Some children go through a phase where they won’t touch any red meat – not even delicious organic beef.
Lean red meat is a great source of many essential nutrients and is a great source of heme iron, zinc, selenium and B vitamins. Grass-fed lamb is also a great source of essential omega-3 fatty acids.
If your child refuses to eat meat, it may be more difficult to meet their nutritional needs, so here are a few tips to help you encourage your children to eat meat.
Make mealtimes relaxing
Create a calm and relaxed atmosphere so that your child is not stressed out when it comes time to eat at the table.
Turn mealtime into family time
Use the opportunity presented by a meal to get the whole family together. Switch off the television and have a conversation – talk about what you did that day.
Make sure you have dinner at the same time every day as this will create a routine around food.
Hide meat
If your child refuses point blank to eat meat, see if you can disguise it. Spaghetti sauces are a great way to sneak meat in without any complaints.
Serve them smaller portions
Children do not need to eat the same amount of meat as adults, so serve smaller portions. Perhaps they are not eating meat because they have a diminished appetite? Giving them a smaller amount may be more manageable.
Smaller portions can also be more tender, which might help those children who are put off by the texture of meat.
Cook more meals at home
If your children are concerned about animal welfare, they may feel comforted knowing the animals were farmed humanely. Make sure you tell them about where their organic beef is coming from.
Get kids involved
Take them with you to do the grocery shopping and let them do a few safe jobs in the kitchen. This may help them to appreciate the delicious taste of organic meat.
