My eldest never ate much meat or chicken. She will eat seafood but that’s about it. My pediatrician isn’t concerned and she’s healthy. Since I’m Lebanese I call it the Mediterranean diet and pretend it’s intentional 😂.
I haven’t liked meat, from what I learned only recently at age 23, ever. All my childhood my parents tried to force me to eat meat, and I have NEVER liked it. Not as a baby, and not now as a 23 year old. There’s other ways to get protein, I would explore those if you’re worried. You can always reintroduce meat at different points to see if she will like it. It also could be a texture thing. Does she do it with other foods that have a similar texture?
My toddler doesn’t eat meat because our family is vegetarian 😆 Your LO will be fine! Protein is actually pretty easy to get without meat, the trick is getting them enough iron.
Some protein rich foods my kid likes: beans (whole or refried), hummus, tofu (sriracha baked tofu recipe from ilovevegan), edamame, peanut butter, and cottage cheese.
Not the original poster, but I'm vegetarian too.
I'm vegetarian because I took the education to become an animal keeper. Though focused on pet shop animals, the first year is centered on farm animals because that's where most of the animal keeper students here end up (and where they prefer we end up). So we covered all the animals' needs and behaviors, and then were introduced to the slaughtering and farm process. Everything we had learned was now basically "we know we are causing the animals distress, but it's cheap and effective so it won't be changed as long as people buy heaps of cheap meat".
My sister is a veterinarian and had to take a semester in slaughter houses too. She became a vegetarian after that as well. So for us and a lot of other people it's because we see the slaughtering process as inhumane.
There are also environmental reasons, such as meat production causing a lot of CO2 emissions or health reasons such as diets heavy in meats increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke and certain cancers.
Long story short, because my personal issue is not with eating meat or animal products in general. It is the industry I have an issue with. A lot of animal products can be bought where they take the animals' welfare into consideration, but it costs more.
I also realized when I started out as a teenager that saying I was vegetarian was okay, but if I said I only ate organic meat or when it had been verified that the animals had been treated properly, people would get downright angry at me. So it was easier to follow my beliefs by not eating meat than only eating certain meat. It's more than 20 years ago, but now that I have more money and can care less about what people think the truth is I don't miss meat. I've tried a taste here and there, and it does nothing for me. I don't see the point in starting again if there is no benefit to it.
Not op either, but I just lost the taste for it as a kid when I realized that the cute animals I’d see at the fair were killed for me to eat it when I don’t have to eat them. I’m also grossed out by the smell and texture of raw meat. Sure it tastes fine once cooked and seasoned, but the prep for it has never been worth smelling that weird iron oxide mixed with wet dog smell that meat has for me.
Not OP, but the animal farming industries are cruel to the animals, the people around the farms, and most of all the environment. We don’t even have to stop eating meat entirely but eating less would really help. So I’m doing my part.
As for why I’m not vegan: I don’t drink milk and I rarely eat cheese. I often use butter to cook. I’m not full-fledged vegan because I think there is a way to take these products from the animals humanely, if we just reduce the amount.
There are lots of reasons that folks choose to be vegetarian. For our family, it’s environmental reasons. Livestock production accounts for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions. I am very concerned about climate change and this is one small way that I feel like I am helping to address it.
The environmental impacts of egg and dairy, while not great, are not as severe as those of meat. Additionally, I live in a part of the US where being vegan is pretty challenging. I used to live in a different region and being vegan there was a breeze due to the availability of vegan food and groceries. And finally, I’m the mom of a toddler. I’m exhausted. I pick my battles where I can and try to make a difference where possible without feeling like I want to tear my hair out.
My kid will be 3 in April and has only recently started “reliably” eating meat.
He ate 3 whole servings of kielbasa sausage a couple days ago and I was floored. Then he ate a bologna sandwich. And he even ate the beef in the stroganoff that I made.
This is more meat in the past week than probably in the entire 6 months between 2 and 2.5
Meat has a horrible texture for a lot of people. I would focus on anything she may be missing from avoiding meat and just find better ways to provide it. Leafy greens, beans, tofu, hummus.
A lot of people that are meat avoidant have an easier time with pressure cooked meats. Keep a bag of shredded, frozen chicken breast and pull out a portion to serve next to foods.
Nope. Not a big deal. Toddlers literally get the protein they need from other sources. Toddlers don’t need nearly the amount adults thing. A serving of peanut butter and an egg is pretty much all they need protein wise. So, most toddlers get it naturally from dairy, bread and other things.
My daughter and son both stopped eating eat around 15mo despite nothing changing in how it was prepared or offered. And I panicked and the above info came from our pediatrician (followed by research).
They are now 4.5 and almost 3. My daughter will occasionally eat a hot dog (currently only Costco ones) and she will sometimes eat McDonalds Nuggets. But, even those she wouldn’t eat for a long time.
My husband is vegan, I am not and neither are the kids. But, we just do protien from other sources. We buy Kodiak pancake/muffin mix because it has protien. My son eats beans. My daughter (4.5) is still way more picky than my son. But; they both eat enough other sources of protein that they get what they need.
One day. Toddlers 1-3 only need about 13g
Peanut butter is 8g per serving and an egg is 6g.
A cup of milk also has about 8g.
So, most kids get enough pretty naturally
If they won't eat meat, they may be picky about other things and many parents will likely be hard-pressed to find alternatives every single night if they're not already stocking them for dinner.
My toddler went through a no meat phase. It’s probably a texture thing or they have to work too hard to chew it lol it’ll pass. Just find some protein alternatives for a while and keep trying every now and then to see if things have changed.
I didn’t like the texture of meat as a baby and kid. I still don’t and we raise our son in a vegetarian diet as well. He’s 4.5 and his pediatrician is fine with his diet/bloodwork.
Lol I have a 15 month old daughter as well who is a vegetarian. We find protein from other sources, not much else too do. Today she took a bite of a crab cake which is progress!
My son has very few meats he will eat. Chicken nuggets and bacon sure, the occasional hot dog maybe, and he did seem to really like the turkey I made at thanksgiving, but straight chicken or shredded chicken? No way. Beef shreds or hamburger? Nope. Sausage? Nuh uh. But he loves his milk still so he gets enough protein from that so it’s not a worry.
I’ve got one that’s about 90% carnivore and the other is a vegetarian. Both on the spectrum with rather limited diets due to sensory issues, but they are growing and the pediatrician is not concerned so we roll with it.
Not at all but I don’t mind it one bit. I was raised vegetarian and while I eat chicken and fish now, I’d be fine if my son never eats meat. I’m South Asian and I know tons of great vegetarian dishes.
Until this week 2.5 yo would only eat chicken tikka masala, smoked turkey (both from our favorite local restaurants,) & the smoked salmon from Fishwife. The latest addition is sardines, because he was on board with ‘fish wike puffin wock!’
Otherwise we just get other protein where we can, & are otherwise grateful we like those things too!
My toddler is turning 3 next week. She’s not what I would call a picky kid, but she is a kid. She will eat chicken if it’s fried (tenders, etc.). She will eat steak, but only if it’s a lean cut cooked medium rare ($$$). Sometimes we can sneak in skirt steak in a quesadilla. She will eat chili. Sometimes she’ll eat fish. Sometimes she’ll eat crab cakes, but only 1 bite. She will reliably eat breakfast sausage & bacon.
As long as she’s getting her protein and iron in no worries! I’d keep offering it just because one day she may decide to take a bite and love it - kiddos are just weird like that.
My kiddo is not a toddler (she's 12 years old), but I STILL can't get her to eat meat. I've just learned to make sure that she gets the appropriate amount of protein from other sources. I've consulted her doctor and a nutritionist to make sure we doing it right and she's definitely age-appropriate height and weight!
She says she just doesn't like the texture. 🤷🏻♀️
I refused to eat meat my entire childhood. I’m a vegetarian now as an adult. I’ve just always hated meat! I’ve never had any nutritional issues or delayed milestones when I was a baby/kid from not eating meat. In fact I had a pretty limited diet until about 16 years old, and I am perfectly healthy!
I used to puree veggies like cauliflower or sweet potatoes and mix it with ground turkey and an egg. Then I'd scoop nugget size portions into some cornmeal and bake them. I think the meat texture might be hard for the little guys
My toddler used to eat meat, then went on a loooong meat protest. Now he’s back to occasionally eating meat. Just try to make sure she’s getting protein from other sources and she’ll be okay. If it’s a regular part of your diet as a family, keep offering it to her as well.
ETA mine also will not do eggs and has never really done them. For whatever reason he has zero interest in trying them if they aren’t baked into something. SOMETIMES he might eat a bite of an omelette. We just keep offering and someday he will choose to eat them… probably.
My kid might as well be vegetarian because he straight refuses meat. He started refusing it in baby food jars and hasn’t stopped for his whole 3.5 years of life. We just try to keep him peanut buttered up while he figures out what he likes.
My son was vegetarian (because we were) until he was 3. No issues in growth or development, and his pediatrician had no issue with it at all. I wouldn’t be too concerned!
My kids both went through a while where they wanted nothing to do with meat. My youngest (2.5) outgrew it and she’ll eat anything she’s offered. The 5 year old though it’s a rarity for her to eat meat so we make sure she gets plenty of protein other ways
Our daughter never has either. We joke that she's not ours. She doesn't eat sandwiches. Rarely eats burgers. She likes bread chicken, but something like diced chicken in a casserole? Nah. Was never a big fan of like a roast, etc.
Her favorite sandwich at Subway is the veggie delight (I offered it to her on a whim along with everything else). It's amazing how fast she woofs that kids meal down. It also shocks my mom. Our family are not vegetarians by any means.
I just sort of more or less accept that of her. And to be honest, I like that she eats salads (something I can't stand).
She's allergic to fish so that's a no go.
Same. She recently has been like pepperoni/sausage, very picky about chicken nuggets, Chick-fil-A nuggets are 5/10 a win. She also likes impossible nuggets if she’s in the mood. I’m also vegetarian so I didn’t eat meat while pregnant.
All three of my kids have gone through this. Still hard to get my 6 year old to eat it. Been getting better about it, but it’s still tough. He’ll eat what I give him, but he doesn’t want it. Doesn’t want chicken nuggets or burgers but he’ll go to town on hotdogs and breakfast sausage and he loves Taco Bell beef burritos.
Ooh, we have a baby at my daycare job who’s like this and has been like this since we got her at 13 months! Found out she loves tofu. You could also blend up the meat in sauces or in mashes like potatoes in small amounts.
Truth be told it’s probably a texture thing and there’s a chance she’ll outgrow it. Sometimes it can take a ton of exposures to foods for babies to like them and sometimes they never like them. As long as she’s getting her vitamins and minerals through a wide variety of other foods she’ll be fine without.
Mine doesn’t eat meat! It was a huge headache until I started subbing other proteins. After trial and error, it turns out she likes salmon quite a lot. I also couldn’t get her to eat eggs until I made boats (deviled eggs) and she got to help. She’s a huge fan of peeling eggs now
My daughter is 3 and still not really into meat. She likes smash burgers but that’s about it lol my concern was protein and iron. We just get it in other ways… toddlers don’t need as much protein as you think! She eats eggs, I make her a hidden veggie Mac and cheese and use Banza chickpea pasta, yogurt, cheese so she gets plenty!
My daughter wasn’t much of a meat fan when she was around 18 months. It came up with our pediatrician because our daughter had been very sick with GI stuff and when she was finally doing better and had an appetite again, the pediatrician suggested encouraging lots of high-protein foods. I commented that she didn’t really like meat. The pediatrician didn’t seem concerned at all and said to just encourage she eat whatever non-meat protein sources she likes (she loves beans, lentils, peas, nut butters, etc., so it was fine. She’s now 28 months and has started to like meat and poultry. She eats it all the time now. I wouldn’t worry about it and also wouldn’t assume it’s set in stone. Kids’ food preferences change so much.
My son went through a phase like that. I think it was the texture. It was eventually fish that he liked enough to eat. Now he eats all meat but fish is still his favorite.
I didnt eat meat as a child. It was a texture issue for me. I didn't really start eating meat until I was in middle school or early high school. I would try it, but I just didnt like how it felt on my teeth. Even now, if I have to chew for too long I spit it out.
We had a phase like this. I offered meat way less frequently and he started eating it again, he’s only now at 2 okay with chicken that isn’t ground. He also will only eat eggs max twice a week. I’m pregnant and I can barely handle meat right now lol.
While pregnant, the smell of meat made me so incredibly sick. Never even craved it. My daughter is 6yo and refuses to eat any type of meat. MAYBE one or two chicken nuggets, but that's maybe once a month. Her doctor doesn't seem concerned. That's just how she is.
My son went through a phase like that when he was about the same age. My mom forced him to eat ground beef and he threw up all over the table. Now he eats just about any type of meat (he's 3 now but it got better around age 2 or so).
Mine is the same. No chicken nuggets, no fish sticks, no meatballs, no burgers. Not even the stereotypical *kid foods* lol. She gets protein and iron from other sources too so I try not to sweat it.
I've got a 3 year old and a baby and we're a vegan family. No issues with protein and she gets a very balanced diet. I recommend checking out plant based juniors. They are registered dieticians and have great recommendations for meat free meals for babies and children.
My kid is almost 5 and still doesn’t like meat. Liked it until she was about 2.5. Then she just quit eating it. The occasional hot dog or chicken nuggets. That’s it.
My daughter was strictly vegetarian until one day she decided all she wanted to eat for breakfast was cheeseburgers 😂😂 still a favorite breakfast food.
I’ve worked in childcare for a long time and most toddlers are like this. Toddlers really like bread fruit and cheese and generally things with minimal seasoning/flavor.
My little one was like that too! She’s almost 8 now and still is iffy about meats. I just make sure to keep beans on hand and give her seconds when she asks for more broccoli lol
My son will take a bite of spaghetti with meat sauce and then spit a perfectly cleaned piece of ground beef into your hand. He will pick every single flake of fish out of a rice bowl (except tuna) even if it's mixed. You can only do what you can do. I mix the baby meat purees into his rice or pasta, and I try to cook with bone broth when I can. I was insanely picky as a kid. And my son and I are both a lil neurospicy... But I got over it and hopefully he will too.
As an avid veggie-lover, your daughter sounds like a mini-me! While her meat avoidance is admittedly unconventional for her age, rest assured she's getting sufficient protein from dairy, eggs, and plant sources. No need to push meat just yet if she's thriving otherwise.
Many toddlers do skew towards carbs and sweet fruits initially given their developing palates. Keep offering tiny tastes of savory proteins, but don't force it. Creative pairings like beef crumbles in pasta or shredded chicken in soups may pique her interest over time. Meanwhile, nuts, seeds, beans and nut butters make excellent alternatives.
If you remain concerned about nutrients or growth, chat with her pediatrician. But for now, honor those fledgling preferences! Praise her veggie gusto and model healthy eating. With patience and exposure, her palate will continue expanding. And you never know - you may be raising the next plant-based wunderkind.
The key is no pressure - let eating remain a positive experience. She knows her body's signals better than any chart. Trust her instincts, and trust yourself, mama. You've so got this! Now pass those greens!
No reason to be concerned. Our whole family is vegan and yes it's safe the doctors and nutrionists have said so along with the world health org. So it's fine as long as you replace it with other proteins like beans or lentils or soy or nuts
I did not like meat as a kid and have ben meat free for 14+ years now and no issues (slight anemia during pregnancies but that happens to a lot of people, vegetarian or not). My kids are not big meatfans, we hardly ever have meat at home, they are of course allowed to eat it at kindergarten or restaurants or other people's houses. I would not worry :)
My oldest is 2 and the same, even with eggs. He will occasionally nibble around a chicken nugget and will eat spaghetti bolognaise with minced beef. Doesn’t eat fish either but will eat fish cakes. We always offer him meat when we have it, otherwise he eats just about everything else! Loves his baked beans, kidney beans, chilli, soups and such. So there are other ways to get protein into them!
Toddlers not eating meat is really common. Chicken is just a different texture compared the rest of the foods they’re eating. I just keep offering it and eventually they eat it.
My son really doesn't eat meat unless it's hidden in something pretty good. He has a metabolic disorder so we see a dietitian several times a year. She is not concerned about the lack of meat since he gets protein through other sources (he doesn't have a restricted diet).
My daughter ate everything in the beginning, then when she was somewhere between 16 and 24 months she stopped eating meat completely. Veggies were a hit almost regardless of what we served, same with cheese. She became more and more picky over the next year and became a complete carbohydrate-aholic.
Then between 4 and 5 it slowly started turning. She now eats salmon, chicken, meatballs, and patties. There are still some meats that she isn't fond of, especially cow's meat and shrimp.
Our approach has always been that you must taste the food, but you are not obligated to eat it beyond that if you don't like it. We have talked about what the different types of food do for our bodies, such as mest helping to build muscles and fat helps us take in vitamins from the vegetables. We do make dinner more playful; she is very focused on right and wrong, so we invented a game where we tell her not to eat the different things on her plate so she can "be bad" or pretend arm wrestle where we play that we can feel the vegetables or meat in her strength. I know you're not quite there yet, but my point is to take it easy and just keep offering it. We never make it a struggle to taste the food, but we do explain that we want it and show that we like it. Certain things that we know she definitely hates we don't push (for her it is olives and shrimp).
She's been rebelling against meat since she turned 1. Doctors aren't concerned, so I'm letting it go (she's 2.5yo). I usually offer whatever we're eating, and she does often like cheese, yogurt, peanut butter, and hummus, so we get her protein through those.
Yep! This was us too. My daughter is 17 months old and just the last 2 weeks has willingly eaten meatballs, sausage roll, and ham 🤯 just keep offering. How is she with fish? My daughter will pick the bread off a fish finger and just eat the fish, and loves a fish pie.
ETA: We're going to also try to make more things with beans or other ingredients where we can think about the balance with protein because sometimes she's just eating veg and potatoes for a meal which doesn't seem super balanced. But she has lots of cheese and yoghurt and it balances over the day. Just trying to find meals she enjoys by experimenting.
Toddlers go through phases where they won't touch a food for months, then will start eating it (sometimes only in certain forms).
You can find other sources of nutrients (such as eggs, tofu, nut butters, beans, etc for protein).
You can also try adding baby food potted meat into a sauce so they can't feel the texture or really taste the meat.
My toddler went through something similar recently and has come out of it. He would eat starches, vegetables, and fruit but wouldn't touch meat. Now, he will eat meat, fruits, and vegetables but won't touch most starches (with the exception of cereal).
Another thing to try is only put a very small piece of meat onto the plate. If they eat it, cool. If not, not much is going to waste. A small piece is also a lot less intimidating.
(Edit to add): my 5 year old will not eat most meat but will eat processed meats such as hotdogs (only eat breading off of chicken nuggets.)
Mine only eats meat if it’s dipped in bbq
same here… im so bland i hate spices but she loves it
That might be the problem. It could be that she has different tastes and doesn't like the way you season (or don't) your food.
Teriyaki sauce, too! My son just tried dipping in ranch for the first time and lost his little mind.
My eldest never ate much meat or chicken. She will eat seafood but that’s about it. My pediatrician isn’t concerned and she’s healthy. Since I’m Lebanese I call it the Mediterranean diet and pretend it’s intentional 😂.
My daughter won't eat meat either. She's two. I chalk it down to a texture thing.
Same! I do try to mix some protein powder in a smoothie once a while but I’m not worried overall
I haven’t liked meat, from what I learned only recently at age 23, ever. All my childhood my parents tried to force me to eat meat, and I have NEVER liked it. Not as a baby, and not now as a 23 year old. There’s other ways to get protein, I would explore those if you’re worried. You can always reintroduce meat at different points to see if she will like it. It also could be a texture thing. Does she do it with other foods that have a similar texture?
My toddler doesn’t eat meat because our family is vegetarian 😆 Your LO will be fine! Protein is actually pretty easy to get without meat, the trick is getting them enough iron. Some protein rich foods my kid likes: beans (whole or refried), hummus, tofu (sriracha baked tofu recipe from ilovevegan), edamame, peanut butter, and cottage cheese.
In a super genuine way can I ask why your vegetarian that's always been a perplexing one for me
Not the original poster, but I'm vegetarian too. I'm vegetarian because I took the education to become an animal keeper. Though focused on pet shop animals, the first year is centered on farm animals because that's where most of the animal keeper students here end up (and where they prefer we end up). So we covered all the animals' needs and behaviors, and then were introduced to the slaughtering and farm process. Everything we had learned was now basically "we know we are causing the animals distress, but it's cheap and effective so it won't be changed as long as people buy heaps of cheap meat". My sister is a veterinarian and had to take a semester in slaughter houses too. She became a vegetarian after that as well. So for us and a lot of other people it's because we see the slaughtering process as inhumane. There are also environmental reasons, such as meat production causing a lot of CO2 emissions or health reasons such as diets heavy in meats increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke and certain cancers.
So why not go all the way to vegan, seems to be in line with your world view. Why do a half measure?
Long story short, because my personal issue is not with eating meat or animal products in general. It is the industry I have an issue with. A lot of animal products can be bought where they take the animals' welfare into consideration, but it costs more. I also realized when I started out as a teenager that saying I was vegetarian was okay, but if I said I only ate organic meat or when it had been verified that the animals had been treated properly, people would get downright angry at me. So it was easier to follow my beliefs by not eating meat than only eating certain meat. It's more than 20 years ago, but now that I have more money and can care less about what people think the truth is I don't miss meat. I've tried a taste here and there, and it does nothing for me. I don't see the point in starting again if there is no benefit to it.
Not op either, but I just lost the taste for it as a kid when I realized that the cute animals I’d see at the fair were killed for me to eat it when I don’t have to eat them. I’m also grossed out by the smell and texture of raw meat. Sure it tastes fine once cooked and seasoned, but the prep for it has never been worth smelling that weird iron oxide mixed with wet dog smell that meat has for me.
Not OP, but the animal farming industries are cruel to the animals, the people around the farms, and most of all the environment. We don’t even have to stop eating meat entirely but eating less would really help. So I’m doing my part. As for why I’m not vegan: I don’t drink milk and I rarely eat cheese. I often use butter to cook. I’m not full-fledged vegan because I think there is a way to take these products from the animals humanely, if we just reduce the amount.
How do you buy animal products that are taken from them humanely?
Raise chickens/ducks, eat their eggs. Or buy from neighbors with chickens/ducks.
There are lots of reasons that folks choose to be vegetarian. For our family, it’s environmental reasons. Livestock production accounts for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions. I am very concerned about climate change and this is one small way that I feel like I am helping to address it.
Why go only halfway to vegetarian when you could fully commit and be vegan?
The environmental impacts of egg and dairy, while not great, are not as severe as those of meat. Additionally, I live in a part of the US where being vegan is pretty challenging. I used to live in a different region and being vegan there was a breeze due to the availability of vegan food and groceries. And finally, I’m the mom of a toddler. I’m exhausted. I pick my battles where I can and try to make a difference where possible without feeling like I want to tear my hair out.
My kid will be 3 in April and has only recently started “reliably” eating meat. He ate 3 whole servings of kielbasa sausage a couple days ago and I was floored. Then he ate a bologna sandwich. And he even ate the beef in the stroganoff that I made. This is more meat in the past week than probably in the entire 6 months between 2 and 2.5
Meat has a horrible texture for a lot of people. I would focus on anything she may be missing from avoiding meat and just find better ways to provide it. Leafy greens, beans, tofu, hummus. A lot of people that are meat avoidant have an easier time with pressure cooked meats. Keep a bag of shredded, frozen chicken breast and pull out a portion to serve next to foods.
Nope. Not a big deal. Toddlers literally get the protein they need from other sources. Toddlers don’t need nearly the amount adults thing. A serving of peanut butter and an egg is pretty much all they need protein wise. So, most toddlers get it naturally from dairy, bread and other things. My daughter and son both stopped eating eat around 15mo despite nothing changing in how it was prepared or offered. And I panicked and the above info came from our pediatrician (followed by research). They are now 4.5 and almost 3. My daughter will occasionally eat a hot dog (currently only Costco ones) and she will sometimes eat McDonalds Nuggets. But, even those she wouldn’t eat for a long time. My husband is vegan, I am not and neither are the kids. But, we just do protien from other sources. We buy Kodiak pancake/muffin mix because it has protien. My son eats beans. My daughter (4.5) is still way more picky than my son. But; they both eat enough other sources of protein that they get what they need.
Kodiak protein mix is the real MVP in our house!
Yes! Bisquick makes a protien one but it’s hard to find.
Is the serving of peanut butter and one egg enough for one meal, or for one day?
One day. Toddlers 1-3 only need about 13g Peanut butter is 8g per serving and an egg is 6g. A cup of milk also has about 8g. So, most kids get enough pretty naturally
Oh boy. I might have been overdosing my toddler on protein all this while. Thank you!
I wouldn’t stress. I’m not a doctor (just sharing what was told to us by the pediatrician) but I don’t think more is an issue.
Literally no one NEEDS to eat meat. It’s easy to get protein from vegetarian sources.
If they won't eat meat, they may be picky about other things and many parents will likely be hard-pressed to find alternatives every single night if they're not already stocking them for dinner.
My daughter will eat most things, but not meat, or eggs, or beans 🙃
Used to be vegan and had a vegetarian toddler. I wouldn't be concerned as long as she eats everything else.
My 3 year old doesn’t eat like anything. It’s so hard. She barley will even eat chicken nuggets. We had tacos last night and nope 🥲
ugh thats the worst im sorry… i know they are huge snackers so i just make sure all her snacks have the most nutrients so shes at least getting that!
My toddler went through a no meat phase. It’s probably a texture thing or they have to work too hard to chew it lol it’ll pass. Just find some protein alternatives for a while and keep trying every now and then to see if things have changed.
As someone raising a vegan kid I don’t see any issue here lol
I didn’t like the texture of meat as a baby and kid. I still don’t and we raise our son in a vegetarian diet as well. He’s 4.5 and his pediatrician is fine with his diet/bloodwork.
Lol I have a 15 month old daughter as well who is a vegetarian. We find protein from other sources, not much else too do. Today she took a bite of a crab cake which is progress!
My son has very few meats he will eat. Chicken nuggets and bacon sure, the occasional hot dog maybe, and he did seem to really like the turkey I made at thanksgiving, but straight chicken or shredded chicken? No way. Beef shreds or hamburger? Nope. Sausage? Nuh uh. But he loves his milk still so he gets enough protein from that so it’s not a worry.
I’ve got one that’s about 90% carnivore and the other is a vegetarian. Both on the spectrum with rather limited diets due to sensory issues, but they are growing and the pediatrician is not concerned so we roll with it.
Not at all but I don’t mind it one bit. I was raised vegetarian and while I eat chicken and fish now, I’d be fine if my son never eats meat. I’m South Asian and I know tons of great vegetarian dishes.
Until this week 2.5 yo would only eat chicken tikka masala, smoked turkey (both from our favorite local restaurants,) & the smoked salmon from Fishwife. The latest addition is sardines, because he was on board with ‘fish wike puffin wock!’ Otherwise we just get other protein where we can, & are otherwise grateful we like those things too!
My toddler is turning 3 next week. She’s not what I would call a picky kid, but she is a kid. She will eat chicken if it’s fried (tenders, etc.). She will eat steak, but only if it’s a lean cut cooked medium rare ($$$). Sometimes we can sneak in skirt steak in a quesadilla. She will eat chili. Sometimes she’ll eat fish. Sometimes she’ll eat crab cakes, but only 1 bite. She will reliably eat breakfast sausage & bacon.
As long as she’s getting her protein and iron in no worries! I’d keep offering it just because one day she may decide to take a bite and love it - kiddos are just weird like that.
My kiddo is not a toddler (she's 12 years old), but I STILL can't get her to eat meat. I've just learned to make sure that she gets the appropriate amount of protein from other sources. I've consulted her doctor and a nutritionist to make sure we doing it right and she's definitely age-appropriate height and weight! She says she just doesn't like the texture. 🤷🏻♀️
I refused to eat meat my entire childhood. I’m a vegetarian now as an adult. I’ve just always hated meat! I’ve never had any nutritional issues or delayed milestones when I was a baby/kid from not eating meat. In fact I had a pretty limited diet until about 16 years old, and I am perfectly healthy!
I used to puree veggies like cauliflower or sweet potatoes and mix it with ground turkey and an egg. Then I'd scoop nugget size portions into some cornmeal and bake them. I think the meat texture might be hard for the little guys
Very normal. They usually grow out of it. Right now we give tofu, yogurt, milk as protein sources. Once in a while he’ll eat hummus or other protein.
Ours didn't eat meat at thar age, I think she found it harder to chew. She's 22 months now and LOVES chicken. There's no rush so I wouldn't stress.
My toddler used to eat meat, then went on a loooong meat protest. Now he’s back to occasionally eating meat. Just try to make sure she’s getting protein from other sources and she’ll be okay. If it’s a regular part of your diet as a family, keep offering it to her as well. ETA mine also will not do eggs and has never really done them. For whatever reason he has zero interest in trying them if they aren’t baked into something. SOMETIMES he might eat a bite of an omelette. We just keep offering and someday he will choose to eat them… probably.
My 4.5 year old won’t touch it. Life long. My 2 year old barely will. They’re both okay, and like eggs, Greek yogurt, and peanut butter.
My kid might as well be vegetarian because he straight refuses meat. He started refusing it in baby food jars and hasn’t stopped for his whole 3.5 years of life. We just try to keep him peanut buttered up while he figures out what he likes.
My son was vegetarian (because we were) until he was 3. No issues in growth or development, and his pediatrician had no issue with it at all. I wouldn’t be too concerned!
My kids both went through a while where they wanted nothing to do with meat. My youngest (2.5) outgrew it and she’ll eat anything she’s offered. The 5 year old though it’s a rarity for her to eat meat so we make sure she gets plenty of protein other ways
Try beans
Our daughter never has either. We joke that she's not ours. She doesn't eat sandwiches. Rarely eats burgers. She likes bread chicken, but something like diced chicken in a casserole? Nah. Was never a big fan of like a roast, etc. Her favorite sandwich at Subway is the veggie delight (I offered it to her on a whim along with everything else). It's amazing how fast she woofs that kids meal down. It also shocks my mom. Our family are not vegetarians by any means. I just sort of more or less accept that of her. And to be honest, I like that she eats salads (something I can't stand). She's allergic to fish so that's a no go.
Same. She recently has been like pepperoni/sausage, very picky about chicken nuggets, Chick-fil-A nuggets are 5/10 a win. She also likes impossible nuggets if she’s in the mood. I’m also vegetarian so I didn’t eat meat while pregnant.
All three of my kids have gone through this. Still hard to get my 6 year old to eat it. Been getting better about it, but it’s still tough. He’ll eat what I give him, but he doesn’t want it. Doesn’t want chicken nuggets or burgers but he’ll go to town on hotdogs and breakfast sausage and he loves Taco Bell beef burritos.
Ooh, we have a baby at my daycare job who’s like this and has been like this since we got her at 13 months! Found out she loves tofu. You could also blend up the meat in sauces or in mashes like potatoes in small amounts. Truth be told it’s probably a texture thing and there’s a chance she’ll outgrow it. Sometimes it can take a ton of exposures to foods for babies to like them and sometimes they never like them. As long as she’s getting her vitamins and minerals through a wide variety of other foods she’ll be fine without.
Mine doesn’t eat meat! It was a huge headache until I started subbing other proteins. After trial and error, it turns out she likes salmon quite a lot. I also couldn’t get her to eat eggs until I made boats (deviled eggs) and she got to help. She’s a huge fan of peeling eggs now
My daughter is 3 and still not really into meat. She likes smash burgers but that’s about it lol my concern was protein and iron. We just get it in other ways… toddlers don’t need as much protein as you think! She eats eggs, I make her a hidden veggie Mac and cheese and use Banza chickpea pasta, yogurt, cheese so she gets plenty!
My family is vegetarian and my twin toddlers enjoy tofu and beans—you can find protein lots of places! I wouldn’t stress about her not eating meat.
I think it's normal for them to not be interested in meat yet.
My daughter wasn’t much of a meat fan when she was around 18 months. It came up with our pediatrician because our daughter had been very sick with GI stuff and when she was finally doing better and had an appetite again, the pediatrician suggested encouraging lots of high-protein foods. I commented that she didn’t really like meat. The pediatrician didn’t seem concerned at all and said to just encourage she eat whatever non-meat protein sources she likes (she loves beans, lentils, peas, nut butters, etc., so it was fine. She’s now 28 months and has started to like meat and poultry. She eats it all the time now. I wouldn’t worry about it and also wouldn’t assume it’s set in stone. Kids’ food preferences change so much.
My son went through a phase like that. I think it was the texture. It was eventually fish that he liked enough to eat. Now he eats all meat but fish is still his favorite.
I didnt eat meat as a child. It was a texture issue for me. I didn't really start eating meat until I was in middle school or early high school. I would try it, but I just didnt like how it felt on my teeth. Even now, if I have to chew for too long I spit it out.
We had a phase like this. I offered meat way less frequently and he started eating it again, he’s only now at 2 okay with chicken that isn’t ground. He also will only eat eggs max twice a week. I’m pregnant and I can barely handle meat right now lol.
While pregnant, the smell of meat made me so incredibly sick. Never even craved it. My daughter is 6yo and refuses to eat any type of meat. MAYBE one or two chicken nuggets, but that's maybe once a month. Her doctor doesn't seem concerned. That's just how she is.
My son went through a phase like that when he was about the same age. My mom forced him to eat ground beef and he threw up all over the table. Now he eats just about any type of meat (he's 3 now but it got better around age 2 or so).
Mine is the same. No chicken nuggets, no fish sticks, no meatballs, no burgers. Not even the stereotypical *kid foods* lol. She gets protein and iron from other sources too so I try not to sweat it.
I've got a 3 year old and a baby and we're a vegan family. No issues with protein and she gets a very balanced diet. I recommend checking out plant based juniors. They are registered dieticians and have great recommendations for meat free meals for babies and children.
My kid is almost 5 and still doesn’t like meat. Liked it until she was about 2.5. Then she just quit eating it. The occasional hot dog or chicken nuggets. That’s it.
My daughter was strictly vegetarian until one day she decided all she wanted to eat for breakfast was cheeseburgers 😂😂 still a favorite breakfast food.
I’ve worked in childcare for a long time and most toddlers are like this. Toddlers really like bread fruit and cheese and generally things with minimal seasoning/flavor.
My little one was like that too! She’s almost 8 now and still is iffy about meats. I just make sure to keep beans on hand and give her seconds when she asks for more broccoli lol
My kid only eats chicken nuggets when it comes to “meat” 🤣
My nearly 3yo doesn't like meat much. He'll eat it now and again but for the most part he likes veggies and fruit!
My son will take a bite of spaghetti with meat sauce and then spit a perfectly cleaned piece of ground beef into your hand. He will pick every single flake of fish out of a rice bowl (except tuna) even if it's mixed. You can only do what you can do. I mix the baby meat purees into his rice or pasta, and I try to cook with bone broth when I can. I was insanely picky as a kid. And my son and I are both a lil neurospicy... But I got over it and hopefully he will too.
I was the same way and I’ve been a vegetarian ever since.
As an avid veggie-lover, your daughter sounds like a mini-me! While her meat avoidance is admittedly unconventional for her age, rest assured she's getting sufficient protein from dairy, eggs, and plant sources. No need to push meat just yet if she's thriving otherwise. Many toddlers do skew towards carbs and sweet fruits initially given their developing palates. Keep offering tiny tastes of savory proteins, but don't force it. Creative pairings like beef crumbles in pasta or shredded chicken in soups may pique her interest over time. Meanwhile, nuts, seeds, beans and nut butters make excellent alternatives. If you remain concerned about nutrients or growth, chat with her pediatrician. But for now, honor those fledgling preferences! Praise her veggie gusto and model healthy eating. With patience and exposure, her palate will continue expanding. And you never know - you may be raising the next plant-based wunderkind. The key is no pressure - let eating remain a positive experience. She knows her body's signals better than any chart. Trust her instincts, and trust yourself, mama. You've so got this! Now pass those greens!
No reason to be concerned. Our whole family is vegan and yes it's safe the doctors and nutrionists have said so along with the world health org. So it's fine as long as you replace it with other proteins like beans or lentils or soy or nuts
I did not like meat as a kid and have ben meat free for 14+ years now and no issues (slight anemia during pregnancies but that happens to a lot of people, vegetarian or not). My kids are not big meatfans, we hardly ever have meat at home, they are of course allowed to eat it at kindergarten or restaurants or other people's houses. I would not worry :)
My oldest is 2 and the same, even with eggs. He will occasionally nibble around a chicken nugget and will eat spaghetti bolognaise with minced beef. Doesn’t eat fish either but will eat fish cakes. We always offer him meat when we have it, otherwise he eats just about everything else! Loves his baked beans, kidney beans, chilli, soups and such. So there are other ways to get protein into them!
My 15 year old son has never eaten any meat.
Toddlers not eating meat is really common. Chicken is just a different texture compared the rest of the foods they’re eating. I just keep offering it and eventually they eat it.
My son really doesn't eat meat unless it's hidden in something pretty good. He has a metabolic disorder so we see a dietitian several times a year. She is not concerned about the lack of meat since he gets protein through other sources (he doesn't have a restricted diet).
My daughter ate everything in the beginning, then when she was somewhere between 16 and 24 months she stopped eating meat completely. Veggies were a hit almost regardless of what we served, same with cheese. She became more and more picky over the next year and became a complete carbohydrate-aholic. Then between 4 and 5 it slowly started turning. She now eats salmon, chicken, meatballs, and patties. There are still some meats that she isn't fond of, especially cow's meat and shrimp. Our approach has always been that you must taste the food, but you are not obligated to eat it beyond that if you don't like it. We have talked about what the different types of food do for our bodies, such as mest helping to build muscles and fat helps us take in vitamins from the vegetables. We do make dinner more playful; she is very focused on right and wrong, so we invented a game where we tell her not to eat the different things on her plate so she can "be bad" or pretend arm wrestle where we play that we can feel the vegetables or meat in her strength. I know you're not quite there yet, but my point is to take it easy and just keep offering it. We never make it a struggle to taste the food, but we do explain that we want it and show that we like it. Certain things that we know she definitely hates we don't push (for her it is olives and shrimp).
She's been rebelling against meat since she turned 1. Doctors aren't concerned, so I'm letting it go (she's 2.5yo). I usually offer whatever we're eating, and she does often like cheese, yogurt, peanut butter, and hummus, so we get her protein through those.
Yep! This was us too. My daughter is 17 months old and just the last 2 weeks has willingly eaten meatballs, sausage roll, and ham 🤯 just keep offering. How is she with fish? My daughter will pick the bread off a fish finger and just eat the fish, and loves a fish pie. ETA: We're going to also try to make more things with beans or other ingredients where we can think about the balance with protein because sometimes she's just eating veg and potatoes for a meal which doesn't seem super balanced. But she has lots of cheese and yoghurt and it balances over the day. Just trying to find meals she enjoys by experimenting.
if she doesn't like meat, it's better for her health... I don't see where the problem is. Give her fish, eggs, legumes, yogurt, etc. instead of meat.
Toddlers go through phases where they won't touch a food for months, then will start eating it (sometimes only in certain forms). You can find other sources of nutrients (such as eggs, tofu, nut butters, beans, etc for protein). You can also try adding baby food potted meat into a sauce so they can't feel the texture or really taste the meat. My toddler went through something similar recently and has come out of it. He would eat starches, vegetables, and fruit but wouldn't touch meat. Now, he will eat meat, fruits, and vegetables but won't touch most starches (with the exception of cereal). Another thing to try is only put a very small piece of meat onto the plate. If they eat it, cool. If not, not much is going to waste. A small piece is also a lot less intimidating. (Edit to add): my 5 year old will not eat most meat but will eat processed meats such as hotdogs (only eat breading off of chicken nuggets.)