Baby Food

Question: New mothers - are you going to feed your baby meat?

(Posted by: Lisa on 2008-06-23 09:47:06)

I was asked this question by a friend a few months ago and it began haunting me right away. After months of research and discussions with doctors, I've concluded that I won't be feeding my baby any meat. It turns out that, not only do children not need meat, they're actually considerably better off without it. So now the only reason I can find for feeding her meat is taste, and I'm not about to give the message that it's okay to hurt/ kill animals because they taste good. I've already begun collecting recipes for good tasting meatless foods because I'm pretty sure I'm going to need to give up meat now that I know what I know :( But I'll be healthier so that's a big plus.

Posted by: JD's mommy on 2008-06-23, 09:51:50

My baby already eats meat and he's 8 months old. I don't have a problem eating meat and feeding it to my baby. He needs the protein.

Posted by: Niranjana K on 2008-06-23, 09:52:55

Not at all , atleast not till one year..

Posted by: Sara1785 on 2008-06-23, 09:53:31

I don't feed my baby meat right now (9 mos) because the doctor and a few other professionals have told me that it isnt beneficial at all to their health for the first year. So no, until she can start to eat tablefood like the rest of us, she will be meatless. But that isnt to say I won't be feeding her meat when she does get teeth and can chew on foods, after shes a year old, because I most definitely will. None of us in our households are vegetarians..

Posted by: SleeplessinSF on 2008-06-23, 09:54:38

Remember all the things we were raised on/ with and we turned out fine. I believe the choice to raise your child a vegetarian is a ethics/ lifestyle choice on your part. Lots of people do it, but there are those of us who also believe you can raise a very health child with meat (now, I am also inclined to buy hormone free vs. your standard piece of meat). Good luck!

Posted by: Star Girl on 2008-06-23, 09:54:40

If you can find another way to give protein to your baby that works and is efficient for you then great! That's your choice, and I don't mind that! However, I believe that as humans we were meant to eat meat. We have the teeth to prove that. I get my meat from a local organic farm and I know how the animals are killed.

Posted by: momof4 on 2008-06-23, 09:55:30

My kids do eat meat. They're all at the dead bottom of the weight curve for their ages and already have food allergies, so eliminating another food would not be in their best interests. But certainly you can raise a child healthily to be vegetarian. I assume that in your months of research you've figured out alternative ways to meet protein and iron requirements. If you're willing to put in the work to still make a balanced diet, being vegetarian can be very healthy, and I know people who are raising their kids vegetarian who have very healthy, balanced diets. I also know vegetarians who pretty much survive on nothing but pizza, pasta, and junk food, and who are doubtless much less healthy than the rest of us ... so make sure you don't take that route!

Posted by: *Secrets* *Of* *Truth* 08 on 2008-06-23, 09:57:08

My daughter didn't start table food until she was 12 months old. Our son is 6 and a half months, and won't be starting table food until 12 months either. Same for the baby I am pregnant with. My daughter eats meat, but not much red meat. Usually white meat is all we use.

Posted by: My Hubby Rob&Son Dakota Robert on 2008-06-23, 10:00:19

K i have to say dr's are full of shit i,m sorry but how do they expect to grow just eating veggies? i will feed my son meat and there is not problem with it the whole reason they kill animals is to eat the meet.it is either that or they over populate and die of dissese

Posted by: keith.kelly28 on 2008-06-23, 10:02:22

Im a vegatarian. I dont eat meat and when I have kids I wont be letting them eat it either. Its not good for you as much as people try to tell you it is. Feed them dairy though. Like eggs and milk. Its OK to eat this as no animals get hurt (make sure its from a good source where they treat animals right) They need the calcium because of their bones and protein for growth. If you want some GREAT vegatarian dishes, email me. Also, look out for Quorn, they make vegatarian burgers, chickne, mince and you'll never know the difference.

Posted by: Melissa D on 2008-06-23, 10:03:41

I myself don't eat red meat - mainly because I don't like it. We don't cook it in the house because I cannot stomach the smell either and it's a hassle to cook a different dish for one person than another. However, when we go out, whether to my MIL's or to restaurant my husband will eat red meat and that's his decision. The same will probably be true for my daughter. If she eats beef or any other red meat, it will probably not be by my hand. That being said, When she's older, organic turkey meatballs and turkey burgers as well as various other chicken/ turkey products she'll wind up having in the house, out of the house -- she'll try whatever she'll try. I'm not about taking that choice away from her just because I happen to have made it. If when she's older, she decides to go vegan or full vegetarian that's also her decision.

Posted by: Denise G on 2008-06-23, 10:07:41

I think it's great that you are informing yourself about this. PETA has a great website that can give you lots of info. I was vegetarian before I got pregnant. Well, I did buy meat from local farmers. That is a totally differernt story to me. The animals they raise have good lives and are free to roam fields. You could check into what local farmers you have in your area. Once I got pregnant though, I pretty much threw that out the window because I've been craving meat alot and know I need the iron. I think I will go back to being part vegetarian again once I have the baby and will raise my child like that. I think being informed about what you eat is very important. I don't patron fast food places at all anymore. It is disturbing what they do to the animals they use for their meals.

Posted by: Johnny's Mommy on 2008-06-23, 10:27:02

My son is 7.5 months and already eats blended meats. And loves it. So to answer your question, yes, I am. :)

Posted by: EvansMommy on 2008-06-23, 11:42:35

Not anytime soon because my son is only 3 months old.When he does start eating table foods,I will give him meat.I see nothing wrong with it & don't care what anyone else thinks of it.If you don't want to,then don't. :)