Thanks everyone. I've tried houmous many times as his 4yo brother loves it but DS2 doesn't like it. Luckily the 4yr old is a brilliant eater so I've not lost all hope with DS2 just yet.

Luckily DS2 does like pancakes so he get these for breakfast and/or tea a lot. I tried spreading nutella on them and he looked at me as if I'd fallen from the sky, lord forbid I was trying to feed him chocolate at breakfast!

I bought some quinoa today and I'm hoping he'll think its cous cous.

I love idea of blending stuff into smoothies are they are something he will happily consume all day long.

I think cous cous is fairly high in protein (veggie mother of a veggie child...I really should know that for sure! ) so it's good if he likes that.

I make "cous cous treasure" for DS. It was inspired after we were playing pirates one day! It's basically cous cous salad with lots of bits of chopped up veg, cheese and chickpeas but DS gets very excited about fishing out bits of "treasure".

Mum of another protein-avoider here! One thing my dd will eat is the v soft chicken meat from thighs/legs/drumsticks...has lots of good minerals in too..

Tofu is white and has no taste so can be added to a white pasta sauce if you have a recipe for one (or to lots of other things). Also I whizz it up with mango or other fruit and it makes a nice dessert. Protein and calcium!