Will your child eat meat?

[Nooname]

Not sure where to put this really. It's just out of interest as my ds won't eat meat (he's 19mo).
History is that, for ethical and health reasons, me and dh only eat organic and free range meat but in fact very rarely eat that. So since ds was born I have served him up meat about 3 times. He has tried it a couple of times but is really not interested.

I am just interested as to whether it is common, even for children given meat, not to like it, or whether it is because he's never really had it?

I'm not asking because it's a problem (he eats tofu, beans, cheese, fish etc), it's just out of interest really and just wondering about the future. (At the moment he is at a vegetarian nursery, but what happens when he starts school/goes round other people's houses for tea etc?)

My son has never had meat as we are all vegetarian, but it has never been a problem with going round people's houses (well no-one has told me if it is). I think most people are au fait with vegetarian foods and pasta / pizza / veggie sausages / baked potato etc are all easy and child friendly staples

they dont really like red meat

My dd very rarely eats meat. She just doesn't seem to like it. The rest of us eat it, and she is certainly offered it.

If he still doesn't eat it when he goes to school, just say he is a vegetarian. Ds has some veggie friends, so we just cook without meat when they come for tea.

DS1 - adores it, adores it, adores it.

ds2 - loathes it, loathes it, loathes it except 'I will eat chicken skin'

dd - yes likes it well enough.

DS2 doesn't like chewing it basically, he didn't at 19mo either. He does eat meat in a mince - lasagne, shepherds pie etc. I betcha it's a texture/chewy thing.

I don't think it's a problem catering for vegetarian kids to be honest.

dd would be delighted if we fed her a diet of ham, chicken, turkey, beef, pork, whatever in all its forms

proper little carnivore she is and always has been

My son (almost 3) has never really liked meat. He will eat sausages (I get the organic 95% pork ones from Sainsbury's) and will eat veggie sausages and quorn frankfurters. Occasionally he will eat a bit of bolognese sauce on his pasta. That's about it. He will not touch any other form of red meat or poultry.

Thanks all, that's interesting.

Ahundredtimes - yes I think it's a texture/chewy thing with ds as he is used to food he doesn't have to chew very much. His favourite protein food is tofu and I think that is because it is so soft and easily chewable.

Thanks for the reassurances that it won't be a problem when he is older (tbh I'd rather he was veggie I think, because, although not so much now, when he was younger I just really hated the thought of him eating animal flesh. Not really 100% sure why!)