I Need Advice on How to Encourage My Son to Eat a Variety of Healthy Foods.

It sounds like he is eating a pretty healthy diet to me!! My dauhter will eat some chicken but NO other meat, and not eggs either (well an occasional hard boiled- white only!) She's 5 1/2 47" and 47.5 lbs. I wouldn't worry about him at all. one thing my dauhter loves is soybeans hot or cold with a little sea salt. he might like this. do you ever eat at Mishima? Kira loves it and eats hot udon there. It's inexpensive and healthy. And he gets veggies. When ready he'll try new thinfgs. ps My daughter doesn't drink milk either!! Best H.

You got a lot of great advice. I agree, meat is not necessary. My kids have this pack every month (http://liveitdontdiet.isagenix.com/us/en/isakidssystem.dh... don't worry too much when I know they are getting all this. I know their basic needs are taken care of. Best $100 bucks I spend all month!

B.

Have you tried letting him prepare a meal? It doesn't have to be complicated, but sometimes having a part in creating it, no matter what the ingredients are, can get a kid to try some new things:)

My youngest was very similar. Starting at age 5, he had to try something new before I'd let him eat stuff he likes. Don't buy into the "I don't like it" drama; it's a no-nonsense thing, to learn to like new foods. In most cases, as you continue to expect he try stuff, he may learn to like it. This happened with my son with everything ranging from Mexican to Italian to different types of rices.

As long as your son is getting enough protein through milk and yogurt, I wouldn't worry about the meat part so much. Keep trying...it'll happen!

Good luck!

Hello R.. I sympathize with you, because I hate meat! I do not eat meat, chicken, fish, eggs or pork. It is just a preference, and not for any other reason than because I don't like the taste. I was always healthy growing up, loved fruits and veggies (still do!), but as I got older, my weight skyrocketed because I love my starches! I also became a lot less active in my "old age". LOL The exception is I love beans and grilled cheese sandwiches. It makes it difficult for me to go out to eat as I am a picky eater. I hope for the best with your son, and I'd say don't worry too much, as long as he is eating other things that are proportionate to his diet. Good luck to you on this :)

It sounds like he's a vegetarian! I raised my first son, now nearly 5 a vegetarian until he was 2 years old and I was vegetarian while pregnant with him. When we feed him , he always goes for the veggies first and sometimes doesn't touch the meats (we eat meats 1-2 times a week; organic only). With my second, I started to crave meat while pregnant and since he first started eating foods, he went straight for ANY meats first!!

You son can get what he needs from a plant-based diet as long as it is healthy (preferably organic) and varied. We eat mostly veggies, legumes, brown rice and fruits, goat milk and yogurt (no COW!!). We cook with olive oil, coconut oil and I give them a teaspoon of Hemp Oil a few times a week. We don't use any whites; bread, flour, rice, sugar and instead we make sure to use whole grains when needed. Try Quinoa for protein; it is truly a super food!The dark leafy greens like Kale, spinach, chard, etc. are also power packed! Does your boy like nuts? Almonds are excellent!

Get Dr. Fuhrmans book; Disease-Proof Your Kids; How to get kids to Eat Right. I think if every family in America read this book, we would not have the health issues we have with our kids. It is excellent!

I also have an online Blog on my website, www.bellysprout.com, where we discuss a variety of topics, including organic foods, recipes, etc. We also have health lectures at the store!

Good Luck!

Sounds like he's a vegetarian. My sister's son is pretty much like this as well. Have you tried tofu? I recently became a vegan during the week/vegetarian on the weekend. Also, can he eat nuts? Those are high in protein.

Wow! I have never run across a kid not liking cheese in one form or another. No mac&cheese or quesadillas?? Wow! Well, I'm wondering how it got to this point? Is he allowed to choose his own meals? What happens if you tell him he simply has to eat it? My sons have grown up knowing they have to eat their fruits and veggies (and almost always want to eat their meat--so I didn't need to tell them that), so I haven't had to deal with this.

In any case, some kids are inborn vegetarians, perhaps your son will be one of those. My cousin was that way as a kid and now he's a grown adult and still will not eat any meat. So, perhaps you need to focus on proteins that he'll eat---try all the different canned beans to see if any of them are tolerable, tofu (2 different kinds and textures), soy sausages, "meats", etc. Have you tried different cheeses, like feta, goat, etc.? Perhaps it's the textures he's not liking, instead of the taste? Different cheeses can taste and feel very different---swiss, cheddar, jack, american, brie, feta, goat, etc. Try a wider variety. Also, try to focus on whole grains--100% whole wheat bread, brown rice, barley, etc. More protein is derived from the whole grain, and it's so much healthier, as well.

A good book to help with ANY eating disorders or problems is "How to Help Your Child to Eat, but not too much" or something really close to that. If you go to amazon or google and search, I'm sure it will pop up. This book is written by a woman who specializes in helping families with kids who are very picky, who eat too much or not enough. Right up your alley! Good luck!

wow it sounds like he eats a lot. My son who is 3 doesn't eat meat and really doesn't eat too much. You it sounds like he will be fine. Maybe he just doesn't like the texture of meat. I wouldn't worry unless you can name the things he eays on one hand like I can.

Hi R., alo of kids are not big meat eaters, my daughter didn't eat meat when she was small unless it was chicken nuggets, to this day she is 19 and still is not a big meat eater. If he's eating vegetables and drinking juices, that sounds healthy to me, but if you are concernd try giving him pediasure, that's for kids who don't get the daily things they need. when my kids were small their pedi's told me not to wory so much about what they won't eat, but give them what they will eat, withing reason, for isn'ts my now 21 year old at age 3 alls he would eat for breakfast was eggs, everyday. well I was concerned about collestrtorol his ped told me not to worry about that at his age, and told me if eggs is what he will eat give him eggs. I'm going to share with you as a mother, eating habits and our children can be very stressfull and over whelming at times, the best advice I can give you, is to offer the kind of foods you want him to eat, and as long as what he is eating is healthy then let him eat it. I never allowed my kids to have soda's gowing up either. J. l.

What about trying tofu? Tofu is a good source of protein. I started giving it to my son when he was a baby and he still likes it four years later. Tofu has no flavor--it picks up whatever you cook it with. You could do a stir-fry with his favorite veggies. It's very easy: buy firm tofu, rinse the block with cool water, press the excess water out between paper towels, cut into cubes, then brown it in a little bit of butter in a skillet. Since it's white and flavorless, he might buy that it's a "vegetable", too!

That is so interesting that your son loves veggies and carbs and not any protein sources other than yogurt and milk. I bet you have the opposite problem of many moms. Good luck! :-)

You are on the right track with having him help with the juicer but take it a couple steps further. Have him help with the whole dinner process. I got my PICKY 5 year old to start eating more because she helped create it. She is now 7 and tonight she helped me make homemade minestrone soup. When we make chicken nuggets she takes the meat and does the egg wash and then coats it in the bread crumbs for me. It helps me by taking the easy jobs and it helps her understand what goes into dinner. Not to mention the quality time and confidence it is building in her when everyone makes a fuss over how good dinner is!

If you are really that worried about protein intake, I just made sure she had peanut butter sandwiches. Also Tofu is a good one too because it takes on the flavor of whatever it is cooked in and is a good source of protein.

Good Luck!

Your son IS eating "healthy" to me. But per the title of your request... I guess you don't think so??

Ages and stages... throughout their years, they will go through certain food phases.

How about tofu? Or eggs? Stuffed deviled eggs? boiled eggs? poached eggs? scrambles eggs? My kids love these. My girl as well, goes through moments of not liking meat. I don't force her. She likes cheese and eggs. That's fine.
Or how about turkey? or Ham, or lamb, or BBQ meats? My kids like anything I BBQ on the grill.

Or how about nuts? That has protein in it.

Or, make smoothies for him.... add Pediasure to it, or peanut butter.

Your son does seem to eat a variety of things... but maybe just not what you wish him to eat. You are lucky he likes vegetable things.

Some people and kids, are just naturally prone toward more "whole" foods ie: vegetables, fresh things, fruits etc., and they don't like "meats." My son is like that. It's fine.

Your son seems to have a natural inborn propensity toward "healthy" foods. I would encourage him in that. When I was younger and a child, I was like that too. My Parents loved that I liked healthy un-processed foods and they didn't have to "teach" me to eat it or force me to eat it. My reason was, that processed foods and some meats, gave me a headache & stomach ache. My system was just so used to eating "clean"... that it upset my system if I was made to eat other things, which I did not care for. I just liked natural, whole foods and vegetables and fruits. It was just "my" taste and preferences in food. My sister on the other hand, only liked junk food and that was another story.

He's growing fine though, per the Pediatrician. I wouldn't worry. And he takes vitamins. Sounds fine to me.

Or, how about milk? Does he drink that?

All kids go through food phases. It passes, then another one will crop up. Then when they are teens other food issues comes up. So, pick your battles, and be careful not to turn it into a "control" issue. As an adult, I wouldn't want to be made to eat something I didn't want to myself. Kids are just picky sometimes... and as long as they are growing, healthy and developing normally... it's okay. Just my own feeling on it.

All the best,
Susan

It sounds like your son has a good variety of foods in his diet already. Meat is not necessary for his development. A great source of protein is quinoa. It is a grain that you can add to soup or casserole or stir fry. You can find it at Trader Joe's. Edamame is a great snack cold. Add some superfood to his carrot juice. It is dehydrated wheatgrass, rye grass, spirulina, etc.It is full of nutrition and will really boost his immune system. You can find several brands at health food stores. I buy from Natural Botanical Pharmacy in the Marina. You can also order from him on line. I would be more concerned with introducing complex carbs, like brown rice and whole wheat breads, so he is not just eating simple carbs. Maybe you already do. When you are purchasing whole wheat bread be sure to read the label. You want the fiber count to beat out the sugar count. If, for example, it has 3 grams fiber and 5 grams of sugar per slice, the sugar wins. It sounds like he is a good eater! Good job,
Mom.

Hi R.,

I'm amazed that your little one eats what he does! My son won't touch a veggie unless it's disguised... If your son't not allergic to peanuts, I would suggest that or there are protein bars that he may like. I particularly love Luna bars which are lower in sugar than a lot of other bars, and have 9g protien each! Maybe also try tofu... I hear it takes on the flavor of anything you put it in. I understand that you want your son to eat anything... we all do!... But there are other ways to get him to have his protien. It could be a texture thing with him too, so maybe try to disguise the meats you're giving...

Good luck,
M.

I know this sounds gross...but you can puree the meat in a food processor and blend it into pasta sauce....if you're feeling brave, you can make it into a smoothie too...my FIL would puree fish and put it in my DH's bottle when he was a baby....good luck with that one! lol.

My mom swears that from the ages of 3 - 7 I only ate foods that were white and yellow...today I enjoy everything from sushi to hamburgers to turkey to asparagus...

Moral of the story...don't worry about it too much...and by the way...I don't like refried beans either. :)

You said you would love for your son to eat all the foods available. Welcome to the wonderful world of reality. Your son is an individual. He has likes and dislikes, he has personal preferences. He also has every right to have these likes and dislikes respected by you. His food world will expand as he grows, but do not make this into a battle. His diet sounds like one many parents would rejoice over.

Hi,

I am a Holistic Nutrition and Lifestyle coach and mother of a spirited 17 month old who eats all foods... she does not always like to eat meats. Not all children like meat. It may be a texture your son does not like. As for eggs and cheese a good way to get children to try these foods is to mix them in with what they do like. One thing I have seen work with children is to make a scramble with eggs and veggies and cheese or to melt cheese into things. Or a great source of protein is tofu. You can blend the soft tofu into juices and make a smoothy. It does not have a strong taste so most children will eat it. Protein powders can also be blended into juice. You should sit down with your son and ask him why he does not like meat etc. Maybe he is a natural vegetarian. As long as you supplement his diet with protein supplements and he is still gaining weight you do not need to worry so much.
Best,
S. Stein-Lippman
Certified Holistic Health Counselor
www.realisticholistic.com

Dear R.,

My son is also 6 years old and is a picky eater also.

He will try new foods but spit them out after one taste.

He also eats lots of starches and is at the top of the recommended BMI for a child of his stature.

He frustrates me and my husband immensely.

He tells us that he is bored of the chicken nugget, burger, small pizza (only cheese), or cheese and PB&J but he'd rather go without food than eat any of mommy and daddy's food.

We've been to nutritionists and they suggest if he's so stubborn to try and increase his daily activity instead.

I've noticed that since he's entered 1st grade this year, he's been influenced by his classmates to eat neater (his uniform shirts are actually white when he gets home from afterschool program.) Hopefully, a healthy eater will dare or influence him to eat something new. The school menu is healthy and won't allow junkfood as snacks.

Good luck with your picky eater. Maybe we'll they'll turn into chefs when they grow up-so they'll make something that they like or be conscious about food and it's effect on our appearance when they're teenagers?

Sorry I couldn't give you a miracle answer. Just know you're not alone.

Sincerely,

M. Stiles

That is pretty interesting that he is repulsed by meats... I think you need to start educating him on how to eat a balanced diet, and especially stress the different ways to get protein in a vegetarian diet. He is old enough to understand how the different foods are metabolized to give your body energy, vitamins, muscle mass, fats, fiber, etc. Have him choose which protein choices that he has at meals. Does he eat tofu? My kids choose tofu over fish, so whevener I make certain fish dishes, I add tofu and they eat the tofu while my husband and I eat the fish and the tofu! You might decide that you would like some of these vegetarian choices as well, and that might be a healthy choice for you, too! Just make sure that you have a vegetarian protein choice as well as a meat choice and he can decide which one to eat (as well as a vegetable, starch, and a calcium choice for each meal).

Have your tried peanut butter as a protein. I didn't see if there was a nut allergy. My other thought is if you can cook the meat and mince it then add to the fruit juices later when he doesn't see you addd it. Or possibly add it to a pasta sauce. Just an idea. My problem is the opposite he won't eat veggies and detects any color change in his meals to see if I added anything. Good luck.

R.,
The fact that he likes vegetable juices is fabulous! He might be one of those children that has a texture thing going on. One of my grandson's has a limited diet and texture plays a big part. As long as your son is eating, growing, and is a happy child, just enjoy him! You sound like an excellent mother and provider of his many needs, whether physical, emotional, etc. Your doing a good job, someday he will try some other foods and surprise you with the ones he likes. Remember, textures can play a big role in desires for certain foods. He sounds like a great son!

E.:)

Ugh! My 7 year old daughter is the same way. It is my daily goal in life to make sure she gets enough protein and iron!

I buy soft tofu and puree it. This turns it into a thick cream which I hide in all sorts of stuff: pasta, yogurt, soup, you name it. Tofu has absolutely no taste on its own so my daughter doesn't notice it's there. The only difference is that it adds a bit of a creamy consistency. Usually one teaspoon mixed well into her food is enough.

The most important thing is not to make a big deal out of his eating habits or else it will become a control issue for him. Give him a variety and let him eat what he wants with no comments or cajoling from you. He will try new foods when he's ready.

Good luck to you and your precious son!

I love your story. He seems to want to be a vegetarian! Have you tried beans and rice, tofu, cheese, seitan and other vegetarian protein options. Weelicious.com has tons of recipes for kids using these products.

My son won't eat meat either. The way I get him to eat eggs is with ketchup. (He loves ketchup). He picks out any other meat I make, unless ground in a sauce.
My daughter used to not eat meat either, and when I quit pushing her, she decided to try it on her own - now, hot dogs and cheeseburgers are her favorite foods.
In the meantime, you may want to give him peanutbutter and nuts as protein. Also, since he likes rice, you may want to try rice and beans(not refried). Together, they are a complete protein.

I think your child knows what his body needs and it is not meat. There are plenty of amino acids in what he is eating. Do not resort to cow's milk - casein is not good for us - my 9 year old son has been drinking rice milk since he was a toddler and loves it - he does not drink soda or juice. Please go to Dr. John McDougall website, and your mind will be opened to a new and healthy way of eating.

M. O

How about smoothies made with the yogurt you said he likes and some milk or soy milk along with some fruit that he likes. That would be a great protein boost. Or those kids protein shakes. (pediasure?)One of my kids wouldn't eat meat but would eat tofu like crazy. He loved the "firm" kind. I would cut it in cubes and lightly pan fry them to make them a little "chewy" for lack of a better word.(in a light oil such as canola - the tofu will soak up the taste of anything it's in so don't use a strong oil like olive oil)then my son liked to dip them in teriyaki sauce. Whatever works, if your son likes ketchup-fine! Don't go crazy! It will pass if it doesn't become an issue. :-)

If I were you I wouldn't worry about his diet, he's obviously already choosing the healthiest things (he certainly doesn't need meat or eggs that are full of hormones, antibiotics and saturated fat) and he's apparently progressing just fine. The yogurt is great for him, as long as it's organic, and a good source of protein. You could give him a peanut butter sandwich on high-protein bread too, there are also high-protein pastas now that are great. Soy milk is another thing most kids like. Be thankful he loves fruits and vegetables, that's wonderful.

Dear R.,

I was like your son in that I didn't like meat. I am now a very happy, healthy vegetarian. As long as he eats some protein (nuts, peanuts, tofu, dairy), I think that his diet is balanced--and a lot healthier than the average person's. As your son seems to like a lot of healthy foods, takes supplements, and is at the top of the growth/weight curve, I would not worry about him being malnourished.

Lynne E

Hi. I think your Dr, is right on this one although as a mom I know we get anxious...

There is a book about eating for your blood type that came out a number of years ago. Maybe he is a natural vegetarian.

Tofu, maybe? You could blend it in smoothies...

Sometimes if your child helps prepare the food he will eat it just to see what it tastes like.

Ummm...at 6 he might become a real lion...and of course meat is all lions eat...like a drumstick maybe...

Soups with meat broth and veggies or barley....nut butters?

Dark miso soup is great comfort food. Just dissolve the miso in warm water. You can add veggies or tofu if you want. I LOVED it when I was a veg.
Perhaps brewer's yeast on popcorn for added B....

Don't worry, in a few years maybe he'll discover tuna melts or cheeseburgers at his friend's house and be in love!!!! Then you'll be wishing for the good ol' veggie juice days....

No worries. It all evens out. Thanks for being a very loving, caring mom!!

Love to you,
Deb

My son is 18 mo and only eats about 6 foods. I was like you trying to make sure he is eating a bunch of different healthy foods. I tried everyting!! My ped said RELAX!! My son will explore new foods at a pace that he is comfortable. We all know that forcing kids to eat doesn't work. I just put the new foods on his plate. I never even talk about it. Don't ask him to try it or anything. Slowly he has begun to try new things. He doesn't always like them but he feels more in control of the situation. I was a picky eater too. I only ate mac n cheese and peas for years. Now I eat just about anything. Allow his palate to develop at his own rate and eventually he'll be eating caviar and loving it!

It sounds like he is eating pretty well. My daughter was very picky when she was his age and as long as she was healthy and growing, I would let her eat what she wanted to eat (within reason, of course!) Now she is 10 and she eats SO many more things than she did at age 6 - I refused to let food become a battle and just let her make her own choices and it has worked out fine. I worry that you are going to totally turn him off certain foods by forcing the issue. There is nothing worse than being "made" to eat a food and then having it make you sick.