question for anyone

[freakygirl]

My daughter flat out refuses to eat meat..

I don't care what you do to disguise it, she will not eat it.

Tonight I fixed chicken stir-fry and rice. I gave her rice (she likes butter and cinnamon on it), a small amount of the vegetables (broccoli, baby corn, onion, pepper, carrots and mushrooms). She asked for some “Scottish cheese with those little baby oranges on it” (Cottage cheese with mandarin oranges). I gave that to her also.

She devoured it. Asked for more.. ate in total.. 3 plates of it.

She is 6 years old (7 in August) and only weighs 36 pounds. (I can’t remember her height, but according to her doctor she is healthy and growing right)

How do I get the nutrition of meat into her diet without forcing her to eat meat? (btw, the ONLY meat she will eat is hot dogs, which she gets very rarely)

 

[Starblayde]

think like a vegetarian/vegan.... they need protein too w/out meat.

Therein lies the answer

"If we should all be vegetarians, why are all animals made out of meat?" Johnny Vaughn interviewing Alicia Silverstone

 

[Mae13]

Well, there are always soy products...

Another good "meat replacement" area to look is the legume family...beans/peas/etc...and nuts. Although I am a happy omnivore and love a good bloody hunk of beef on occasion, it is perfectly healthy NOT to eat meat, as long as your are getting protiens and other things from other sources!

As far as the content of hot dogs...can you really classify them as meat?! Lol Good luck, keep feeding her those veggies too!

mae

 

[MunchinMark]

When I was a kid I went through a phase of not wanting to eat meat. And it was a phase, I am perfectly happy to let people eat as they please, except when they decide that their dogs should be vegetarian too. My actual diet did not change in the slightest, this is because my mother simply lied and told me it was soya.

I'm not suggesting that you lie to your daughter. But soya and other beans are good sources of protein. Dairy products, which she seems perfectly happy about are good too.

 

[freakygirl]

Well, there are always soy products...

Another good "meat replacement" area to look is the legume family...beans/peas/etc...and nuts. Although I am a happy omnivore and love a good bloody hunk of beef on occasion, it is perfectly healthy NOT to eat meat, as long as your are getting protiens and other things from other sources!

As far as the content of hot dogs...can you really classify them as meat?! Lol Good luck, keep feeding her those veggies too!

mae

Mae,

Thank you for your imput. I haven't toyed much with the legume family.. she isn't much of a bean or pea eater either (unless it's fresh-out of papas garden peas).

The hot dog thing.. Exactly my point. At her dads house they are a main staple. At home.. I don't think I've had them in my house for years. Thank god she only goes to his house twice a month.

 

[Guest]

Perhaps socializing with children the same age in a situation where the food options are limited (IE McDonalds or something better than that) and having them model eating meat. Monkey see, monkey do. Chicken nuggets are a good choice. At least she eats other good thinks. My 2 year old.......... lets just say I can sympathize with you.

 

[Mae13]

Mae,

Thank you for your imput. I haven't toyed much with the legume family.. she isn't much of a bean or pea eater either (unless it's fresh-out of papas garden peas).

The hot dog thing.. Exactly my point. At her dads house they are a main staple. At home.. I don't think I've had them in my house for years. Thank god she only goes to his house twice a month.

Well, there are more than just them! Lentils, chickpeas...all good sources of proteins! Soups are darn good ways to sneak those into a diet, btw! A hearty veggie/lentil soup, something like that.

There are tons of fabulous Eastern dishes with those as main components too! Yum....good falafel is to die for!

Hehe, or you can just fill her up on hot dogs and bologna! She'll be preserved forever!!

 

[scrymettet]

Is fish an option ?
You can always add tofu to her meals as protein supply

 

[freakygirl]

Perhaps socializing with children the same age in a situation where the food options are limited (IE McDonalds or something better than that) and having them model eating meat. Monkey see, monkey do. Chicken nuggets are a good choice. At least she eats other good thinks. My 2 year old.......... lets just say I can sympathize with you.

First off.. she has seen me.. her father.. her grandmother and all 9 of her siblings eat meat. That isn't the problem here. I don't want to "force" her to eat it. I am looking for ideas of things that have the nutrition comparable to meat.


I know nothing about vegetarian/vegan diets. I am doing a search about it now though.

 

[JazzManJim]

How do I get the nutrition of meat into her diet without forcing her to eat meat? (btw, the ONLY meat she will eat is hot dogs, which she gets very rarely)

I'm completely with Mae on this one. The Legume family is great for protein and, as long as her Doc isn't concerned, I wouldn't be either.

It wouldn't hurt to discuss this with him also to get his advice on where to find "meat nutrition" aside from meat.

In all, I think it's good that she generally has great eating habits. You should be very proud of the job you've done with her!

 

[freakygirl]

oh.. fish! I hadn't thought about that. She absolutly loves fish.

Being here in Washington state.. (only 30 miles or so from the coast) We have fresh fish at our finger tips.

She loves salmon.. she loves tuna.. she loves crab..

I have all of those..

damn.. never even thought about it..

Thank you!


Now I need fish recipes.. LOL (that a 6 year old is sure to love)

 

[scrymettet]

Being here in Washington state.. (only 30 miles or so from the coast) We have fresh fish at our finger tips.

have you room for a hound with cat taste ?

for the recipes ?
fish and French fries

What kind does she love ?

 

[Mae13]

oh.. fish! I hadn't thought about that. She absolutly loves fish.

Being here in Washington state.. (only 30 miles or so from the coast) We have fresh fish at our finger tips.

She loves salmon.. she loves tuna.. she loves crab..

I have all of those..

damn.. never even thought about it..

Thank you!


Now I need fish recipes.. LOL (that a 6 year old is sure to love)

*DROOL* Umm.....Freaky? Can I come live with you too? I promise I'll act just like another one of the kids, only I clean and cook too! Can we eat seafood every night? Dungie please?!!!

*drowning in the middle of the country with NO good seafood*
mae

 

[freakygirl]

Re: Re: question for anyone

I'm completely with Mae on this one. The Legume family is great for protein and, as long as her Doc isn't concerned, I wouldn't be either.

It wouldn't hurt to discuss this with him also to get his advice on where to find "meat nutrition" aside from meat.

In all, I think it's good that she generally has great eating habits. You should be very proud of the job you've done with her!

She was born to eat. It's amazing she doesn't weigh more. But then again.. neither did I at that age Hopefully she doesn't take after mom.. LOL

Thank you for the compliment. Out of all my kids (i have 3 more besides her) She has been the hardest.

Originally posted by scrymettet
have you room for a hound with cat taste ?

Do you get along with other dogs? I have 3.. Sara (real dog), Samantha (another real dog) and Baddog (my boyfriend)

 

[DustyWolfe]

Not liking meat is actually perfectly normal. She is going through a phase. Most little kids don't like meat because they don't like the way it feels in their mouth and how long it takes them to chew it.

My godson went through this and the dr said to just let them eat the things they will eat that are healthy for them.

If she likes cottage cheese then let her eat it all she wants.

When I was little I didn't like meat... Actually, I don't eat much meat even now.

 

[freakygirl]

*DROOL* Umm.....Freaky? Can I come live with you too? I promise I'll act just like another one of the kids, only I clean and cook too! Can we eat seafood every night? Dungie please?!!!

*drowning in the middle of the country with NO good seafood*
mae

Mae.. I'm kicking my brother out of the spare room as we speak. The sheets will be changed in about an hour. When will you be here?

woo hoo.. someone who cooks and cleans!

 

[ksmybuttons]

If you can find it anymore, try "Diet for a Small Planet." It gives the combinations you need to get a complete protein when eating vegetarian. Since she eats dairy, just put some dairy with your beans and you are set.

No self respecting old hippy could live without it...

And since she eats fish, you really don't have a problem at all. Most of us have a volume control issue on what we really need, anyway.

 

[freakygirl]

Not liking meat is actually perfectly normal. She is going through a phase. Most little kids don't like meat because they don't like the way it feels in their mouth and how long it takes them to chew it.

My godson went through this and the dr said to just let them eat the things they will eat that are healthy for them.

If she likes cottage cheese then let her eat it all she wants.

When I was little I didn't like meat... Actually, I don't eat much meat even now.

You know.. this kind of reminds me of my youngest son (he is 11 almost 12 now). He had failure to thrive as an infant up until he was about 4 (he weighed 12 lbs at a year old, 16 lbs at 2 years old, and didn't hit 30 lbs until he was almost 7..Today he is a very healthy normal sized child).

We fought to get him to eat. The only thing I could get him to eat was ketchup. The dr told us to put it on everything and see if he would eat it. His favorite was peanut butter and ketchup sandwiches. I guess I shouldn't worry much.. LOL Atleast she doesn't eat like he did.

 

[stargazer]

Your daughter reminds me of my daughter when she was around 8 years old. She also decided that she was going to be a vegetarian. I fixed our normal meals and she ate everything but the meat. I think she was dallying in individualism and trying to "find" herself. One day she started eating meat again-out of the blue. She still won't eat Pork; but, as a support for a Jewish friend. This may be a shot at trying to be different from others and that that choice makes her special in some way. Maybe, just a thought....Good Luck

 

[Fly_On_Wall]

freakygurl I don't eat meat well I do very little, not by choice just cause I can't

I eat lots of cheese thought and lots of eggs( not too much) and noodles too.

doctor tole my mom cheese and eggs are just as good as meet.

I have cheese with most every and any meal. they say that this will constipate you but witht he lack of meat it dosn't so you won't have to worry about that

 

[GreenEyedGirl]

Another fabulous source of protein is peanut butter. And a great source of iron is spinach. So if your daughter will eat those things along with fish and seafood, she'll be fine.
As far as fish recipes go, go to receipesource.com and search for kid friendly fish receipes. And my nieces and newphews are BIG fans of the simple fish and chips fare, only the fish is not fried, but dipped in bread crumbs and baked. They devour it.
Good luck with your budding veggie!

 

[DustyWolfe]

At least she will eat fish and crab and stuff
Seafood is high in antioxidants. She will be fine.
I am sorry to hear about your son that suffered from failure to thrive but glad he is ok now.

 

[sch00lteacher]

My daughter flat out refuses to eat meat..

She is 6 years old (7 in August) and only weighs 36 pounds. (I can’t remember her height, but according to her doctor she is healthy and growing right)

All that really matters is that she is healthy and growing right. I'd break out the old Flintstone Chewables. I think every kid goes through this.

I simply love your new AV. Fantastic.

 

[Hamletmaschine]

Try giving her SPAM.

You could tell her it's not meat, and you wouldn't really be lying to her.


Seriously, though, you can't go wrong with beans and rice!

I'm no nutrition expert, but I think you're supposed to serve 'em together to get the full benefits of the protein.

 

[EvilBrat74]

You could take your girl to long john silvers and order the chicken strips and tell her that their fish.Their deep fried in the same grease and would have a slight fish taste and smell. I'd say someone has influenced her to not eat meat.Mabe someone that would want her to grow up skinny?
I donno.....it's just a thought.