Author Topic: doesn't care for meat  (Read 2246 times)

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Offline Avigail

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doesn't care for meat
« on: June 18, 2007, 09:12:08 am »

hi, i'd like to hear what types of meat your toddlers like. my 2yr-old likes ground beef and chicken fingers but generally won't touch other meats that don't involve ketchup. i can't make chicken fingers and burgers every day, it's not fair to her father :-) and i'd like her to experience a variety of food.

thankfully she loves veggies, fish and eggs so i'm not too worried about lack of protein though i don't like serving her the same things day in, day out.

anyone have suggestions for making meats more appealing? what are some other toddler-friendly meats? i want her to consciously eat them, no tricks or covering them up and no force.

thanks
avigail


Offline Samuel's mum

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Re: doesn't care for meat
« Reply #1 on: June 18, 2007, 15:34:57 pm »
I don't have any answers for you I'm afraid because we're in the same boat. Sam eats sausages, bacon (so I have to buy super expensive organic varieties), chicken, ground meat in pasta sauces. He once ate some lamb that was very tender and covered in a fruit thing (Easter dinner) but generally any lump of meat he actually seems to struggle to chew properly. He often chews for a while and then literally gets tired out and just goes 'fluh' and it comes out again. I sometimes have luck in a stir fry - pork or very tender beef with noodles and Chinese flavour (bit of low sodium soya sauce and chinese five spice).
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Offline Colin Macs Mom

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Re: doesn't care for meat
« Reply #2 on: June 18, 2007, 18:20:02 pm »
I have the same problem as well - but recently I discovered that Colin absolutely adores spicy mustard.  ::)  As long as there's some of that for him to dip in, he'll eat at least a little of whatever. So maybe experiment with some sauces and see if that helps.
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Offline mum101

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Re: doesn't care for meat
« Reply #3 on: June 20, 2007, 12:26:33 pm »
Our DD wasn't fussed on meats that required a bit of chewing, which I think is one of the reasons why kids get used to sausages and mince!  Now she'll happily try any meat.  I suggest to just keep trying so she gets used to chewing. 

I simmered a chicken breast in a frypan with chicken stock and white wine and the chicken was sooo soft it was delightful. A sauce with a little sour cream and pureed onions on top was a big hit too!
mumma to 2 former BW babies, DD 11, DS 8

Offline linfran

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Re: doesn't care for meat
« Reply #4 on: June 20, 2007, 19:39:40 pm »
Just thought I'd add that my stepdaughter (aged 24) has hated meat since she was a baby and never got the taste for it.

But she's stunning and smart so I don't think it did her any harm!

Offline LeesMom

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Re: doesn't care for meat
« Reply #5 on: June 21, 2007, 00:43:07 am »
DD has never been much of a meat eater either but we recently found that she LOVES gyro sandwiches (made with a mix of lamb/beef, I think). We get them at a restaurant here and it's easy for her to eat because the meat is sliced thin and kind of soft so it's easy for her to chew. She really likes the yogurt-based sauce that's on them too. She's recently started to really like thin-sliced deli meat as well... her current favorite is turkey.
Jenny

lilmonkey

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Re: doesn't care for meat
« Reply #6 on: June 21, 2007, 01:30:59 am »
DD is the opposite.  She just recently like eating ground meat but only as a cheeseburger.  Fortunately she has always love eating her meats esp. chicken and fish.  When dd was teething (around 11 mos), I used to let her gnaw on very tender ribs or chicken wings or drumsticks that were used for making the broth.  Since then, she has develop a taste for her meats.  You could try making bbq ribs/chicken wings, just make sure that they are very tender and remove any excess skin/fat.  I also use less spices on her portion, if I make it too bland she won't eat it.  I think that you should keep offering the meats and eventually she will eat it.  I know that it took dd about 8/10 exposures to salmon b/f she even liked it.  During those meals, she just filled up on her veggies and pasta.  HTH

Offline mum101

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Re: doesn't care for meat
« Reply #7 on: June 21, 2007, 02:59:14 am »
Mimi - I found the same with Rory in taking a few trys of meat/fish before she'd like it.

I found making salmon a part of a frittata helped, also she thought it was terribly cheeky to come into the kitchen and try and eat the food before it was finished, so it worked in my favour that pieces of salmon were in reach and she nabbed those!

Now salmon is the first thing to be eaten.
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Offline Avigail

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Re: doesn't care for meat
« Reply #8 on: June 21, 2007, 10:02:27 am »

i don't know why or how but yesterday DD ate two slices of deli turkey breast at lunch and asked for some of my chicken at dinner, and ate the entire drumstick. though she'll probably turn her nose up at them today. so i guess the best thing is to just keep offering them and maybe she'll just surprise me one day:-)


Offline Colin Macs Mom

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Re: doesn't care for meat
« Reply #9 on: June 21, 2007, 15:48:36 pm »
Avigail, I LOVE your avatar!!
Jessica
Mom to Colin Ronald, August 18, 2005
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Offline Fiona (Leah & Kians Mom)

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Re: doesn't care for meat
« Reply #10 on: June 21, 2007, 16:20:19 pm »
Think it takes them some time to start eating meat properly. DD started about 6 months ago robbing pieces from my plate. She does love meat balls, sausages and all deli meats which are probably not the best for her though I try to buy good quality ones, she will eat ham, turkey, salami and mortadella. Actually pork was one of the first meats she started to eat. I now give her a piece of filet chopped in tiny pieces, this evening with a mushroom and cream sauce on the side. She doesn't like spicy at all. Strangely enough she will eat beef stew too maybe cos the meat is nice and soft. She also loves fish, covered in passata sauce and baked in the oven.



Offline Avigail

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Re: doesn't care for meat
« Reply #11 on: June 24, 2007, 08:44:45 am »
thanks for the suggestions ladies, it's good to know that at least someone is eating their meat!

and thanks jessica... i was just cooking one afternoon and felt guilty that my little one was all alone on her mattress so i gave her some friends to keep her company...needless to say, when i realized what a scene i had in the living room, i abandoned my cooking for some great photos!


Offline mum101

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Re: doesn't care for meat
« Reply #12 on: June 24, 2007, 08:46:48 am »
I like the photo too, so cute.  It looks likes she's just no quite sure what they are!!  :)
mumma to 2 former BW babies, DD 11, DS 8

Offline rinajack

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Re: doesn't care for meat
« Reply #13 on: June 24, 2007, 10:14:02 am »
The less chewing required the better in our house.

Tonights dinner was a super success - had corned meat (silverside) that we cooked in the slow cooker - it is so tender is just about melts in your mouth.

She also likes salmon fillet, tuna mornay, beef goulash (slow cooker), beef stroganoff (slow cooker), roast meats (well roasted so they are quite tender also) and as alternative sources of protein - scrambled eggs, and sausages I get from the supermarket made from chickpea and spinach.

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lilmonkey

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Re: doesn't care for meat
« Reply #14 on: June 24, 2007, 21:16:40 pm »
The less chewing required the better in our house.


I think that is the trick to introducing meat.  Although I also introduce ground meat and such at around the same time, dd prefers the meat to be very tender.  It was only when she likes eating meat that I didn't have to tenderize any of her portions anymore.