what to do about meat!!

Melanie - posted on 01/11/2010

My daughter refused to eat meat as well. Apparently two eggs contain the same amount of iron as a lamb chop. His cereal (and formula if using) will most likely be fortified as well. When my daughter reached twelve months and was onto cows milk we looked at buying toddler milk for her but decided against it and went instead to ovaltine and milo like substitute as they had the same amount of added minerals and vitamins but with much less added sugar.



We also found she preferred seafood (prawns and fish) and chicken over red meat. It wasn't until she was about three that she would eat red meat without a fuss and 18 months she would willingly eat white meat.

Teresa - posted on 01/11/2010

With my kids, I started with eggs. Scrambled, of course. You can add formula to it to make it soft enough for him to eat. Good luck!!!

Fina - posted on 01/04/2010

Hello Tracey, sounds like your baby is getting all the nutrition it needs. Meat is not really necessary. At his age you can add well cooked legumes such as red lentils (then progress to well cooked brown lentils, mashed chickpeas) to his veges. This will provide a great low fat source of protein, minerals and fibre. Introduce wholemeal bread instead of white as white has no nutritional value at all and if you introduce at a young age he will love it and get used to it.

MELINDA - posted on 01/04/2010

My babies loved navy beans and pintos. Refried beans. yum.

Colleen - posted on 01/04/2010

I would check with your pediatrician before giving your baby anything new, but especially beans. I am allergic to peanuts and several types of beans and was told that was a common allergy connection! My youngest was allergic to fish and eggs when we fed them to her at 15 months, but she out grew it. I think it is fine to wait for meat until they are over a year, especially if they are still nursing or getting formula. It is a very individual decision what to feed, considering no one else knows the baby and if it is a natural adversion, maybe because they can't process meats yet, because they are allergic to it, or because they don't care for the texture. The number of teeth your baby has, how well the child is thriving, and if they have a sensitive gag reflex (which could cause him to choke more easily on chopped foods) are all things only you know. Trust your instincts and if you try meats again several times in 2 or 3 months and he is still not interested, then talk to your pediatrician and see what they suggest, but remember, they don't know your child as well as you do!

Dana - posted on 01/04/2010

dont blend it they want the texture..i have a 9 month old and she eats very small pieces of meat if u have to chew it yourself a little and then give to the baby it also depends on how many teeth the baby has mine has 7...

Helen - posted on 01/03/2010

amino acids don't have "names". during training as a tpn specialist you are taught that there are about 7% of amino acids that are only present in meat. I know I'd trust my education from doctors I know and have in front of me than a google search with info from who knows who

Debi - posted on 01/03/2010

Don't start him with red meats, they seem to not like it as much. Chicken nuggets are good and keep the pieces very small, but don't blend it, I don't think this will help you much. Does he have any teeth yet? You'd be suprised at what a baby can chew!

Rebecca - posted on 01/03/2010

Moms, check out this very interesting article about what kinds of foods kids like:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1...

"Children inherit their taste for meat and fish but acquire a liking for vegetables or desserts, researchers say."

Rebecca - posted on 01/03/2010

Quoting helen:

Quoting Rebecca:

FACT: There are NO amino acids only found in meat. Vitamin B12 is only found in meat OR animal products, so vegans may lack this nutrient, but supplements can be taken.

where do you get that fact Rebecca - I have trained in pharmaceutics including training under specialist dieticians from great ormond street hospital in London and that's not what the experts say. One of my jobs was making tpn  for all ages and our biggest problem is providing certain amino acids because they are only found in meat/fish and cannot be sythezised or found elsewhere.

I'm not going to throw around any credentials because I don't have them -- I simply did a google search.  But since you are a trained expert, please list those "certain amino acids" so that we may all be educated on what we're missing if we don't eat meat.

Sheri - posted on 01/03/2010

The only meat my boys (three of them) would eat was the gerber? ham mixed with apples or sweet potatoes. I could also sneak in the chicken with peas. As for real meat, none of my kids ate meat till they had all their teeth ( except easily chewable mystery meats like nuggets and hot dogs) I thin real meat is just too hard to chew. Give them protien like peanutbutter, eggs, soybeans, etc...Dont worry...he will get enough.

Leanne - posted on 01/03/2010

Perhaps try not blending his meat? I personally wouldn't like it. xD

My boy is nine months old as well.. We give him meats that are cooked tender and can come apart easily is squished with your fingers.. We cut it up into tiny peices and let him feed himself. He's loves this!
Try chicken, turkey, steak.. Anything as long as it can be squished or come apart easily. Unless your baby has teeth already, then it can be a little tougher.. but try the easy to eat stuff first!

Penela - posted on 01/03/2010

I have tried everything that you guys posted and my daughter is 6 now and she has never liked the taste of meat its just how some kids are she just dont eat meat

Dairene - posted on 01/03/2010

I agree it's inaccurate to use the word carnivores. I just used it to emphasize that ancient man ate meat. And I agree too that the meat we eat now is different from the meat even 50 years ago, at least, in the US.

April - posted on 01/03/2010

I never did the jar foods, my kids typically ate what ever my husband and I were having for supper, cut into baby bites or mushed. My daughter is 6 and she has never really been a meat eater. I would sneak it to her in things like spaghetti or chicken alfredo and she ate it problem free.

Jessica - posted on 01/03/2010

most kids actually don't like the taste of meat. my kids were vegetarians until they were at least 2. they were fine. just make sure they get enough protein though lentils, cheese, dairy, etc. they'll be fine. my kids are still vegetarians 90% of the time as am i 100% of the time...

Valerie - posted on 01/03/2010

peanut butter, eggs, and beans are great proteins. Kids don't like to chew meat. Hot dogs are awful but if you give them to your baby, cut the slices in quarters so they don't choke. Make sure the meat is real tender and cut it small and put it on his plate. Don't worry if he doesn't eat it. eventually he will get a taste for it

Helen - posted on 01/02/2010

Quoting Rebecca:

FACT: There are NO amino acids only found in meat. Vitamin B12 is only found in meat OR animal products, so vegans may lack this nutrient, but supplements can be taken.

where do you get that fact Rebecca - I have trained in pharmaceutics including training under specialist dieticians from great ormond street hospital in London and that's not what the experts say. One of my jobs was making tpn  for all ages and our biggest problem is providing certain amino acids because they are only found in meat/fish and cannot be sythezised or found elsewhere.

Helen - posted on 01/02/2010

I don't think you are getting me, i never said fruits and veggies don't contain protein just that they don't contain ALL the essential amino acids that our bodies need to develop. To get all the amino acids we need we need a balanced diet of fruit,veg,pulses and meat/fish

Kristahiri - posted on 01/02/2010

i would say mix the meat with a vegetable he likes... may be that will help him and it will get you a better texture..may be is too watery for him?

Ann - posted on 01/02/2010

Maybe the mush is boring. Try giving sliced sandwich meat cut into small pieces so he doesn't choke, but big enough for him to pick up and eat.

Jessica - posted on 01/02/2010

According to my mother, I never liked the meat and to this day I just don't like the taste. Here's the approach I take to feeding my child: For the most part I stick with what she likes (which I'm finding is mainly fruit) because it is more important to me that she eats something that's still healthy for her. I keep trying stuff she doesn't like because their tastes can change a lot. One day she'll love something and gag on it the next or the other way around. My daughter isn't a huge fan of it either. Don't stress it, really. You can still develop good eating habits around what he does and doesn't like. If mixing it with other things he does like doesn't work just keep trying it now and then. It's certainly not a horrible thing if he doesn't like it yet. It can all change, usually without notice. Good luck!

Rebecca - posted on 01/02/2010

FACT: There are NO amino acids only found in meat. Vitamin B12 is only found in meat OR animal products, so vegans may lack this nutrient, but supplements can be taken.

Jessica - posted on 01/02/2010

Have you tasted the meat? It is gross! I used to give mine kids the sweet potatoes and chicken or apples and chicken, the mixed jars. The meat in the jars is really not tasty. Good luck :)

Heather - posted on 01/02/2010

Have you tried mixing the meat with other fruit or vege's? That worked well for my son.

Elizabeth, Beth, Liz - posted on 01/02/2010

LOL try peanutbutter its also protein like meats..and just give him a little time but keep trying a couple of times a week with the meat

Susan - posted on 01/02/2010

Here is some nifty info on fruit and veggie protein content for those that aren't aware that fruits and veggies have protein...

http://www.dietaryfiberfood.com/protein/...

Rebecca - posted on 01/02/2010

Quoting Tracy:

what to do about meat!!

my 9 month old is going through a BOX of baby cereal a day! He eats his fruit and vegetables, loves his apple sauce and bannanas but REFUSES to eat meat. My doctor told me that its ok to start him on meats now, but how in the world do I get him to eat it?? I use a blender and make sure its almost liquid so he wont choke but maybe its the taste or texture?? I need some advise on what eles to give my growing boy! ( I dont buy jars of food, everything is home made. )

Tracy,

First, I just wanted to give you kudos for making your own baby food!  I make my son's food, as well, and it's great knowing that I'm giving him the healthiest, freshest food possible.  It's also a great money saver!

Second, I wanted to recommend that you stop buying boxes of infant cereal and make your own cereals from steel cut or old-fashioned rolled oats (look at the health food store) and brown rice.  You can grind these in a food processor to make them a little finer until your son is ready for the chunkier texture.  This will save you a lot of money and is healthier, anyway.  Send me a PM if you are interested in recipes, or check out www.wholesomebabyfood.com

Third, are you aware that breastmilk (or infant formula) should be your son's primary source of nutrition (at least 75%) through the first year?   If he's eating a whole box of baby cereal a day, I doubt that solids are making up less than 25% of this daily intake.  That means he's not getting the essential fats, proteins, iron, and other nutrients provided by breastmilk (or formula).

Finally, as other mothers have said, you are not alone!  I think it's pretty common for babies to not like meat.  My son is 10.5 months and is breastfed, so I know that he is getting everything he needs from me and don't worry about trying to force or "sneak" other foods into his diet.  We have focused on giving him the most nutritious fruits & veggies (and some homemade oatmeal and rice) to introduce him to solid foods.  He's had a few bites of turkey but did not like it.  I'll probably try grinding up some turkey or chicken and see if he prefers that texture.  But I know that meat is not *necessary* so I won't be worried if he doesn't like it.

Helen - posted on 01/02/2010

Quoting Susan:

Helen, That is great that you have extensive studies..However, Have you ever stopped to think that maybe veggies and fruits have the essential proteins that humans need???

There is a great book that I love to recommend to people regarding this. It is called The Detox Miracle Sourcebook.. by Robert Morse N.D. I have the link to it on my website as well.. It explains in detail what a protein is and also explains that the proteins humans need are definitely provided by fruits and veggies..

If you read my post properly I stated that there are certain amino acids (the building blocks of proteins) that can ONLY be found in meat, they are not present in veggies, pulses etc nor can they be synthetically made

Rebecca - posted on 01/02/2010

Quoting Tessa:

try the meals for toddlers in the baby area at walmart. Gerber meals I think they are called. The meat is nice and tiny so it won't make him turn his nose up to fast. My son loved those when he was one. Plus the are healthy as well. That or you can get the chicken nuggets that are shaped like dinosaurs to warm him up to real meat.

I strongly disagree with all the advice to give your child processed meats in the from of meat sticks, hot dogs, and chicken nuggets. First, these foods are choking hazards for a 9 month old.  Second, none of these choices are as healthy as plain chicken, turkey, lamb, pork, beef, or any of the many meat alternatives (sources of protein, iron, etc.), many of which were suggested above: tofu, beans, lentils, yogurt, etc. 

I don't see the point of introducing these junk foods to babies.  Any "benefit" in terms of getting the child to ingest meat product is outweighed by the extra fat, preservatives, etc.  Any nutritionist would agree on that point. 

Finally, think about this:  you hear so many parents complain about how their child "won't eat anything but hot dogs and chicken nuggets!"  You won't have that problem if you encourage them to find healthy alternatives instead.  I'm not saying kids should NEVER have a chicken nugget or a hot dog, but we are talking about a 9 month old baby here.  It's so critical to get your child started on healthy choices when s/he is forming his/her palate to prevent obesity and other health problems down the road.

Michelle - posted on 01/02/2010

I wanted to quote something I just came across from Erin, but somehow can't find it.She mentioned Quinoa and I wanted to agree with her on trying that as well. It's really just about trying different things. My daughter loves something one day and hates it the next. If he won't eat something now, try it again in a week or so you might be surprised.

Michelle - posted on 01/02/2010

I wouldn't worry about him not eating meat. Are you concerned about him needing protein? If that is the reason, try bean. They are a great source of protein and you can blend them quite easily as well.

Lauryl - posted on 01/02/2010

Actually, human beings have always been omnivores, which means they both hunted meat and foraged for fruits and vegetables. Of course, hunter-gatherer societies probably depended much more on meat that we do now. But it's really comparing apples and oranges, isn't it? We are not a hunter-gatherer society anymore. It's kind of pointless to argue that we should keep doing something only because it has been done that way in the past, especially thousands of years in the past. It would be easy enough to argue from the opposite of your argument as well. I'm not saying that I think that Susan is right and that humans aren't meant to eat meat, but I am pointing out that it's inaccurate to call us carnivores.
Besides that, the meat we eat now is different than the meat we ate thousands of years ago, or even fifty years ago, for that matter.

I don't have a problem with people choosing for themselves to eat meat, but I do have a problem with a lot of the defensiveness people approach vegetarianism with, especially when they find out that I'm raising my kids with the same values.

I will point out that I am ovo-lacto vegetarian, so I can't speak here to Susan's claims, because I don't know enough about vegan nutrition, but I will say that my child's pediatrician is fully in support of our food choices. We monitor our kid, give him healthy foods, not too much processed junk, and no meat. He is a fine, smart, healthy kid. If he chooses to eat meat when he's grown up, so be it. That would be his decision to make.

Dairene - posted on 01/02/2010

Whether or not someone decides to be vegetarian or vegan, human beings, from the time they existed, have always been carnivores, at least, as far as I know. Agriculture is a relatively recent invention.

Susan - posted on 01/02/2010

Helen, That is great that you have extensive studies..However, Have you ever stopped to think that maybe veggies and fruits have the essential proteins that humans need???



There is a great book that I love to recommend to people regarding this. It is called The Detox Miracle Sourcebook.. by Robert Morse N.D. I have the link to it on my website as well.. It explains in detail what a protein is and also explains that the proteins humans need are definitely provided by fruits and veggies..

Helen - posted on 01/02/2010

Quoting Susan:

Well being a Raw Vegan, I am kinda biased in my response..but..I have learned that humans aren't meant to eat meat.. I used to be a meat eater a little over 2 yrs ago..but. I have changed my ways in favor of better healthy life.. I have a website I put together with lots of info I found in my internet research..if you are interested..

http://www.freewebs.com/nontoxicsusan

Babies instinctively know what they need as far as nourishment to grow..which is mainly fruits and veggies and water or alternative milks like nutmilks and rice milks..

I beg to differ susan - i am a qualified pharmaceutical technician, i have studied under professionals from the great ormond street hospital in London as well as working there and in other hospitals specializing in the care of babies and children.

 There are essential ammino acids that are needed for a baby to develop that cannot be replicated either naturally in other foods or in a lab. Being a vegan is your choice but to say that humans aren't meant to eat meat - if we weren't meant to we wouldn't have incisor and canine teeth. I totally respect your choice but from a scientist's point of  view there is no evidence to back up your claim

Susan - posted on 01/02/2010

Cristina, I do understand how you can feel that my response was a bit over the edge.. If I were still eating animal products.. Perhaps I would feel the same way.. I ask you to please read somewhere about what a protein really is.. I have lots of info on that in my website.. Knowing what a protein really is definitely explains (to me) why humans don't need animal meat for protein.. And for those that mentioned Soy.. I agree.. Soy is Toxic.. I wasn't suggesting to give nuts to an infant..I give my 4 yr old son, Organic Almond Milk and he is thriving...Been feeding him the almond milk since he was 2 yrs old.. Back when I didn't know any better, I gave him soymilk and boy he was so sick..



Anyways, Please give that info a read..before you dish out such harsh judgement on someone like me..



Hugs,



Susan

Helen - posted on 01/02/2010

at nine month and without having cut a tooth my son refuses to eat a meat puree but very small chunks of meats mixed with veggies. please do persevere because although you can replace some proteins from meat with lentilsetc there are certain amino acids (that are the building blocks of proteins) that are essentiel and only found in meats (ie you cannot reproduce them chemically or find other natural sources of them) My son also preferred chicken at first, then mince, lamb. He started eating meat in small quantities at about 6 months old and now at 9 months there isn't anything he won't eat

Amy - posted on 01/02/2010

and i got a chuckle out of the



"If humans were not meant to eat meat, then WHY were animals (like cows, bulls, fish, etc) ever put on Earth?



there's also poison ivy, but i'm not going to eat that! lol. and some countries DO eat cat and dog. some animals on earth are poisonous to eat [fish included]. just because something is there isnt a reason to eat it. if whales didn't eat krill and plankton, it'd overrun our waters. they all have a purpose. we all have a roll. i don't care if you eat meat or not. it doens't matter to me. she was just asking for ways to get him to eat it because she thought he needed it for his diet since he is such a healthy eater.

Michelle - posted on 01/02/2010

have you tried tofu? pretty bland, if taste is the issue, can mix in with other stuff - or protein powder from Whole Foods, to add to the cereal - good luck - a whole box! wow!

Amy - posted on 01/02/2010

my daughter didn't and still doesn't really care for meat. my son...daddy gave him one of those really tough beef jerkys and he's teething..enough said! he went to town on it. he couldn't really eat it, but had fun chewing and he's started to slowly add some meats in and enjoy them. if it's ground and with other things [if you have a baby food grinder] - like pastas, etc. or are soft meats you can put in one of those mesh bags, i t may help. some kids just get curious and eat them simply because they're handling it themselves at that age, then like them. my daughter is 3 and still won't eat meat. she's healthy and i'm not too worried. she eats nuts and beans like crazy and loves her fruits and veggies. i wouldn't worry about it.

Lauryl - posted on 01/02/2010

Quoting Christina:
"If humans were not meant to eat meat, then WHY were animals (like cows, bulls, fish, etc) ever put on Earth? I'll give you a hint.. It wasn't so we could just sit back and look at them. If humans did not NEED meat, they would have NEVER been put on earth, only the "pretty" animals would have been, like dogs and cats.."

I, myself am a vegetarian (not vegan, just vegetarian), but I am willing to acknowledge that as omnivores, we humans are designed to be eat meat as well as plant foods.

That said, it's completely ridiculous to claim that the only reason animals were put on the Earth was so that humans could eat them.

I am not saying that I disagree with the entire contents of your post. It's true that giving babies soy milk can make them really sick (...my husband accidentally gave our son soy milk once when he was under a year and it was not pretty). I also agree that babies don't really "just know" what they need.

But it's positively asinine to suggest that humans MUST eat meat to live a happy healthy life, or that the ONLY reason animals (oh, excuse me, except for the cute ones...which, btw, is a fairly culturally biased thing to say anyway. In some countries, they do eat dogmeat.) Both of these are arguments I've come up against in my decision to be vegetarian and raise my children that way. The ONLY argument most people can come up with for the "animals are just there for us to use" argument is the Christian "God said so" argument, which I don't buy. There is simply no evidence for it. There IS, however, that the vast variety of biomass on the Earth serves to keep our planet functioning healthily for all lifeforms, and thus, it is our duty to help protect it by not abusing the resources that we have or the other creatures that call this planet home. Eating less meat (esp. mass-produced, factory-farmed antibiotic-ridden meat) is one way we can do that. Beyond that, we may choose, morally, not to participate in the organized torture of other animal species, and that might be a good thing for the soul.

Just because you CAN do something doesn't mean that you SHOULD.

C. - posted on 01/02/2010

Quoting Susan:

Well being a Raw Vegan, I am kinda biased in my response..but..I have learned that humans aren't meant to eat meat.. I used to be a meat eater a little over 2 yrs ago..but. I have changed my ways in favor of better healthy life.. I have a website I put together with lots of info I found in my internet research..if you are interested..

http://www.freewebs.com/nontoxicsusan

Babies instinctively know what they need as far as nourishment to grow..which is mainly fruits and veggies and water or alternative milks like nutmilks and rice milks..

If humans were not meant to eat meat, then WHY were animals (like cows, bulls, fish, etc) ever put on Earth? I'll give you a hint.. It wasn't so we could just sit back and look at them. If humans did not NEED meat, they would have NEVER been put on earth, only the "pretty" animals would have been, like dogs and cats..

Also, you are NOT supposed to give nut-based milks to babies! They are too young and could develop nut allergies! Why do you think you are not supposed to give peanut butter to a child until they are at LEAST one year old, even though it is recommended to wait until 2 years..?? B/c they can develop allergies! The younger the child is when you give them allergy-prone foods, the bigger the chance that they can develop an allergy to that particular food.

And no, babies do NOT instinctively know what they need as far as nourishment.. That's why WE AS PARENTS have to choose what foods they get, b/c if it were up to a one year old what they should eat, they would be eating dirt or wood chips from the playground, paper that they got a hold of, etc.. Let alone a 9 month old?? Come on! If we left it up for our babies to decide what they NEED nutritionally, half of them would be fat b/c they would eat tons of junk food, and the other half would be malnourished b/c they wouldn't eat at all!!

Susan - posted on 01/01/2010

Well being a Raw Vegan, I am kinda biased in my response..but..I have learned that humans aren't meant to eat meat.. I used to be a meat eater a little over 2 yrs ago..but. I have changed my ways in favor of better healthy life.. I have a website I put together with lots of info I found in my internet research..if you are interested..

http://www.freewebs.com/nontoxicsusan

Babies instinctively know what they need as far as nourishment to grow..which is mainly fruits and veggies and water or alternative milks like nutmilks and rice milks..

Cassie - posted on 01/01/2010

mix it with a really strong fruit and even oatmeal. Its new just keep trying. He doesn't need a lot just some at this age so don't stress but do try.
I don't know where your son is at with eating but my daughter ate chicken and steak very small pieces by the mouth full before she would touch the puree stuff.

D - posted on 01/01/2010

it's quite ok, you could give him a chicken drumstick,be sure to take that little bone out, watch him closely for the quantity that in going into his mouth so that he won't get choked, if he likes the taste then you may want to pull the chicken off of the bone and cut it up in little pieces.

Kim - posted on 01/01/2010

I wouldn't worry too much. I've learned from my own kids that they'll eat what they need. If your worried about proteins, I could sometimes get yogurt (Yo Baby), cottage cheese, mashed beans and mashed tofu into my kids. Sometimes I had to mix it into something they like. My son chose to eat vegetarian until he was almost 3 (loads of bread with butter and cheerios--not the most balanced diet but he was thriving). After that, he slowly started to eat almost everything (even sushi!). If your child is healthy and growing don't fret about it. Keep offering, eventually he'll come around.

Dianna - posted on 01/01/2010

He doesn't "need" meat.... why do you worry? It will be a natural course of his growth and development. But, not "necessary" at this point. Just because our docs say it is "okay" to do something, does not mean that it is something we "have" to do. He is getting veggies and liquids, he is good to go~ Meats are VERY difficult for our bodies to digest (even for adults it takes almost a week to digest, did you know that?!) So, really, this is nothing to worry over..... it will come, as he grows..... naturally.

Janyre - posted on 01/01/2010

You might try legumes (beans and lentils). They are much easier for babies to "chew" and contain a ton of protein and fiber. You can get the cans and just rinse them well (to get rid of some of the sodium) or soak the dried beans. I also started my kids on mostly ground meat patties (think hamburgers) and then cut them into small bites. My kids would have hated the blender thing by the way.

Audra - posted on 01/01/2010

My 9 month old son was in the same position. I will try everything I feed him, and around Thanksgiving I bought him a jar of 'ham.' Not only was the texture nasty, it didn't taste like ham at_all. His pediatrician prescribed us an iron supplement - a liquid I can mix into his food/drink. Otherwise, at 9 months old my son can eat tiny pieces of the meat we are eating. Blending it/putting it through a food processor like you're doing is great. There are also other sources of protein until your little man is better with small pieces of meat.