How did you introduce meat to your little one?

Juniper - posted on 01/07/2011

My daughter is 7 1/2 months old now and she's been eating chicken for a little while now. The first chicken breast I did for her, was plain and I pureed it with the water it was baked it. She hated it until I started mixing it with some veggies and some fruit. I go by the ice cube method, freezing food in ice cube trays. I give her 1/2 slice chicken, 1/2 slice veggies, 1/2 slice fruit (she's got a great appetite). Once she finished the original batch I did up for her, the next time I made chicken, I put some cloves of garlic (whole) in the water and she loved it way better that way. It was just to plain for her before, and the texture is something that's not easy to get over, I've tried it. I usually do try everything she eats, it's only fair. And you can throw other spices in there, garlic powder if you don't have cloves, dill, ginger...check out www.wholesomebaby.com they have some awesome recipes.

Krys - posted on 11/08/2010

My little man loved pasta so I would give him meat filled raviolis cubed up. He also would eat small pieces of chicken off of our plates. The meat in soups or done in a slowcooker can be a great way to start!

Heather - posted on 10/06/2010

I always introduced meat incorporated into something ie: whitebeans and ham, or blackeye peas and ham. Both of which I cook in a big pot like soup with finely chopped ham. Or chili which I make with ground turkey. Spaghetti with italian sausage which I break up very small. Scrambled eggs. I have done this with all 4 of my children and all 3 of my grandchildren. Oh yes, chicken and dumplings are great too. the chicken cooks a long time and gets very tender

Debra - posted on 10/05/2010

I didn't! My son, now 4 1/2, loves avocado, broccoli, beans, cauliflower, and peas. I notice that many parents seem to have trouble getting their children to eat vegetables. My son loves them! He is vegetarian, so its all he has known.

If you take a look at every large scale study of nutrition you will see that they all recommend a vegan diet as the healthiest diet. Vegans live longer and have MUCH lower incidences of disease, particularly heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses. Meat is full of saturated fat, cholesterol, and hormones and pesticides. It does not have most things the body needs, such as fiber, vitamins, etc. Most green vegetables have more protein per calorie than beef does, so it is easy to get protein elsewhere.

Meat is also destroying our planet. Animal agriculture is the second largest source of greenhouse gases, responsible for more greenhouse gases than ALL forms of transportation (cars, planes, trucks, boats, etc) COMBINED. It is also the number one polluter of our water, the primary cause of deforestation in the Amazon, etc. etc.

By choosing not to feed a child meat, you are choosing a life of health for the child and for the the planet. You are also choosing a life of compassion for your child.

A great place to begin any research on these issues is "The China Study" by Dr. Campbell. You could also read "Diet for a Small Planet" or anything by Dr. Ornish. Please read studies financed by the NIH (National Institute of Health) or other neutral organization, not those funded by the meat and dairy industries.

Go veg, be green, to save our planet!!

Ginette - posted on 10/05/2010

I would puree meat (chicken first) and mix it in with their pureed veggies. They didn't like the texture of just the meat so this was the easiest way. When they got used to it, I would make stews and casseroles and just puree the whole thing in the blender.
A friend of mine would mix pureed meat in with yogurt because her baby didn't like the texture of meat.

Nayyara - posted on 09/30/2010

It depends on what food texture baby can handle. my son had only 2 teeth at that age and he could not manage meat cubes. I started with meat broth added to his veggies and ground meat.

Tan - posted on 09/27/2010

I added small bits of chicken shredded and mashed into the swt potato. Keep offering some.

Sarah - posted on 09/23/2010

The first meat I introduced to my son was chicken. He loved it! I haven't done fish yet, but I'd like to do that next :)

Mari - posted on 09/23/2010

My son is now 11 months old, I haven't started feeding him meat until recently. He is now at the stage where he wants to eat what i'm eating, so i just break off small pieces and feed it to him.

Jonna - posted on 09/22/2010

I agree that chicken is a great way to start, also ground meats like buffalo are a great start too as well as fish!

September - posted on 09/22/2010

We just cubed up chicken (chicken is what we offered first) and gave it to him. It was chicken that I had baked with a little olive oil and garlic. Our son loved it! You may want to hold off on the garlic if you think it's too much but our son loves garlic. :)