Self-imposed veggie

[Nadalsballs]

My lovely dd (16 months) refuses to eat protein. We've tried it puréed, hidden and she really doesn't like it. That includes cheese, fish, lentils and tofu. She will eat scrambled eggs but that's it.

Any ideas how to get protein into her??

By the way, she loves fruit, milk and yoghurt so could mix something in?

I would mix it in with other things she likes. My ds is refusing foods at the moment but loves one particular puree so I mix,that in with everything he refused.

I've tried that but she seems to have an instinct for when I've mixed something in. She loves a smoothie but when I add tofu to it she refuses it! She also sucks the sauce off the chicken if I mix it into her favourite veg and tomato sauce. I've also tried adding cheese but she hates that too. I'm a bit worried about whether it will hinder her growth and development

Cheese is a good source of protein. Does she refuse cheese sauce? Have you tried cheese sticks (yum) or pastry with grated cheese in oven? Paul hollywood has a recipe for cheese baked biscuits.

My veggie sister eats lots of houmous. It's quite good for protein.

Usually children love those naughty frankfurter sausages - you can by low salt ones now. Have you tried crab sticks?

They need very little protein at that age, less than older children and adults. I would try not to worry tbh.

Read the side of the packet of yoghurt, the one I use has loads if protein in it

I would agree with trying hummus - always goes down well with my ds. Also, have you tried her with quorn?

You can also use tofu in sweet recipes e.g silken tofu cheesecake, which could be worth a try.

My ds was a self imposed veggie at this age. I could maybe hide lamb/chicken in a mushed up roast dinner, cheese, cheese spread and yoghurt. He loved baked beans and fish fingers. He still drank a lot of milk at this age and so I didn't worry.

He is 6 now and a committed carnivore but wont eat yoghurt. He occasionally goes through very fussy phases; the worst one when he was around 2. Now he is older he understands that he can't just eat his very favourite foods and will try lots of different things.

She will eat a fish finger but doesn't like sausages (what kid doesn't like sausages and spag bol??). She does like houmous, I didn't realise that had lots of protein.

Herrena is it a special yoghurt?

She hates cheese with a vengeance!

My ds didn't like sausages or spag Bol. He now eats both and chilli, curry, steak, drumsticks, chops etc. He still isn't keen on processed meat like cooked ham, pork pies and sausages. He won't eat eggs but will eat French toast.

All yogurt/milk has protein. How much milk does she drink?

Work out how many calories and how much protein she gets. I bet her diet us better than you think.

Not much milk at all, 100-150ml at bedtime and probably another 150ml during the day (I offer her two beakers and she normally drinks about half). She's the opposite of my DS who would just eat protein given half the chance and drinks milk like the cows are about to stop producing!

How about peanut butter on toast or sandwiches?
Beans or lentils in pasta sauce or soup?

A quick Google says that an average 3yo needs 16grams of protein a day. 300ml of full fat milk has almost 10grams.

13 grams in an egg.

We all eat so much protein in our first world diets _ I'm sure she's getting plenty with her yogurt, houmous, fish fingers, and milk.
It probably just seems odd after your DS's diet - but diff folks can have quite a wide range of diff diets and both be healthy.

We're all veggies here and don't worry about protein levels as confident we get plenty from dairy intake, especially cheese, and some beans/lentils, tofu, or quorn.

Oh yes, and eggs for both your dd and us !
Really, no need to worry

Thanks all. I didn't realise they needed so little protein! The books I've read all seen to rave about the need for good quality protein.

She hates lentils and beans. She used to love my lentil casserole as a baby but refuses it now.

It is horses for courses I suppose, she loves fruit and sweet things generally whereas DS isn't fussed about anything sweet.

Will she eat rice? I always add quinoa which is an excellent source of protein.

Also peas are quite high in protein I think.

Has she tried veggie sausages? My dcs like the Sainsbury's love soya ones.

She loves peas! That's good.

Is quinoa hard to cook? Do you just add it to rice?

Veggie sausages are a good call. I'll try them.

Thanks again everyone

The way I cook it is:

75g rice
25g quinoa
200ml water

Boil water in the kettle then put everything in a pan, when it comes back to the boil, turn the heat right down, wrap the pan lid in a teatowel and put it on the pan, leave it alone for 20 mins, then fluff with a fork and serve.

Quinoa also works added to risotto.

That's for 1 adult portion btw!