Advice from Dr. Komarovsky on what to do if a child has a poor appetite. Why does a child refuse to eat meat and what to do about it?

Treatment and prevention of neuroses

Avoid upbringing through intimidation and constant teasing, reduce prohibitions to a minimum and try your best possible ways support or awaken interest in self-knowledge. This is especially important at 3-4 years old, when the sense of “I” appears and in adolescence.

Does your little picky pick out pieces of meat from the soup and place them next to the plate? He spreads the cutlet all over the dish, and every meal turns into fights without rules? Let's try to start another game with simpler rules.

Why is meat healthy?

Meat contains proteins, and this is the main building material for a growing body. If there is not enough protein, the child's growth slows down. Meat is one of the main sources of iron, and it is involved in hematopoietic processes. Meat contains zinc and magnesium, potassium salts and phosphorus, B vitamins. Development depends on zinc fine motor skills and speech, attention and memory. Potassium is involved in the regulation of water, acid and electrolyte balance, in the functioning of the nervous system and blood pressure regulation, while phosphorus and magnesium are needed for the growth of bones and muscles. Without the proteins and nutrients found in meat, a child’s brain will not develop normally.

Without iron, a child may develop iron deficiency anemia and delay mental development, will become more frequent infectious diseases respiratory organs and gastrointestinal tract, and without potassium, heart function will be disrupted and intestinal motor function will suffer. Phosphorus deficiency in children can lead to rickets, anemia, and poor appetite. Without B vitamins, a child becomes capricious, gets tired quickly, loses his appetite, and his stomach functions are disrupted.

But it is quite difficult for our body to digest meat, and it takes a long time to digest. That is, you still shouldn’t eat meat every day, but you don’t need to completely exclude it from your diet either.

Horse meat and turkey are especially good for children, they are practically hypoallergenic, do not contain a lot of fat, they have everything useful material, although they put less strain on the body. Veal used to be considered very healthy, but now doctors have come to the conclusion that the meat must be mature, so beef is still better.

Why does a child refuse meat and what to do about it?

Sometimes this happens when a baby switches from pureed meat to cutlets or boiled meat, which retains fiber. It needs to be chewed, but the child does not want to do this. The solution is simple - switch to meat soufflé or well-chopped meat. And when preparing soup, grind the meat in a blender so that it is almost undetectable. Remember that meat broths must be made with second water. The foam that forms during boiling must be skimmed off.

The child does not like a certain type of meat - only beef or only pork. Observe and experiment with different types meat.

The baby doesn't like the taste of meat. Try to disguise it. Make pate not only from meat, but from meat and cheese. To do this, mix boiled meat with hard cheese, add butter to the resulting minced meat and mix all these ingredients thoroughly. You can hide meat in pancakes. Just don’t mix meat and potatoes; these two products don’t go together. Meat goes best with vegetables. The simplest recipe is to stew vegetables (you can also use fresh vegetables, and mixtures of frozen vegetables) with twisted boiled meat. You can make cutlets “with a surprise” by hiding the filling inside - an egg, carrots, green peas or anything else that your child likes. To take the attention away from the meat, make an unusual breading that's delicious and crispy, using corn flakes, oat flakes, or sesame seeds. Try putting the soufflé in a silicone mold - in the shape of a sun or a flower. Just try not to use molds with animals on them. We'll tell you why now.

Imagine that a child first watched a cartoon about Chicken Little Chicken, and then saw a chicken that his mother had just taken out of the oven. The fragile child's psyche could not withstand the shock, and the child, feeling sorry for the animals, stopped eating meat. All that is in your power is to prepare such food in which the outlines of a leg or a wing cannot be guessed, that is, we cut everything into small, very small pieces. Stop using the word “meat” and redirect the child’s attention with a game - tell him that you are going to visit Carlson, who loves meatballs, and this is his treat.

If there are no other reasons, then perhaps your child really does not need meat in the quantity in which you offer it. Just don't worry about his appetite and include legumes, eggs and all types of dairy products in his diet.

Dear parents, perhaps some of you have already encountered a situation where a child refuses to eat meat. In this article we will look in more detail at the reasons why this can happen and what to do in this situation.

Meat value

Why is it so important to introduce meat dishes into your toddler’s diet?

1. It has a high content of proteins, amino acids, iron, zinc, vitamin D and B12, calcium, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
2. The energy value of meat allows you to replenish the body's energy costs, and also provides substances necessary for the growth and development of the body.
3. Meat allows you to cleanse the body, it helps improve digestion, and also removes possible toxins.
4. Contains valuable fats that are not able to be synthesized independently in the body. If they are absent, the baby's growth may slow down.
5. From this product you can prepare a large number of all kinds of dishes.

Vegetarianism is harmful to baby's health

Strict vegetarianism is harmful to the health of a growing body

If the child’s parents are vegetarians and want their baby to be the same, then it is necessary to understand that with strict vegetarianism, health problems may arise; the toddler will have a lack of essential amino acids, a lack of zinc and iron, a lack of calcium, and a deficiency of vitamin B12 and D.

You must understand that there are five reasons that indicate that such a diet is completely contraindicated for a growing body:

• in a child who is on a plant-based diet, a protein metabolism disorder occurs; in preschool children, such a disorder can lead to a complete stop in growth;
• a strong decrease in hemoglobin in the blood leads to the development of anemia;
• immunity decreases due to the lack of sufficient amounts of proteins, the complement system, immunoglobulins and interferon;
• there is a clear deterioration in vision due to pigmentary degeneration of the retina and clouding of the lens;
• Do not forget that hormones are of a protein nature, in particular somatotropin, which is responsible for the growth of the baby.

If the baby completely refuses to eat meat, and his diet is not promptly replenished with other iron-containing products, then the development of a deficiency of this microelement is possible. The following signs will indicate that your little one has a serious iron deficiency:

• lethargy;
• pale skin;
• increased fatigue;
• the child has frequent colds;
• dry skin, peeling;
• the baby has a desire to eat inedible things;
• the structure of hair and nails is disrupted.

Reasons for giving up meat

Meat begins to be introduced into complementary foods at approximately seven months. At the first stages it is half a teaspoon, then a teaspoon, after a month this portion can be increased to 30 grams, for a child they give about 70 grams per year.

1. If a baby in his first year of life does not want to eat meat, then in most cases this means that he simply did not like it.
2. The toddler may refuse such food if he is too hot or feels unwell.
3. Children may refuse meat products if available or for a specific type of meat.
4. A child does not eat meat for a year, most likely due to difficulty in chewing; the baby does not yet have enough teeth - it is difficult to cope with such food.
5. Older toddlers may refuse to eat meat because they realize where it came from, and they feel sorry for the poor animals.
6. Poorly prepared or stale, low-quality food can cause not only reluctance to eat it, but also serious poisoning.

My son has been eating meat since he was introduced to complementary foods to this day. However, he will not eat pieces that are too stringy or with skin. In addition, sometimes his preferences change, and he begins to refuse chicken or veal, but can also happily eat any type of meat.

How to help a child

Involve your child in the process of preparing meat dishes

1. You shouldn’t create a whole problem out of a child’s refusal. You must understand that there are products that can replace meat dishes, offer your baby fish, eggs, cottage cheese, so he can replenish the supply of amino acids in his body, offer buckwheat, pomegranate, green apples, nuts - they will replenish iron reserves, and for purchasing it is necessary the amount of vitamin B12 - you can eat products of animal origin; as for vitamin D, it is enough to be in the sun for 20 minutes.
2. Do not force your child to eat, do not yell at him. This way you can achieve an exceptionally neurotic reaction at the sight of meat products.
3. Try serving meat as an unusual dish, beautifully decorated.
4. If a negative reaction towards meat products occurred during the introduction of complementary foods, then it is better to postpone it for a while and try again in a few months.
5. Experiment, perhaps your reluctance to eat meat dishes is due to a dislike for a specific type of meat.
6. Don't forget about the harshness of the product. Cook it until completely soft; for the little ones, grind it to a puree.
7. You can try to hide the meat in the salad, maybe the baby won’t notice and will be able to eat it.
8. You can try cooking a meat dish together with an older child. Like a true chef, he will want to try what he gets.
9. Set an example for your child. It is very important that those around him like to eat meat. So, finding himself at a common table, he will notice this and change his mind.

Possible alternative

If you have not been able to instill in your child a love for meat, then there is an opportunity to obtain valuable biologically active substances that it contains by consuming other products. Let's look at what can be replaced and with what.

1. Vitamin B12 supplies can be obtained from animal products, such as eggs or dairy.
2. Zinc will come from:

• eggs;
• rice;
• pumpkin seeds;
• dairy products;
• wheat flour.

1. Calcium is found in:

• dairy products;
• cabbage;
• spinach;
• in Iceberg salad.

1. Omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids can be obtained from:

• vegetable oil;
• nuts and seeds;
• cereal sprouts.

1. Protein can be obtained by consuming:

• fermented milk products;
• rice;
• apples;
• dairy products;
• cereals;
• egg whites;
• legumes

1. The following foods are rich in iron:

• buckwheat;
• lentils;
• whole grain bread (wheat);
• egg yolk;
• cereals;
• nuts;
• dried fruits;
• spinach.

But it is worth considering that plant iron is less easily absorbed by the body, so it is recommended to jointly consume foods containing ascorbic acid.

Now you know if your child does not eat meat, what to do. Remember about possible reasons such a state. Don't make a big tragedy out of this. Don't force your baby to eat if he doesn't want to. Don’t forget about the possibility of replacing meat products with an alternative.

Meat complementary foods are introduced into the infant's diet in the eighth month. Children on artificial feeding need earlier complementary feeding. They should receive meat at 6-7 months. For the first feeding, beef, chicken or turkey are suitable. Then they include rabbit, lean pork, after 9-10 months they give meatballs and meatballs, after a year - steamed cutlets. By-products after 10-11 months can include tongue and liver. But it is better to avoid duck and goose, as well as meat broths, until the age of 2.5-3 years.

Meat should be given once a day along with vegetable puree or porridge. The dish can be diluted with vegetable oil or breast milk. Do not add salt, seasonings or other spices! Use meat pieces without fat and veins, bones and cartilage. Grind and beat the puree thoroughly so that there are no lumps. For more information about the procedure for introducing foods into a baby’s diet and preparing various dishes for complementary feeding, see here.

Giving meat complementary foods starts with 5-10 grams (0.5-1 teaspoon). Gradually, by the year, the daily norm is increased to 70-80 grams. Often parents are faced with the problem that their child does not eat meat. There could be a lot of reasons for this. Let's look at each and figure out what to do to make your baby want to eat meat. In addition, we will determine when and what to replace the product with.

Why doesn't my child eat meat?

• As the baby grows older and the variety of dishes increases, he begins to choose what he likes. Meat is often difficult to chew, it does not look as appetizing and beautiful, it does not smell as aromatic and does not taste as much as other products. Therefore, young children often do not like it, and as a result, the child does not want to eat meat;
• The food is too hot or hard. Food should be at a comfortable temperature and soft consistency;
• Older children already understand what meat is. Many people feel sorry for animals, as a result of which the child does not eat meat;
• The child does not yet have the required number of teeth to comfortably chew and eat meat. Please note that it is quite hard and difficult to chew. In addition, often the child does not eat meat or other complementary foods during the teething period. During this period, children do not feel well, the temperature often rises, and their appetite simply disappears. Tips from the article will tell you how and how to help your baby;

• Extreme heat or child illness. In hot weather and during colds, appetite decreases noticeably; at this time it is better to lighten the baby’s diet;
• Allergy to a certain type of meat or animal protein. Any meat - heavy look food, so it is difficult to digest and can cause allergic reaction. IN in this case It is important to determine what exactly the baby is allergic to. To do this, contact your pediatrician;
• Poor quality food is often the reason why a child does not eat meat. In addition, such food can lead to severe poisoning and digestive problems. Therefore, it is important to choose a high-quality and fresh product, process and prepare it correctly;
• Some children may not want to eat meat, preferring tastier processed foods or fast food. For example, they choose sausages or hamburgers. This is a very harmful chemical that contains preservatives and other dangerous substances. Such food negatively affects health and well-being, digestion, heart and blood vessels. Increases blood cholesterol levels and promotes weight gain. To avoid addiction to such food, do not give or accustom your child to fast food and processed foods, especially at an early age.

If your child is allergic to meat

Food allergies can manifest themselves in different ways. The main symptoms are nausea and vomiting, indigestion and bowel dysfunction. The baby may feel worse, have a stomach ache, and even have a fever. In addition, allergies can manifest themselves in the form of rash and itching, swelling and runny nose, and cough.

To minimize the risks of deterioration in the baby’s health, you need to correctly and carefully introduce the product into the child’s diet. Start with half a teaspoon of a low-fat variety. If your baby is allergic to cow protein, do not feed beef. Don't forget that chicken is also a strong allergen.

After the first test, observe the baby’s reaction for two days. If a negative reaction occurs, do not give this food to your child again and consult a doctor. Only he can correctly diagnose and prescribe treatment. A negative reaction to food does not necessarily indicate an allergy.

A small child can live without meat. And there are many such parents. In some families, they refuse meat dishes for ethical reasons, in others they fast for religious reasons, in others, mothers eat fruits and vegetables for the purpose of their health and weight loss, and therefore of their little one, especially if he is prone to frequent colds and obesity are also transferred to a plant-based diet.

In fact, experts are unanimous in their opinion: incompatible! And there can be no other option here. After all, giving up animal protein for a child under five years of age leads to catastrophic consequences for children’s health.

The word "vegetarian" was coined by the founders of the British Vegetarian Society in the mid-19th century. It comes from the Latin “vegetus”, which has two meanings: on the one hand, “vegetable”, on the other, “healthy, vigorous, full of strength.” It would seem that growing children's body An exclusively plant-based diet should be acceptable by definition. But that's not true. Because such a menu will never make your baby healthy, cheerful and full of energy.

5 reasons why vegetarianism is contraindicated for children

1. When transferring a child to a plant-based diet, protein metabolism is disrupted. Therefore, nutritionists do not exclude animal protein for children even with severe kidney disease, in which adults are advised to categorically refuse to eat meat. In the early and preschool age This cannot be allowed, otherwise the full development of the body will stop and growth will stop. After all, proteins serve as plastic substances for cells - blocks and bricks, from which body tissues are built during the growth process, primarily muscles, including the heart.

2. The blood pigment hemoglobin, which carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues, and transports carbon dioxide in the opposite direction, is also of protein nature. When hemoglobin levels decrease, tissues and organs begin to suffocate - anemia develops. To prevent it, you need vitamin B12, the main source of which is meat, as well as protein of animal origin that is complete in amino acid composition: it consists of 20–21% iron of organic origin, which is most fully absorbed by the baby’s digestive system.

3. The immune system also weakens - after all, the defense system also works on a protein basis. Its cells produce specific proteins - interferons, complement system proteins, immunoglobulins of classes A, E and G (they neutralize microbes and allergens that attack the child’s body).

4. Vision also “shrinks” due to clouding of the lens and pigmentary degeneration of the retina, because the pigments located inside its cells are also proteins! Such changes in the organ of vision usually occur in old age, but in children from traditionally vegetarian families they can develop in the first years of life, and the faster the younger the child.

5. All hormones, led by the most important one - somatotropic, which is responsible for growth, belong to substances of protein nature. And how can you tell the baby to grow if the body has nothing to produce this hormone from?

There is no substitute for meat for children

The main argument of vegetarian parents is that if the child is fed enough vegetables and fruits, he will also receive protein, only vegetable protein, the sources of which are beans, beans, peas, and lentils. But the fact is that people belong to the highest kingdom of nature, in which life is a way of existence of protein bodies. And these same bodies, especially small ones, need animal protein, because it differs significantly in composition from plant protein: the latter lacks a number of essential amino acids, without which the child’s body, not only cannot grow, but cannot even exist.

“But what about calves, foals and other kids? – you will reasonably note. “They chew their hay and grow beautifully.” But it turns out that in the intestines of herbivores there are microorganisms that produce essential amino acids that are not found in plant foods. But these bacteria do not take root in the human digestive system.

Also, many mothers ask whether it is possible to replace meat in a child’s diet with cheese, cottage cheese, eggs, milk, kefir? All these are also sources of animal protein for children. But the problem is that these products lack iron. And, by the way, it is practically not absorbed from plant foods - cereals, vegetables and fruits.

Meat for children: eating like an adult

By 12 months, most toddlers have about 8 teeth erupting. It's time to give them a job! Therefore, gradually accustom your child to meat souffle or meatballs: let him learn to bite off small pieces and chew them. And don’t be upset if he doesn’t accept the new dish with hostility. Use a trick: start with small pieces of soufflé, alternating them with vegetable puree, and gradually increase the amount of meat, giving it to the baby separately from the side dish. Dishes from minced meat cook by steaming, not in a frying pan: the enzyme systems of the baby’s stomach and intestines are not yet ready to digest fried food. You can only lightly fry the cutlets for children in sunflower or olive oil(but not with butter or margarine!) before stewing or placing in a double boiler.

And don’t forget about soup with meat for the child! Once a year is over, it’s time to mash vegetables with a fork and separate well-cooked meat into fibers. A one-and-a-half-year-old baby copes well with this dish, which means that from this age it’s time to make new adjustments to the soup recipe: cook it as for adults, only cut the meat and vegetables into small pieces. But just don’t use any rich meat broths, cook.

Fried meat, smoked sausages, canned “adult” stew small child contraindicated. But after one and a half years, boiled sausage can already be given 1-2 times a week, but only High Quality and low-fat, for example "Doctor's". Offer your baby sausages, but for children under three years of age, special ones for children are better. If they are not available, regular milk or cream ones will do. And of course, children under five years old should not be fed smoked sausages, as well as sausages and bacon.

Despite all the benefits of meat dishes, it is not necessary and even harmful for a child to eat animal food from morning to evening. Excessive protein load is of no use to a child’s body! Moreover, the baby will benefit from days without meat - fish, cottage cheese, vegetarian. The main thing is that there should be no more than two of them per week, provided that you arrange purely “plant-based” days for your baby no more than two or three times a month.

Why doesn't the child eat meat?

If a child does not eat meat, you should not force-feed him or force him to swallow even a piece by any means. But it is necessary to understand why a child refuses animal protein.

• Take a closer look at the baby: is he healthy, has he caught any viruses? Meat for a child requires considerable expenses for its digestion and assimilation. This is why patients often don’t even want to see him when their body is fighting a respiratory infection.
• An aversion to meat in a child can be associated not only with a cold, but also with intestinal infection. Also rule out illnesses digestive system(chronic gastritis, reactive pancreatitis, biliary dyskinesia, hepatitis) and kidney problems.
• Some other diseases also signal themselves by the disappearance of appetite, primarily for meat dishes. Consult your pediatrician to find the cause.
• And although there are many reasons for children to refuse meat, this cannot last forever. When the illness passes, the appetite for cutlets returns, indicating that the child is on the mend!

With the arrival of a child in a family, a lot changes; parents are constantly overwhelmed by real and imaginary problems. Either the baby refuses to breastfeed or passes it to the point of regurgitation, then as he grows up, he begins to be capricious and give preference to certain dishes. So, you can often hear complaints from mothers that the child does not eat meat. Of course, all parents know that meat products are absolutely necessary for a growing baby. They provide the body with a sufficient amount of protein, microelements and B vitamins. Meat dishes are also important for normal development child and prevent anemia. Even in families that adhere to a vegetarian diet, children are fed protein foods.

Many nutritionists claim that animal protein can be replaced with protein of plant origin. This is true, but thanks to amino acids, animal proteins are absorbed by the body much better.

But what to do if the baby flatly refuses all meat products? Let's try to figure out why the child doesn't eat meat.

Often the problem lies in age characteristics crumbs, in the transition from ground food to food in full pieces, as well as in the unattractive form of meat dishes. First of all, watch your baby, you will probably find the reason for giving up meat yourself.

The child does not eat meat in infancy

A baby who is breastfed or bottle-fed can be offered meat for the first time at 7-8 months. Usually mothers grind meat products to the consistency of puree, and the child eats the new complementary foods with pleasure. But if the baby avoids eating such food, then postpone its introduction for some time. Perhaps the child does not eat meat because he simply does not like the unfamiliar taste. After a few days, offer your baby again meat puree. If he turns away from the dish again, try mixing the meat with porridge or vegetable stew.

With the appearance of a sufficient number of teeth, parents begin to offer their baby well-cooked meat, cut into pieces. Often the child refuses it: it was so nice to eat pureed food, but now he has to strain himself. In this case, it is better to return to ground meat again for a few days. For older children, you can steam the cutlets.

The child does not eat meat at an older age

The baby is growing up, he taste preferences are changing. Just yesterday he happily ate tender rabbit meat, but today he refuses it. In this case, try offering your child any other type of meat: pork, veal, chicken or turkey.

Make the menu varied and the dishes attractive, because children primarily evaluate products visually. Use your imagination and improve your culinary arts. Today on the Internet you can find many recipes for meat dishes in original versions. And if the child does not eat meat, but prefers only a side dish, then an interestingly designed dish will certainly whet the baby’s appetite.

A lot depends on the form in which the dish is served. For example, minced meat can be used not only for making cutlets, but also for dumplings, stuffed peppers, casseroles, pancakes and pies. In this way, you will provide a nutritious diet, a varied menu, and also learn about your child’s preferences.

Many mothers involve their children in cooking, which stimulates the appetite and arouses interest in food. It’s so nice to eat your own dumplings, a self-made cutlet or a wrapped pancake.

Use a variety of methods to attract attention to meat products. But if all your efforts are frustrated by the child’s persistent reluctance to eat meat, the best thing you can do is to give up trying to feed the baby against his will.

What can you replace meat with?

The famous doctor Komarovsky says that if a child does not eat meat, it is not dangerous. After all, proteins of animal origin are found not only in it. The baby's menu should contain sufficient quantities of dairy products and fish, then you can do without meat. Dr. Komarovsky also notes that the absence of crumbs of animal proteins in the body is not a critical fact. However, if your child does not eat meat, then this is fraught with a deficiency of vitamin B12, folic acid, and iron in the body.

In such a situation, periodic checking of hemoglobin levels and occasional intake of iron supplements, folic acid and vitamin B12 are necessary. Careful monitoring is carried out only with complete vegetarianism. If the child receives animal proteins from other products (cottage cheese, cheeses, milk, eggs, fish, etc.), then mothers should not worry.

In addition, almost all the vitamins necessary for health are found in plant foods. Vegetables and fruits contain a lot of iron, potassium, magnesium and mineral salts. They contain almost the entire spectrum of chemical elements important for the body. Plant-based foods will strengthen the child’s immunity and protect the baby from diseases.

Just because a child doesn't eat meat today doesn't mean he won't want it in a few days, weeks, or months. Therefore, do not forget about meat dishes. Offer them to your baby from time to time, in case it happens that he wants to try them and ends up liking them. It is necessary to carefully monitor the development of the baby, because as they grow older, their tastes change.