Balancing child/adult meat and protein needs

[mindfulmassages]

Hello, I'm struggling to find a balance between meeting my 6 year old's protein requirements and my own. I'm a single parent and like to eat with my daughter but, according to government guidelines, she needs at least 1 serving of meat or fish a day while apparently I only need meat a couple of times a week to remain healthy. We both eat tons of fruit and veg but she's not keen on beans, pulses or eggs which would be alternatives. Does anyone have any tips on managing this discrepancy? Thank you very much.

Don't take government guidelines as gospel. As long as she is getting a healthy, varied diet and doesn't lack something too often, then you're doing just fine.

The government suggests we eat 5 a day, I'm lucky if I can get a few slices of cucumber down DD's neck most days and she is perfectly healthy.

As for you only needing meat a couple of times per week... you can eat it as often as you want to. I eat it either fish or lean meats every single day and I'm also in pretty good health.

Protein doesn't just come from meat or fish, it can also come from milk, cheese, dairy, peanut butter etc.

Thank you very much - sound advice and more helpful than most of the 'guidelines' we're given. It's easy to get distracted from the common sense approach if you start trying to tick all the boxes!