My Son Doesn't like to Eat Any Meat.

Have him try for lunch chicken strips or tenders and give him barbeque sauce or ranch with them. My son loves to dip his chicken strips in barbeque sauce. Than, he'll probably start liking meat.

Lots of kids at this age don't like meat. Keep serving it to him, and he'll eat it eventually. Make up the protein in cheese, milk, yogurt, beans, and peanut butter. He'll stay healthy even without meat for a while, don't worry about that. He'll eat meat eventually, too, just keep serving it to him. Let him eat it or not, and don't beg or bribe. You definitely don't want it to become a control issue.

Jess

Wow you're lucky S.! My first thought was "who watches him during the day while you work, what are they feeding him, is something happening during the day to create his non-meat eating"?? Recently my neice shared w/me & my brother: "boy my son will ONLY eat Macaroni & Cheese"! My brother later pointed out to me....it's of course the BOXED M&C!! Instant! My brother said "do you ever notice people's kids conveniently seem to "ONLY EAT" those type foods..only Burger King, etc". He said "You never hear someones child ONLY likes fresh made mashed potatoes & chicken franchaise"! That was a great point! Who's giving him this M&C? Of course her son only likes M&C it's easy for HER. So consider yourself lucky.. .usually parents have to FIGHT to get them to eat veggies & fruits!
You should read (google) about the (poor) quality of meat we have in this country these days. Most "antibiotics" treated cows.. "special breeding" for meat. I can't eat meat the same anymore. There are places that STILL allow their cows to graze the old fashioned way.. not corn fed & cramped in together.. w/disease spreading! Now I don't know.. do children NEED meat in their diet? You should ask your pediatrician & google it. I just think you're very fortunate .. it's RARE to have a child willingly eat Veggies! Take care.

i wouldn't worry about it too much. he's wouldn't be getting that much nutritional value out of meat that he's not getting from fruits and veggies accept for some iron and protien perhaps. Try getting him to eat peanuts/nuts or peanut butter. This will be a great substitute for meat as they have great nutrients, protien, some iron, and even fat..but a more healthy kind than meat has.
Be glad he eats fruits and veggies, that's usually the nightmare! haha

He's not missing anything by not eating meat. Serve him beans, milk, cheese to substitute for protein. Also don't push him to eat it, just put a little on his plate every time, and he'll eventually eat it.

Have you spoken to your son's pediatric doctor?

I believe at his age it is not necessary for them to eat meat. I do not believe it is a main concern - as long as he is eating fruit and vegetables.

Don't quote me on it, but I am almost 100% sure that it is not a major issue. He will be as healthy as a 20 month old who eats meat! :)

S.,

We are vegetarians in our home and our children are just fine. They have vegetarian chicken nuggets and spinach nuggets which my 3 yr old loves. There is also veggie slices which are like bologna or turkey for sandwiches. My girls love them. We just give our girls flinstones vitamins with iron to make up for them not eating meat.

Good luck it is easier then you think!
L.

My daughter JUST started eating chicken nuggets. She is 3 1/2 and she is growing up fine without much meat. For protein she gets it frompeanut butter mainly. We offer her everything we eat, but if she prefers cereal or a PB&J that's Ok. Like your son she loves fruits and veggies. I finally realized how many parents would love it if their child only wanted that! It will probably evcentually happen.. he just isn't ready to try just yet

Maybe he decided to become a vegetarian. :)

OK.... this may sonudn funny but My daughter is the same way and the only way I get her to eat any kind of meat is by letting her act like a puppy getting a treat! Yeah I know it sounds wierd! but she loves our dog molly and I xplained to her that molly loves these"treats" and so my daughter imitates her opuppy and eats it! ha ha ha its kinda cute!
but if you cant do something like that then just try giving himother sources of protien, my lil one likes nuts, walnuts, basically any kind. BUt i think most of all making it a game, r evn letting him play with a favorite toy and when he is distracted try putting it in his mouth. or put his fav show on TV and slip in some meat here and there! ha ha..
Or all beef hotdogs, I know they aren't the best things but if it is the only way, I guess its better that nothing? kids love hotdogs!

I think if your son doesn't like meat don't obligate him! Try giving him beans (black, red white) they contain all the protein found in meat and much more. Just cok the beans for 1 hour in a pressure cooker until they are soft with a little bit of salt and then put some in a blender to liquify and serve. Just try to make sure the mixture isn't too thick or too watery just the right consistency. Hope this helps! I give it to my 16 month old and he's fine with it.

Like other posters said it's ok he doesn't eat meat, my son didn't start eating meat until he was three and that was only chicken. Just make sure he get's his proteins from somewhere else. If your family eat meat he will eventually eat meat to.

S. I am not sure how much importance you give to meat. I think you are lucky that he eats fruits and veggies. Vegetarian kids are healthier. The only think you should take care of is protien found in egg and milk..
Hope that helps.