How to Get 4 Year Old to Eat Meat!!

I would still give him some, a few small bites, but not make a big deal if he doesn't eat it. It's there if he wants to try it.

Does he like grains? Quinoa is a complete protein - will he eat that? I think you can make some tasty vegan/vegetarian meals that will fill his nutritional needs.

Good luck!

When my kids were little, they hated meat, even McDonald's products. I didn't make a big deal out of it, let them make their own choices, and after a while they warmed up to chicken and finally to all meat. I don't think you need to make a lifelong decision for either of you. Just keep making stuff he likes and is familiar with, and occasionally offer other stuff. Kids' tastes will change many times (adults too, for that matter.)

(P.S. We used to live in Fernley NV and I loved it! The town still has a warm place in my heart. :D)

Just move on. He doesn't want/need meat right now, and that can (and probably will) change at a later time.

find other sources of protein. Soy, eggs, nuts. Healthy protein shakes and meal replacements exist. i'll send you links if you like.

Ah yes...vegetarian kids...what to do? I will tell you that in my practice over the last 5 years I have seen more and more vegetarian kids "popping up". Is it because our meat supply is tainted? Is it because their little bodies are more in tune with that is really going on? Is it because they are 'fussy'? I guess all are possible.
What I have found is that kids listen to their bodies more than adults do. There is much scientific evidence that certain blood types don't process meat very well and therefore are more likely to be vegetarian (book Eat Right for your Blood Type) Just like there is a lot of evidence for meat eaters as well. There is also A LOT of evidence about the state our our meat supply. (movie Food Inc).
Whatever the reason for your son to not want to eat meat, it is okay. My family are vegetarian and have been for years. We are vegetarian for many reasons, the first is we don't like how our bodies feels when we eat meat.

The main reason for my daughters converted is once we started on our nutritional program, healthier choices, protein shakes, nutritional cleansing, we started to do more “meatless” meals. Those meatless meals became more frequent and soon we were not bringing meat into the house, they would maybe order it at a restaurant. Then they just decided that was silly, they didn’t need meat. And besides, meat made them queasy.
We do not eat a lot of cheese, actually quite the opposite, we cut way down on dairy as well, no cows/goats milk or yogurt, or cheese. We now even make our own ice cream with almond milk...
We support our nutritional needs with supplements and nutritional products, legumes and other 'real' foods.

As for tips for parents of vegetarians, be creative. We have 4 weekly menus with over 40 different meals, yes 40 different meals! Keep it fun, fantastic and full of flavour. Being a vegetarian is way more fun then being a “meatatarian”. Think about it, how boring is a slab of meat, a veggie and a potato? Now imagine a vegetarian lasagna, a stir fry, naan bread with garlic and hummus…the list is endless.

Go with it, maybe your son gets to be your teacher on a healthier way of life.

B.
Family Success Coach

I had a picky child. He would eat a hamburger at Mickey D's but not at home. He loved Kraft Mac and cheese so I would brown the ground beef and mix just a few spoons of the meat in the mac and cheese. I told him it was HIS SPECIAL meal and no one else would be eating it. It worked to my surprize. Sometimes I chopped up tomatoes in it to. Which he also liked.

Just be glad he likes veggies. One of the grandsons won't eat anything but chicken nuggets and they must come from McDonald's or he refuses to touch them. That and smarties is about all he will eat and has major issues with pooing. He can't most times.

hi
I don't think it's vital to eat meat and at some point, he will probably give it a go. for now, the idea that he loves fruits and veggies which have the vital amino acids that help build muscle are part of a wonderfully nutritious diet.

in my opinion meat is not so necessary. I also don't think cheese and or dairy is needed in that, spinach alone has a great deal of protein and broccoli - calcium. I suspect that many eat meat/dairy because they might believe that you can only obtain certain vitamins from those foods. when really, veggies/fruits are of great benefit and in some cases, easier on the system. I wouldn't look at it as defeat but rather, what a great thing that your child is already starting on the road to making healthy choices. sounds like you are raising a most intelligent child.
best of luck

My 3 year old just recently started eating turkey breast cutlets with gravy. It took some convincing but I had him try the gravy first then dipped the turkey in it and he loves it now. It is only a little bit of gravy and he does not dunk the whole piece in just enough for a little taste.

Just move on. My daughter is 4 and rarely likes to eat meat(she'll eat chicken and fish) and cows milk. So we add more eggs, tofu and soy milk in her diet. We offer her the same meal we eat, and if she doesn't want to eat the meat, it is no big deal-but she doesn't get a special meal made.
GL!

My family and I are all meat-eaters, but my little brother became somewhat of a vegetarian around age 5. Not sure if he didn't like the taste or texture, but he didn't eat meat for about 4 years. One day he watched as Grandma ate a cheeseburger, decided he wanted a bite and became a new-found carnivore! Funny. Anyway, I would always offer meat to him if you are eating it, but don't push it. One suggestion for you is tofu. My 4-yr old LOVES the stuff. Especially in miso soup. Kind of weird, but you can't beat it as a protein! Good luck!

My son wasn't a big meat eater either. I didn't worry about it too much as he was a good eater in other ways, but I do feel that small children should eat some meat. He loves pasta, so I would get him ravioli with meat in it. Look of the small ones or the kind with say, spinach and chicken, so it is not just a hunk of meat inside the dough. I also would make him roll up sandwiches. Take a tortilla and add lots of cut veggetables, hummus, whatever - and a little bit of meat. Then add a little bit of shredded cheese (to make it stick together), roll it up and microwave for about 15 seconds. He also would eat little bits of meat in spaghetti sauce or soups. It is funny, but you sort of have to disguise the meat - like others try to disguise vegetables!!

I ask them to try a bite..just one piece (to chew and swallow) and if they don't like it, I will not ask them to eat it again.

My mom wanted me to eat more when I was a kid (skinny children are unhealthy) and would leave me at the dinner table trying to get me to eat my whole plate. It never worked and she gave up. What she didn't do was force me to eat any vegetables that I didn't think looked like they tasted any good (you know kids..no vegetable looks good). When I became an adult, I tried some veggies and now I love them.

Well, not eating a lot of meat is not a big deal. You might try chicken nuggets (dipped in honey is good), an occasional Happy Meal, a small piece of ham on a cracker, a piece of bacon or a little sausage (pepperoni on a piece of pizza), etc. Then there are soups/stews. I loved chicken pot pies as a kid.

My 5 year old is the same way. For protein he eats yogurt, peanut butter, and scrambled eggs (with cheese). Other than that, he just likes his fruits and dairy.

I love meat and my kids eat lots of chicken but I think it's great that he doesn't eat meat. From what I've read the meat industry is pretty awful. The animals are not treated well and frankly meat isn't that good for you. However, I think red meat has some proteins that are hard to get from other foods. I've read that the grain, Quinoa, is the only food that has all the proteins of red meat. You can buy it at Trader Joes and I think even Vons. Once cooked it has a fluffy texture. Look online for healthy vegetarian recipes to make a complete diet. Good luck

I think trying to make a 4 year old eat something will backfire. If you want to offer it fine. If, in your house, everyone (including parents) has to take a "test" bite, fine. But really, since his eating habits are positive, I don't think this is a fight worth having.

Why bother? There are plenty of other good sources of protein. Egg white is a terrific source, as are soy and wheat gluten (as long as he's not intolerant). Milk is loaded with protein, if he'll drink it.

In general, humans tend to avoid foods either because they don't care for the taste, or because it makes them feel sick. There is such a thing as allergy to cow's meat, and the primary symptom of this would be stomach upset, bloating and gassiness. Also, some people don't make enough of the enzymes that are necessary for digesting the high fat content of animal products, and eating meat and chicken can make them feel ill. Listen to your son's tastes -- they're telling you what his body will tolerate.

My kids aren't huge on meats....Red meat is their least favorite. Have you tried branching out what you're offering him? We found our kids love ground turkey, and pretty much any kind of "meat on the bone" ... what about fish?

Same with cheese, try different kinds of cheeses - they have so many different tastes. Cheddar, string cheese, swiss, provolone, Colby, Monterey jack, Colbyjack, Feta,... branch out what brands you buy and flavors. Try to expand his palate. You will appreciate it later.

What about making meals where the meat is built in - like meat sauce on spaghetti, tacos, burritos, chicken quesadillas, lasagna? I'm sure there are tons of other casserole type and one dish type dishes.

Our personal house rule is that you have to eat no less then three bites of everything on your plate. I've found that in plenty of cases my kids end up liking something they originally would have refused to eat, sometimes after a while of "trying it" they start to appreciate the flavor. They also learn how different the same food can be when cooked differently.

Good luck!

My son is now 8, and wouldn't eat beef until a year ago. He liked salmon and chicken from an early age. Pork when he was about 6. Just be patient. Sounds like he's eating healthy. I was not one to make seperate meals, so I would give him the same meal, just adjusting the meat part. If my husband and I were eating beef, pork, or something else he hadn't tried, I would always asking him to try 2 bites. If he didn't like it that time, it was ok. Over time, he started liking additional things though. Don't know if I would move him to a vegan diet just yet. Most kids I know didn't acquire a liking for meat until they are bit older. It has something to do with the texture. Good luck.

I have not read any of the other 36 answers you have, so this is just my thoughts....
My family became vegetarians last year. I have a 2 year old and a 1 year old. My oldest NEVER would eat her meat. She would pick all the veggies out and leave a pile of meat. My youngest has just never had meat as we started this new path in life when she was only a few months old.
I was never a meat lover and really could take it or leave it. This transition was only hard on my hubby, but we do have a rule that he can eat meat outside of the house. Just as long as I don't have to cook it ;)

There are so many great things about being a vegetarian! I would just embrace it and let him follow this path. He may very well grow out of it, but if he doesn't he can still be a happy healthy little boy!
Our doc is supportive of our choice and even told me there really is no reason why we must eat meat. You can get nearly every single thing you need from many other sources. And mind you we don't eat soy either...
I encourage you to just do some research and find some meals the will like. Test them out and see where it goes. We have a standard group of meals we make each week and when I have the time and energy I try something new and we see if we want to add that in.
Vegetarian Times magazine is wonderful as well! I got most of mine at the Lirbrary, but now I get them at home.
Being Vegan is a much much harder path in life, but still wonderful. Just keep up on what he is missing with a Vegan diet- again just research. There are many outlets that will give you great support.

I say let it go and enjoy. I bet the moment you give up, he might change his mind :)

Hey there,
Some other options are quinoa and lentils. Quinoa is high in protein and lentils are high in iron. I don't think that eating meat is an issue unless he becomes anemic. But if he is eating plenty of raw veggies and little junk food, that is very unlikely.

Throw in the towel. My son and I are veggies. It's just our American culture that makes us think not eating meat and dairy is weird. My son is doing fine. At his most recent, 3 year, check up they tested him for anemia and told me he has a "strong" score. Why control what he eats if he's eating healthy? It's important to listen to your hunger cues- too many people are trained not to and to eat whenever and whatever they're fed.

Hi K.,

Your little one definitely seems to like crunchy. Suggestions: Canned salmon with bones, puree meat that you are all having for dinner and spread it on celery pieces, etc. I definitely would not suggest vegetarian or vegan diets, especially when he doesn't like cheese and beans. I always suggest Paleo.

Good luck,
: ) M. D.

As long as he is getting other proteins, he is fine. My 8 year old DD was never much of a meat eater. She always hated any kind of hamburger, ground beef, grilled chicked and fish. I could sometimes get her to eat breaded chicken, a hot dog, or salami. Now, however, she has decided to give up meat all together and become a vegetarian (like her Dad). She does eat eggs now (although hated these when younger) and all types of morningstar farms veggie products and quorn veggie meat products, as well as cheese, yogurt, tofu, beans, and milk.

I wouldn't worry too much about it as long as he is healthy. Just find other ways to get protein in him.
There are SO many different kinds of beans. Try different ones, you may find one he likes. My littles doesn't like beans, unless they are refried! I personally can't stand the thickness of the skin on kidney beans. But I love white beans. I even puree white beans and mix it into the spaghetti sauce - it just looks creamier.
Peanut butter is good - on crackers, apples, celery, etc.
It may be a texture thing. So you may try meat in different ways. Ground, shredded, etc and find he may eat it. Just keep offering it and he may eventually change. But all kids are different. I have one that will not eat meat at all! And one that loves meat and prefers to eat it off the bone! LOL
Good luck!

I was the same way as a kid. It was so hard for me to eat meat, it wasn't a control thing at all. I just couldn't swallow it. My parents tried to force me to eat it, but it always ended up with a huge wad of meat in my mouth that I couldn't swallow. Eventually they just put a little bit of it on my plate every night, if I ate it I ate it, if not no biggie as long as I ate the other food. I did grow out of it, probably around 3rd or 4th grade. I say just keep offering it to him but no pressure. Everyone has a preference, even little ones!

My nephew didn't like meat for a long time. My sister would still give him a little bit each meal but didn't force it on him. He eventually started liking it, I think it was a texture issue for him?

I have six children, two of which have been meat free since the beginning. They just simply refused. They are very healthy and athletic. They do eat eggs, yogurt, dairy products. just no meat. We make a lot of green smoothies. You put fruit and juice in a blender you can add yogurt and a handful of spinach or any green leafy veg. Its much healthier eating anyway.And aside from the color, it tastes great. I put it in a solid color cup with a lid and straw for the ones who dont like the color.

In this case, I feel like it's a blessing in disguise. It's amazing that at such a young age he's choosing such healthy foods and telling you what he wants to eat. Here's a list of vegetarian recipes that might help! http://weelicious.com/category/vegetarian/

It makes me laugh thinking that your little boy likes octopus. My young nephew's favorite meal is octopus soup prepared by my mother (his grandmother). I think cut up octopus can be found fairly inexpensively at Asian food markets in the frozen section, so that may be a protein option for you. Also, there are a variety of tofu dishes that are really yummy (try weelicious.com), such as simple sauteed tofu (pat-dry slices of firm tofu and saute briefly with a little bit of soy sauce or hoisin sauce -- my 3 yr old loves this dish). However, I have read that you should limit boys' intake of tofu to just a few times per week due to the homone levels in soy products (but please note, I could be wrong on this). Also, if he eats other dairy products, there's always yogurt... Good luck!

Don't label him yet, he's only 4. My son didn't eat meat until he was in 2nd grade. He would eat hot dogs but didn't like hamburger meat, chicken, pork and no fish whatsoever. He is in 4th grade now and eats several types of meats. It may just be texture thing not a 'coming from a living animal' thing. My sons still doesn't like cheese though.

I suspect it's probably a texture thing. My son is the same way. However, I have had success with certain meats that meet a criteria- thinly sliced deli meat (turkey/ham), ham cut into very small cubes, Lunchable meats- those things he will eat. If I give him a hunk of turkey or ham though, it's a no go and he will gag. And forget beef and chicken- he doesn't like the taste of either (or so he says). Anyway, you can try different cuts of meat and see if it makes a difference, otherwise, I say let it go. It's not worth the fight, and he may eventually come around when he is ready.

Just quietly move on. It's not necessary to eat meat! I've been a vegetarian for 22 years and I'm very healthy. Maybe try some soy foods, or put some protein powder in smoothies or milkshakes, etc, eggs, whole-wheat breads and whole grains, brown rice, peanut butter, and so forth. He will be fine. No need to get into fights about eating meat. My daughter is not a vegetarian but doesn't want to eat most meat either, and she is healthy as well. It will be OK. :)

If he can eat peanut butter or any other protein food, then don't worry about him being a vegetarian. Try this tho:

Take a little ground white chicken meat (1/4 pound), mix in a little kosher salt (just a little, not even a tsp) and a little black pepper (about the same amount), about the same amount of garlic powder, maybe a little less if he isn't able to handle garlic and something called Simply Organic All Purpose seasoning. Dredge the chicken meat in some panko bread crumbs and pan fry it in some olive oil. It cooks quickly as long as it isn't really thick.

You can try this too http://www.food.com/recipe/vegetarian-tacos-61851

Or you can do what I did with my son who was the same way:
I gave him 2 or 3 bites of the meat and he got NOTHING ELSE until he ate those 2 or 3 bites; he had to at least try it. Now, he's five and he LOVES hotdogs (Hebrew National, the all beef really makes a difference flavor wise and it's really high quality meat (for hotdogs anyway) and he likes hamburgers.

Good luck.

Be grateful that your little one loves his fruit and veggies, he will either learn to like meat or not, explore other ways for him to get protein. My grandson loves soy nuts, can't get a much better source of protein than that.

K.---Contrary to popular belief, animal protein is not needed for an optimal diet. Too much is actually a risk factor for degenerative disease. I would keep offering the beans. A good variety of fruits, veggies, grains, nuts and seeds will give him what he needs. Go to www.pcrm.org and look for info there, and within that, www.kidsgethealthy.org.

Have you tried hummus and refried beans as spreads on veggie sandwiches? Use ground flax in cereal or baked goods. It is huge in protein...fiber, omega 3 oils, vitamins, minerals and cancer fighting compounds. I work with a Naturopath, taking a series of wellness classes. I have a TON of great info to share: serving charts for kids of different ages, kids food pyramids, really good stuff. Just let me know.

Again, back to the animal protein thing, and that includes dairy, I suggest reading The China Study by T Colin Campbell. You won't worry one little bit any longer about your son not eating meat. He's a very smart kid.

Be well, D.

I dont know if anyone else has mentioned this but how about just pureeing the meat to death and then mixing it in with his regular food/sauce? I do that with my year old twins. I grab the mini chopper and chop away at ground turkey that has already been sauteed.

If he eats so well and doesn't want to eat meat then i wouldn't force him..meat isn't really all that great for us..yes it has protein but especially red meat is bad..my dad used to hassle me when i quit eating meat..(now i eat it again) then after he had a cancer scare his doc insisted that he not eat any red meat..and put him on a special diet..he had some other problems with his stomach too..well now he's super healthy and is 84..
My boyfriend hasn't had meat since he was 16..he's 42..he's healthy..i waver..go through phases..my son doesn't like animal cruelty and will sometimes eat meat now..he's 4..but begs me not to eat it sometimes..

i remember the first time i gave him "flesh" i felt like i was taking away some sort of innocence..it was odd..so i say if you're son eats well and is rejecting meat..do not force that upon him since it really isn't that great for us anyway.
as for cheese..try string cheese..or mexican shredded cheese alone in a bowl..that's how i got my son to eat cheese.

good luck

D.

Updated

If he eats so well and doesn't want to eat meat then i wouldn't force him..meat isn't really all that great for us..yes it has protein but especially red meat is bad..my dad used to hassle me when i quit eating meat..(now i eat it again) then after he had a cancer scare his doc insisted that he not eat any red meat..and put him on a special diet..he had some other problems with his stomach too..well now he's super healthy and is 84..
My boyfriend hasn't had meat since he was 16..he's 42..he's healthy..i waver..go through phases..my son doesn't like animal cruelty and will sometimes eat meat now..he's 4..but begs me not to eat it sometimes..

i remember the first time i gave him "flesh" i felt like i was taking away some sort of innocence..it was odd..so i say if you're son eats well and is rejecting meat..do not force that upon him since it really isn't that great for us anyway.
as for cheese..try string cheese..or mexican shredded cheese alone in a bowl..that's how i got my son to eat cheese.

good luck

D.

Hi!
I have an EXTREMELY picky eater. It was driving me nuts until my friends gave me a really good piece of advice. At first it sounded a little extreme, but working with children as long as we have, I had to admit it made sense.

She said power struggles can set up behavioral patterns in our dynamics with our children and for them in their own behaviors. The vary last thing I wanted was to set up a power struggle with food because it can become an eating disorder which then they will have to struggle with for the rest of their lives. There is no cure.

As my daughter has grown she has been willing to try more foods. It is slow and still drives me a bit nuts but I know that by listening to her needs and what she can actually do I am teaching her respect for herself. I am teaching her that her needs are valid, even when I don't agree or understand. Also, I think it teaches her independence because she is learning to listen to herself without relying on someone else to tell her what she needs.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

He does not need meat, none of us do. In this day and age it does especially more harm than good and is partially (and some experts will argue largely) responsible for heart related illnesses and cancer.

Let him rock the fruits and veggies, he might be a gymnast,athlete, astronaut, nutritionist or a doctor someday.

and you should join him too, it can ONLY help!

Ive been vegetarian since i was 12, and both my daughters are vegetarian, we are never sick and my daughters are always ahead of schedule nutritionally, developmentally, educationally speaking.

When in doubt- supplement with vitamins