My kid hates to eat most meat....

[Fat Girl]

My 8 year old was never a picky eater when she was younger....she would taste anything, and ate a lot of things including Frog's legs....so she isn't squeamish, but lately getting her to eat dinner is getting to be a struggle.

She used to love steak, now she hates it. Used to love chicken, now not so much... used to munch out on ribs and roasts, but no more!

She will eat meatloaf, burgers and sliders, beef jerky and chicken tenders, salami and peperoni and slim jim's voluntarily....along with any fruit or vegetable ever! 

Every night this is an issue. Does any one elase have this going on at their house? Do you just grin and bear it or argue to get the kids to eat meat?

I am kind of ignoring it....but it is getting on my nerves!

[Tempting Fait]

She's probably picking it up from the kids at school that say "my mom cooks whatever I want". Seems to be a trend now a days to make as many different meals as you have kids...

[Chunk]

I've suggested more than once that if she doesnt want to eat what we eat, she can eat her stuff in the dining room or whatever, seperate from us.

[RayFu]

I have four kids, all of which have different tastes when it comes to foods. My daughter has been shying away from any meat, be it poultry or red meat. If she's hungry she'll eat what her mom or I cook. Otherwise she is S.O.L. There are certain things that she is supposed to have omitted from her diet for health reasons, however if it's not off limits and she doesn't eat then she isn't very hungry IMO. Good luck, I know how frustrating it can be.

[Chunk]

I have four kids, all of which have different tastes when it comes to foods. My daughter has been shying away from any meat, be it poultry or red meat. If she's hungry she'll eat what her mom or I cook. Otherwise she is S.O.L. There are certain things that she is supposed to have omitted from her diet for health reasons, however if it's not off limits and she doesn't eat then she isn't very hungry IMO. Good luck, I know how frustrating it can be.

+1 - If she gets hungry enough she'll eat it.

More than once I've seen her be a b**ch about breakfast, then an hour later ask what lunch is.  Its just a control game.  Heck she goes out to restaurants with us, orders something, then refuses to eat it, or eats it realllllllll sllllllllooooooowwwwwww.

[Havikats]

I had a neice like that once, and the more her parent/grandparents catered to her and hovered around like they were afraid she was going to starve, the worse she got.
I believed it was a matter of control.
Of course, I never offered my opinion until they asked me what I would do (because I used to be a nurse - closest thing to a doctor in their eyes).
I told them that at first I would take her to a doc to be sure she was healthy and if she was I would put her meal in front of her. If she chose to not eat it (and wanting to opt for other "better -crap" food) then that was her issue. She would have to wait for the next meal.
Tell her what the rules were going to be from then on out: Offer her a fair time limit - 1/2 hour (or whatever seems fair to your specifics) and if it wasn't eaten by then it is taken away. No fan fare, no arguing, just simple enforcement of the rule. Of course you wouldn't put down rocky mountain oysters or liver, but the stuff that you know she was eating before without a problem.
Let her know the next meal is at such and such a time and stick to that. No snacking in between either, because that will defeat your whole purpose.
If that meal isn't eaten within the prescribed time frame, then that meal is also taken away without anger, arguing or fanfare.
She will eat.
My SIL and in-laws chose to ignore the advice they seeked and instead fed her crap in between meals because they were afraid she was starving due to not eating her meals. The girl had them hook, line and sinker. Unfortunately she has grown into an extremely obese young woman.
One final thing - as for eating slow when dining out? use the same strategy, you don't wait for her to finish because then she is controlling the issue. Instead you tell her how long you will sit afterwards before asking the wait staff to take away her plate. No arguing, just simple rules with absolute follow through each and every time.
Good luck.

[Chunk]

I had a neice like that once, and the more her parent/grandparents catered to her and hovered around like they were afraid she was going to starve, the worse she got.
I believed it was a matter of control.
Of course, I never offered my opinion until they asked me what I would do (because I used to be a nurse - closest thing to a doctor in their eyes).
I told them that at first I would take her to a doc to be sure she was healthy and if she was I would put her meal in front of her. If she chose to not eat it (and wanting to opt for other "better -crap" food) then that was her issue. She would have to wait for the next meal.
Tell her what the rules were going to be from then on out: Offer her a fair time limit - 1/2 hour (or whatever seems fair to your specifics) and if it wasn't eaten by then it is taken away. No fan fare, no arguing, just simple enforcement of the rule. Of course you wouldn't put down rocky mountain oysters or liver, but the stuff that you know she was eating before without a problem.
Let her know the next meal is at such and such a time and stick to that. No snacking in between either, because that will defeat your whole purpose.
If that meal isn't eaten within the prescribed time frame, then that meal is also taken away without anger, arguing or fanfare.
She will eat.
My SIL and in-laws chose to ignore the advice they seeked and instead fed her crap in between meals because they were afraid she was starving due to not eating her meals. The girl had them hook, line and sinker. Unfortunately she has grown into an extremely obese young woman.
One final thing - as for eating slow when dining out? use the same strategy, you don't wait for her to finish because then she is controlling the issue. Instead you tell her how long you will sit afterwards before asking the wait staff to take away her plate. No arguing, just simple rules with absolute follow through each and every time.
Good luck.

Thank you!  I've suggested this approach more than once.

The only problem is that Dana (MissInformed's sister) developed an allergy to meat later in life as a result of another problem, basically her body couldnt create a type of protein or something.  Dana was just like Maura was as a kid, so we are wondering if its something related, but I think the meat allergy isnt really genetic, more like something that happened because of the kidney problem that caused it. 

She eats and digests meat just fine after we yell at her enough to eat it.  And the only kind of meats that she "likes" are the highly processed ones with lots of sauce and flavorings (read sweet and not having to put forth effort to chew).  We are blessed that she enjoys vegetables as much as she does, but like Havikats says... I think its all a control issue too.

One other reason I think that: The meat she has the most problems with, consistently, are the ones that I cook.  If Missinformed makes the exact same thing, she eats with half the drama.  If I make it, its instant dislike.

[Fat Girl]

One other reason I think that: The meat she has the most problems with, consistently, are the ones that I cook.  If Missinformed makes the exact same thing, she eats with half the drama.  If I make it, its instant dislike.

She doesn't eat meat I cook too.....I tell her to eat.... but if she doesn't it is no biggie to me, and if she throws some away well, so be it...

From now on we just go about our business.. she either eats or not ... but no cookies or snacks to make up for the missing meat.

We will ignore it! This too shall pass....

[Havikats]

Chris and Amy - it seems to me that she will eat meat just fine, just meat of her choosing, so I don't think it's a physical problem.
More importantly, you said that it is more of an issue when you cook it Chris. Seems to me she is in a bit of a power struggle with you and is also establishing her pecking order in the family.
Please appreciate that and tread with understanding. Despite that being said, it's important that you both agree on the approach and no matter what, have each other's backs.My son took great resentment to my husband and he found every crack he could to make a wedge between us. Once we stood strong and unified he understood that the games were over. It's a tough road, but you as a family are at a critical fork in your road.
Chris, just a thought, have you tried to get M involved with helping you cook the meat? Ask her suggestions beforehand? Something like "We are having chicken today" (you just established that you get to choose the meat), but then say something like, "How would you like it cooked? Fried? Baked? Would you like to help me choose the seasonings?" Thereby giving her some modicum of perceived control.

[PhxRsng]

Well I went through this as a kid.  I ate nothing but bread and yogurt for an entire year.  My parents tried the beatings and the you will sit there until you eat it and then give it to me again for breakfast.  None of it worked.  Both my parents cook like crap and it was torture just being forced to eat it. I'm still picky as hell and have weird eating habits.  As such I would rather eat meat in the comfort of my own home because I do weird things to it.

If she's having control issues every kid is different but my friend had a similar issue with his very young son.  Every night was a screaming match.  He'd throw his food on the floor, have tantrums, it was ugly and he tried everything.  I suggested giving him an option for dinner instead of punishing him.  But just to make sure its options the dad was choosing.  So kind've giving the kid a false sense of control.  I was surprised but it worked.

And if all else fails I suggest a merciless beating.  And perhaps Chris could pee on some of the things in her room as to mark them and let her know who is in charge.

[Havikats]

Well I went through this as a kid.  I ate nothing but bread and yogurt for an entire year.  My parents tried the beatings and the you will sit there until you eat it and then give it to me again for breakfast.  None of it worked.  Both my parents cook like crap and it was torture just being forced to eat it. I'm still picky as hell and have weird eating habits.  As such I would rather eat meat in the comfort of my own home because I do weird things to it.

If she's having control issues every kid is different but my friend had a similar issue with his very young son.  Every night was a screaming match.  He'd throw his food on the floor, have tantrums, it was ugly and he tried everything.  I suggested giving him an option for dinner instead of punishing him.  But just to make sure its options the dad was choosing.  So kind've giving the kid a false sense of control.  I was surprised but it worked.

And if all else fails I suggest a merciless beating.  And perhaps Chris could pee on some of the things in her room as to mark them and let her know who is in charge.

[/i]LOL!

[Chunk]

Having a unified front or set of rules would probably solve the problem...

[Fat Girl]

You know ........ I actually do have her cook with me often. That might be why she loves meatloaf and meatballs so(she helps make them)

Maybe that is also a little bit of a difference... thanks for pointing that out KAren!

Chris is an excellent outdoor chef and grills to perfection... but she doesn't participate at all...

That and a unified "what ever eat  or not" attitude about it will likley cure the issue...

If not I am willing to try beatings and peeing in her room....

[Havikats]

Having a unified front or set of rules would probably solve the problem...

Yes, but those unified "expectations" need to be set out in front of her beforehand.

[Havikats]

You know ........ I actually do have her cook with me often. That might be why she loves meatloaf and meatballs so(she helps make them)

Maybe that is also a little bit of a difference... thanks for pointing that out KAren!

Chris is an excellent outdoor chef and grills to perfection... but she doesn't participate at all...

That and a unified "what ever eat  or not" attitude about it will likley cure the issue...

If not I am willing to try beatings and peeing in her room....

Hope it helps. If anything, it gives them special time together to bond (ick I despise that word! LOL) Even though she loves Chris, this has to be a difficult and confusing time in her life. Having her eat somewhere else when she wants to eat her food is not conducive to inclusion, which is what I know all three of you work at on a regular basis. Maybe daddy time when cooking will be a good thing.