Meat (haven't got a clue as vegetarian)

[jennifer1981]

This is probably a silly question to most of you but since both me and OH are vegetarians we haven't got a clue how to incorporate meat into LO's diet as we dont want to bring LO up as vege. I have been weaning him since he was 18 weeks and now he is nearly 6 months i would like to add meat to some of his purees. Im just wondering how do i go about doing this? Do i just add it (i.e. cooked ham, chicken etc) to the blender when i do his foods?

Also.... just by chance, does anyone know if we can give LO quorn?

Thanks

 

[MissThing]

You can either cook meet together with veggies or cook it separately and add it up when you blend stuff.

Babies need usually 4-6 portions of meet a week and 2-3 portions of fish per week.

The best meats in the beginning are turkey (boiled or cooked with the veggies), pork, rabbit. Thiose meats do not cause allergies (well, the percentage is much lower). Then you can try chicken and beef and lamb.

Best fish is salmon.

The amount of meet in the veggies should be about 20% (if I make a casserole I use about 6 potatoes, 5 carrots, 3 sweet potatoes, 1 onion and 1 chicken breast fillet, or if I buy chicken drumsticks I use 2 of those (you had to get the meat of the bones first though). And I add there some creme frashe (sp?) as well. And a couple of baby stock cubes blended with hot water. I buy those in boots.

I would stay clear from any processed meat (pates, hams, cooked chicken, sausages and etc).

If you have any more questions -ask

 

[jennifer1981]

Thanks so much Carina. That info is great! I had no idea ham was processed I even thought i had to cook it until my nan told otherwise (i've led a sheltered life!) Haven't ate meat since i was 4.

 

[BabyMagic]

I am a vegetarian as well but am giving LO meat.

I buy her organic minced beef or lamb as I find it the easiest to cook. I just fry it on a pan. It's great as you can add some onion and garlic too. You can blend it with your normal food or if you are doing BLW just give to your LO as it comes. A simple dish would be minced meat with potato and carrot. Naturally you can use any other vegetables too.

I cook fish in the oven, usually under grill as I can't stand the smell when fish is fried. LO isn't too keen on salmon (the taste is quite strong I believe, well the smell is ), but she'll eat some of it. She really likes cod though. Again I use fresh organic and wild, instead of farmed. I believe you can buy frozen cod but not sure if that's any good???

I haven't actually given her chicken yet (meaning to) as I have thought that red meat has more iron and fat in it (both needed by babies) and fish has essential oils.

I also want LO to get used to veggie dishes with protein (she has a protein rich meal at lunch and more carbohydrates at dinner), so I cook her loads with lentils, chickpeas, butterbeans. Just make sure that you use split lentils (I use red) as they are softer on their tummies. LO's favourite dish is red lentils with sweet potato and butternut squash and cheese.

Overall, I try to get LO to eat a meat dish at least every other day. It's just easier to make her veggie dishes as I can cook for me at the same time...

 

[loz]

Try chicken first - I found the best way was to boil chunks with veggies and then blend together. Emms hated meat until recently so dont worry if bab doesnt take to it. I just gave alternatives such as purees with cheese, lentils, beans. (Cauliflower cheese, sweet potatoes with beans, carrot and lentils).

I am a veggie too and i dont know whether the baby isnt used to meat from the mother when it was in the womb so you might find it takes longer.

I was told not to introduce red meat to start with but to try white meat and fish. Emms likes fish but I am so allergic to it I get hives all over my hands when I prepare it so she doesnt get it v often!!

Dont be in a rush, you feel a bit pressured but some babies take better to different foods than others. At 6 months Emms was still on baby rice, veggie purees and bananas. I wish someone had told me it's a gradual process from 6months to a year old to get them going with food. I stressed a lot about it. My advice would be try things and if they get rejected, try again in a few weeks but dont worry too much. Now Emms is 9 months she has turned a corner and eats loads of things that she wouldnt have touched 3 or 4 weeks ago. It is only now that she will eat red meat such as meatballs.

 

[loz]

This is probably a silly question to most of you but since both me and OH are vegetarians we haven't got a clue how to incorporate meat into LO's diet as we dont want to bring LO up as vege. I have been weaning him since he was 18 weeks and now he is nearly 6 months i would like to add meat to some of his purees. Im just wondering how do i go about doing this? Do i just add it (i.e. cooked ham, chicken etc) to the blender when i do his foods?

Also.... just by chance, does anyone know if we can give LO quorn?

Thanks

I asked the same thing about quorn and the girls on hear said they thought we couldnt give it too them - I think it is again to do with being processed and additives maybe? I'd be interested if you asked the HV . .

 

[BabyMagic]

I agree with Loz about doing it all gradually. My LO only started having meat just before she turned 8 months (but then I started weaning her at 6 months).

And thank you Loz about your tip to boil chicken - I didn't really know how to do it hence LO hasn't had it yet

 

[Lisamj]

Yes, you can cook it together with veg or separately and blend together. I am vegan for the most part but like you will be giving Sam white meat, fish and on occasions red meat.

Minced turkey is a good start as there is less prep work. If you can afford to, buy organic meats. I would not do too much red meat though as it does contain a high amount of saturated fat (bad fats) - you can get the good fats that red meat contains from other sources such as fish. Still include lots of things like chick peas and lentils as they are a good source of iron too, aswell as protein and fibre of course.

Have you tried quinoa? One of Sam's favourites is baked sweet potato and quinoa, which is a complate protein. Also, although it's advised not to give meat sustitutes such as quorn, you can give a baby tofu, although be aware that soya is a possible allergen in some babies.

hth

Lisa x

 

[Babylicious]

I wouldn't give quorn and it's just protein and babies need a lot more than that