Getting young kids to eat protein?

[kwelch10377]

Well, this might not be a popular opinion, but if all they will eat is carbs, then I'd serve meals that are only meat and veggies/fruits. If you don't cave they will eventually be hungry enough to eat it. It's highly unlikely that they will starve before they give in and try new things.

That said, DD7 doesn't really eat much "protein" at all. By that I mean she won't eat a lot of meat. She eats about 2 oz of meat 4-5 times per week. If she doesn't want to eat what we're serving she goes hungry. But I never force the issue.

I agree with you. If they are hungry and the only option they are given is what is in front of them, chances are they will eat it or at least give it more than a one bite chance before they say they don't like it. If you give options or if they know they you will give in and give them something else, they won't give things enough of a try.

 

[Myothername]

Do your kids like ketchup? My mother let me dip anything and everything in ketchup when I was little. I remember being at the table at Thanksgiving and my older brother throwing a fit because i dipped my turkey in ketchup and my mother telling him through gritted teeth to hush at least I was eating meat. DS was a little finicky when he was younger. I had a rule though that he had to at least try each new thing. Mostly he hated them but some he did like. Pediatrician said as long as he drank some milk everyday he would be fine and children will not starve themselves to death.

I wouldn't make a big deal about it except to require them to try something new at least once and tell them this is what we are having and no snacking after meals. I can't tell you how many of DS's friends will eat nothing but chicken strips and hamburgers and they are in their late teens. I bet those were kids whose parents gave in and never made them try something new.

 

[mariolatry]

Good advice from all. Thanks!

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

I personally wouldn't do smoothies. You are just asking your kids to only eat sweet and smooth.

Beans are a great choice. Greek yogurt can be used instead of sour cream. Small bites of meat in tiny portions are not intimidating. Try not to make everything a nugget with dip. The world has too many kids already who will only eat chicken nuggets and mac with cheese. Spaghetti sauce with hamburg, turkey burger is an easy dish. Soups of all sorts, bean, veggie with meat, chili.

 

[amyren]

Fortunately veggies aren’t a big deal for DD. She might be the only 2 year old who legitimately LOVES salad. I also sneak veggies into lots of dishes (casserole, pasta etc…) She will gobble up stuffed shells with ricotta cheese & spinach. Her main sources of protein are: yogurt, cheese, edamame, various beans (she loves great northern, refried, and black), peanut butter, eggs & milk (BTW we are vegetarian thus why no meats are listed ) Good luck

 

[HeatherH]

I personally wouldn't do smoothies. You are just asking your kids to only eat sweet and smooth.

Beans are a great choice. Greek yogurt can be used instead of sour cream. Small bites of meat in tiny portions are not intimidating. Try not to make everything a nugget with dip. The world has too many kids already who will only eat chicken nuggets and mac with cheese. Spaghetti sauce with hamburg, turkey burger is an easy dish. Soups of all sorts, bean, veggie with meat, chili.

This.

And what others have said, sometimes it takes introducing a food 10+ times for there to be interest. Small bites and small steps. Kids' tastes change VASTLY over time, and I think the more choices you can introduce them to at a young age, the better.

 

[bekkiz]

I highly recommend one of Eleen Satter books, http://www.ellynsatter.com/ She has an excellent view on nutrition for children and maintian a good relationship with your kids about food.

 

[barrett7890]

lentils are a great source of protein, so maybe some home made lentil soup for lunch/dinner?

cami
x

 

[Sparx]

I've been worried about my protein recently. I'm not a big meat eater. I like greek yogurt (but only Dannon, fruit on the bottom. the other is pretty bitter) and hummus. Do you think, for a snack, the kids would eat some tortilla chips and hummus?

 

[golfgal]

I highly recommend one of Eleen Satter books, http://www.ellynsatter.com/ She has an excellent view on nutrition for children and maintian a good relationship with your kids about food.

Excellent suggestion. When our twins were born a friend that is not the head dietitian for the VA system gave us that book.

OP, the more you stress out about every bite of food that goes into their mouth the more of an issue it will become. I am a FIRM believer that kids KNOW what they need to eat and if you offer good choices kids will eat what their body needs. Just the fact that you know exactly how much protein a child needs scares me a little. Offer healthy food with the occasional junk thrown in for fun since kids need the calories and it will all work out in the end. One thing that the above book talks about is to average a kid's diet out over a MONTH, not day to day.

My DS15 was not a big meat eater as a toddler and really not up until this year. He would MAYBE have a bit or two of meat. I think for him it was a texture thing. Well, he is now a growing teen and his body is telling him he needs more protein so he eats it-like a couple cheeseburgers at a sitting now. He is tall and thin and eats like a horse now.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

A couple of points, when using quinoa, the red is a bit more nutritious. When using either wash, wash, wash it! I put it in a deep pan that is set inside a sieve and let the cold water flow. I lift handfuls and rub it between my palms (as if washing my hands) and keep doing that for several minutes.

We use it as a hot cereal here with currants, cinnamon and a touch of nutmeg. Lovely stuff!

Be very cautious with the use of protien powder. We no longer use it or allow it to be used in our food. It can be a problem for digestion and other factors so go very easy with it. There really is no need for protien powders or other artificial sources.

If the child/person won't eat meat, what's the matter with that? There can be a nutritious eating pattern without meat. Keep the sugars (artificially added) low, and the bad fats low, and the bad carbs non-existant and all should be well.

But do be very, very careful with adding processed anything (and that includes those protien powders) to a child's diet on a regular basis.

 

[FireDancer]

A couple of points, when using quinoa, the red is a bit more nutritious. When using either wash, wash, wash it! I put it in a deep pan that is set inside a sieve and let the cold water flow. I lift handfuls and rub it between my palms (as if washing my hands) and keep doing that for several minutes.

We use it as a hot cereal here with currants, cinnamon and a touch of nutmeg. Lovely stuff!

Be very cautious with the use of protien powder. We no longer use it or allow it to be used in our food. It can be a problem for digestion and other factors so go very easy with it. There really is no need for protien powders or other artificial sources.

If the child/person won't eat meat, what's the matter with that? There can be a nutritious eating pattern without meat. Keep the sugars (artificially added) low, and the bad fats low, and the bad carbs non-existant and all should be well.

But do be very, very careful with adding processed anything (and that includes those protien powders) to a child's diet on a regular basis.

I love red quinoa. I add diced tomatoes and basil and it is a lot like a slightly nutty pasta.

I do use protein powder a bit for shakes after working out or after a hard run or bike ride. There are a lot of bad ones out there. I look for anything with no added sweeteners (artificial or otherwise). As you said though, people tollerate it differently and if it doesn't work it doesn't work.

The last part about processed anything though is my mantra. I eat as much raw food and produce as I can. Comes from ground > Comes from science class.

Also, someone mentioned lentils. I have a dish I make with lentils, black beans, and couscous that I love. Just make sure to soak the beans overnight. I add spices and diced vegetables also. Which ones very but tomatoes, fennel, and cucumbers (meat only, no seeds) are my favorites.

 

[lillygator]

Well, this might not be a popular opinion, but if all they will eat is carbs, then I'd serve meals that are only meat and veggies/fruits. If you don't cave they will eventually be hungry enough to eat it. It's highly unlikely that they will starve before they give in and try new things.

That said, DD7 doesn't really eat much "protein" at all. By that I mean she won't eat a lot of meat. She eats about 2 oz of meat 4-5 times per week. If she doesn't want to eat what we're serving she goes hungry. But I never force the issue.

I agree, they will eat when hungry. What about chicken salad sands or something along those lines? make them into finger sands?


I am a bit surprised to see so many with eating issues. I think what worked for us was the fact we have always just given our girls what we were having for dinner. We never even made it through one box of rice cereal. Thankfully now there is pretty much nothing they won't eat - this week alone I think my 6 yr old has eaten her weight in oysters!

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

I love red quinoa. I add diced tomatoes and basil and it is a lot like a slightly nutty pasta.

I do use protein powder a bit for shakes after working out or after a hard run or bike ride. There are a lot of bad ones out there. I look for anything with no added sweeteners (artificial or otherwise). As you said though, people tollerate it differently and if it doesn't work it doesn't work.

The last part about processed anything though is my mantra. I eat as much raw food and produce as I can. Comes from ground > Comes from science class.

Also, someone mentioned lentils. I have a dish I make with lentils, black beans, and couscous that I love. Just make sure to soak the beans overnight. I add spices and diced vegetables also. Which ones very but tomatoes, fennel, and cucumbers (meat only, no seeds) are my favorites.

You can't post that without posting the recipe.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

Cottage cheese is an excellent source of protein.

 

[r4blessings]

I make Barilla Plus Pasta a lot for my kids....its a multigrain pasta that has protien and calcium in it. My kids don't even eat "white" pasta anymore, unless they order pasta when we are eating out. Then they keep talking about how great the "restaurant pasta" is.....but that is b/c they are eating the white pasta.

But since Barilla is all I use at home, they've gotten used to it!

 

[FireDancer]

You can't post that without posting the recipe.

For the lentils dish? That one is easy, just follow the instructions on the back of the box. I do the black beans separate per the instruction on the box. I do the lentils and couscous together. I look at the water requirements for 1 cup of each and combine them into the container. I start with the lentils and add them to the boiling water and then simmer for 20-30 minutes. With about 2 minutes to go I add the couscous and after those two minutes I removed the pot from heat.

I add in the beans that were cooked separately and then the diced vegetables. I just allow the heat from the lentil, couscous, and black beans to warm the vegetables a bit.

Done. The exact recipe will depend on the specific brands you use and if you go canned or dried for the beans and lentils. I always go dried.

 

[Nette]

I agree, they will eat when hungry. What about chicken salad sands or something along those lines? make them into finger sands?


I am a bit surprised to see so many with eating issues. I think what worked for us was the fact we have always just given our girls what we were having for dinner. We never even made it through one box of rice cereal. Thankfully now there is pretty much nothing they won't eat - this week alone I think my 6 yr old has eaten her weight in oysters!

Us either. We started her with sweet potatoes at 5 months, and only did baby food for about 4 weeks. She much preferred little bites of our food. The daycare thought I was crazy because I wouldn't give them a box of cereal. I knew that they would try to stuff her with it, and I wanted her eating whole foods.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

For the lentils dish? That one is easy, just follow the instructions on the back of the box. I do the black beans separate per the instruction on the box. I do the lentils and couscous together. I look at the water requirements for 1 cup of each and combine them into the container. I start with the lentils and add them to the boiling water and then simmer for 20-30 minutes. With about 2 minutes to go I add the couscous and after those two minutes I removed the pot from heat.

I add in the beans that were cooked separately and then the diced vegetables. I just allow the heat from the lentil, couscous, and black beans to warm the vegetables a bit.

Done. The exact recipe will depend on the specific brands you use and if you go canned or dried for the beans and lentils. I always go dried.

Doing the lentils an couscous together sounds like a great idea. We buy in bulk, so I will check that out. We do a lot of beans, and something new is always a good thing. Thanks.