Does YOUR child eat meat?

Plunket seem to place a lot of importance on ensuring we give our kids meat. But how many of us ACTUALLY stress over whether they are eating it or not?

Lucas has never been a meat eater, he wasn't phased by the Aria Farm beef and lamb chips, chicken & fish aren't options ...he just turns his nose up at any form of meat (incl sausages and beef patties etc) EXCEPT he used to eat the baby food cans that were 'lambs fry' and the veges mixed with beef. So not really a meat eater at all here.

At our last plunket check the nurse blasted me for not TRYING harder, *ahem* excuse me, what about all these kids that are raised in vegetarian households or where it is part of a culture?

I certainly don't stress about it, but I'm wondering how many other mummies have kids that aren't interested in it either?

And I know meat is rich source of Iron but there are other foods that also offer this...

Steph, Keziah was primarily vegetarian until yesterday (living mainly on Pumpkin, Kumara, Carrots, Broccoli & Cauliflower)... she ALWAYS gagged and pushed the spoon away when I put any type of meat near her mouth LOL.. but now she kinda likes it, with little protest but I'm not going to force it upon her (like eating it every day) Maybe 3 times a week?

All the things you've mentioned aren't real meat though lol
Those beef chips are disgusting! I tried them when my daughter was around 1...yuk!

My girl wasn't interested in eating meat until she was over one.
I used to make her spinach and feta omelettes instead. Maybe you could try that for the iron?

What about something like schnitzel instead (you could crumb it yourself) and cut it into little pieces? That is a favourite here

Yeah I know the 'meats' I mentioned aren't REAL meat, I was meaning real meat too though

We seem to have an issue with chewing here though (and no back teeth except 1 molar) so I'm guessing that could be another factor working against us when it comes to eating meats.

My boy seems to love meat. Mind you, he's never had puree, only meat in the same form we'd eat it (roast, lamb rack, etc) as he feeds himself.    

Caitlin has never been a big meat eater either (loves fish though!) she recently decided she doesn't do sausages either and spits it across the table

As you know Elle is Miss fussy pants with eating. However, 2 nights in a row she ate some beef casserole which was amazing. She certainly won't eat pieces of meat, sausages, chicken, chicken nuggets etc. I usually get iron in via egg and formula. Sadly she isn't into veges either but will eat a carrot stick a day

I hide grated courgette and carrot in things just so I can get some veges in!

My older two girls aren't big on meat. They love chicken, fish fingers and most of all sausages. But if I give them mince, lamb or steak, they barely touch it! Even if I chop it really little! I do think it's a texture issue though.

Kryssi, however, at 6mos old refused to eat anything that did not contain any form of meat. I didn't know what she was on about at first, thought I had the art of feeding solids mastered at baby #3! So she will eat mince and all that and loves chicken and sausages too.

Some kids are just fussy!! But I try not to worry too much, I figure once all their teeth are through and they are hungry enough, I won't be able to stop 'em!

Yup I have tried him on a variety of 'real' meats (lamb, beef, mince etc), he can't chew them and after one or two licks he throws it. Which is basically what he does with any food he doesn't like, lick ....biff!