I Have a Six Year Old Who Wont Eat Meat

don't worry about it too much L.,
my kids are the same way they are 7, 10 & 12.

besides all meats provide the exact same amino acids that your child needs to grow (weather its chicken, beef fish, or pork.) only the fat content is concerning to me

Also, you need to understand children between 6 and 11 years old only need 2 ounces of protien at lunch time and again at supper time.
Eggs, beans and legumes also provide protien
hope this helps

I have a young cousin who had the same issue. Her parents figured out that she likes to "dip" things and when she tried A1 sauce on her steak.... it suddenly became a requirement for every single meal and it was the only way they could get her to eat anything - was if it had A1 sauce on it. Kinda gross I know - but hey - atlest she ate it, right? Maybe the key is to find a little trick, whether its dipping or letting him choose how many bites, etc.
Make it a game.
Good Luck.

I wouldn't push it. We don't need as much meat as we have been led to believe. However, speaking from personal experience, don't get in the habit of making a separate meal for him. I did this for my girls, and it has been a horrible habit to break!!! If he doesn't eat the meat every time, fine, but maybe he doesn't get dessert then, or has to have a healthy snack later on, rather then a sweet treat! Maybe that will be enough to expand his food repertoire!

Hi, L. P! I'm a L. P too!

I agree not to make it a battle. It just gives them an opportunity to dig in their heels. Instead, I offer some of whatever the other option is without pushing too much. Eventually they'll try. I also talk to them about how tastebuds grow and change as we get older--things that taste terrible when you're two taste great when you're 8, etc.

Good luck!

L.,
I agree not to worry about it too much. We have been quite successful with the "I provide the meal and he decides how much of what he eats" method. This eliminates food battles. We do require my son to have at least a bite of everything if he wants dessert. However, we ask him how many bites he should have. He usually says 3 or 5. He doesn't know that 1 would have been fine! The key is to only have healthy things on the plate. Lots of vegetable, fruit, and protein. Keep introducing the problematic foods. After something is familiar he is more likely to eat it. YIn the meantime find sneaky ways to get the protein in. We are vegetarians and my son is allergic to egg. We still manage to get him more than enough protein. And, he probably eats a better variety of foods than I do.

I am a vegetarian, the only one in the house so I make plenty of veggies and beans, meat is not really not the main attraction. I remember when my children love nuggets, I made them myself so not to have anything to unhealthy. I do have a rule that what I make is what is for dinner. My children do like veggie burgers, they are yummy! good luck!

I'd have to agree with Monica, L.. I wouldn't worry about it too much - kids grow in and out of food aversions all the time. Both of my kids have gone through this (son, 9, and daughter, 5) with different foods. My son, who used to eat everything, is now extremely picky over what he eats - my daughter has taken the reverse role - she used to not eat a thing, but now loves to try new foods!
:-) P.

Hi there! I don't know whether your son has always been this way or if this is something new.

My daughter is also 6 years old but it is nothing new that she doesn't eat meat. She hasn't really done any meat since she was born... For a while she did eat chicken nuggets but that was until one day someone HAD to remind her that it has meat in it. I spoke to her doctor and a dietician. They both said to let her be but make sure she takes her vitamins, make natural peanut butter and I sometimes give her a protein bar.

I figure it is a small way to get her to have some protein. At dinner I stopped making her her own different meals because with 3 daughters that gets exhausting and old quick! Instead I make sure her portion of the other non-meat items are bigger. Seems to work...

How long has he been doing this? It could be a phase that he is going through. HAve you asked him why he wont eat meat? Maybe someone said something to gross him out at school or something. I would let it go for now and make sure he has protein from other foods, eggs, peanut butter, etc. Maybe if you let it go and dont have the nightly arguments, he will also let it go. You could also take him shopping and have him pick out one meat that he will have that week and let him off the hook on the other days...might work, who knows? My son also does not like to eat meat...he is almost 10...but we make him eat a little at dinner with us. But when he first started complaining, it was not something I wanted to fight over. We have talked with him and it is much better now...there is hope! Hope this helps.