Lentil bolognese
Many kids like fish sticks. You can try a homemade version of that as an introduction.
You can do same with chicken tenderloins (sell at Costco). Breaded and baked.

What about pork chops, ground pork, sausages? Or maybe turkey wings or turkey breast?

My other suggestion is maybe work on your side dishes. You could do spaghetti with marinara sauce — no meat needed. Or make chicken for yourself but pair it with Mac and cheese and a veggie. He would still have a decent dinner. Do omelettes for dinner.

If ground turkey texture is a concern, what about trying it as a sub in dishes where the meat would be minced up, anyway? Like Bolognese, chili, etc.

How are beans? On an "easy" night I dump black beans into a pot with a tub of fresh store bought salsa and taco seasoning, then use an immersion blender. Works great as both a filling and a dip.

Anonymous wrote:When my kids start to get pickier, I have them do more in the kitchen with me. Okay you won’t eat that protein anymore? Fine let’s figure out another, you’re coming with me to the store and you’re helping with prepping and cooking the meal. They don’t love everything all the time, but it does help. I don’t force anyone to eat anything they hate, but I think once they realize how much effort goes into making a meal that isn’t cereal, they’re more willing to “give it a shot” and not think that every bite they eat has to be amazing. It can be good enough.

+1 good advice

Also chicken tastes better saucy or breaded. My red meat lover likes chicken tikka masala, butter chicken, breaded Milanese with butter, garlic and parm.

Does he like shrimp?

If so:

*Shrimp tacos
*Shrimp stir fry
*Shrimp with cold peanut noodles with carrots and celery on side
*Shrimp with butter noodles
*Shrimp cocktail
*Shrimp cakes
*Shrimp omelettes/shrimp quiche

(We buy frozen shrimp on sale at Safeway for $5.99 a pound and eat it alot. My husband hates chicken + I don't eat red meat).

Anonymous wrote:To start with, can you just replace ground beef with ground turkey?

Especially in bolognese

Try boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Can grill them with lots of different flavor profiles with rubs or marinades. Stays moist and flavorful. My family also loves chicken parm, which has lots of flavor and richness

The red meat eaters in my family also love pork tenderloin and pork chops but they aren’t my favorite,

My teen is the same. Some non red meat dishes they like are:

-chili with ground turkey

- chicken meatballs (I don’t use breadcrumbs, just ricotta, egg, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper, garlic)

- paprika chicken (coat chicken with olive oil and rub with spice mix of dried garlic, dried onion, oregano, and smoked paprika)

-Butter chicken with rice ( the Indian kind)

-homemade chicken fried rice or shrimp

Swordfish

Anonymous wrote:When my kids start to get pickier, I have them do more in the kitchen with me. Okay you won’t eat that protein anymore? Fine let’s figure out another, you’re coming with me to the store and you’re helping with prepping and cooking the meal. They don’t love everything all the time, but it does help. I don’t force anyone to eat anything they hate, but I think once they realize how much effort goes into making a meal that isn’t cereal, they’re more willing to “give it a shot” and not think that every bite they eat has to be amazing. It can be good enough.

When I was a kid, it was eat the food, or else. You only needed to find out what or else was once.

Anonymous wrote:When my kids start to get pickier, I have them do more in the kitchen with me. Okay you won’t eat that protein anymore? Fine let’s figure out another, you’re coming with me to the store and you’re helping with prepping and cooking the meal. They don’t love everything all the time, but it does help. I don’t force anyone to eat anything they hate, but I think once they realize how much effort goes into making a meal that isn’t cereal, they’re more willing to “give it a shot” and not think that every bite they eat has to be amazing. It can be good enough.

+1000

When my kids start to get pickier, I have them do more in the kitchen with me. Okay you won’t eat that protein anymore? Fine let’s figure out another, you’re coming with me to the store and you’re helping with prepping and cooking the meal. They don’t love everything all the time, but it does help. I don’t force anyone to eat anything they hate, but I think once they realize how much effort goes into making a meal that isn’t cereal, they’re more willing to “give it a shot” and not think that every bite they eat has to be amazing. It can be good enough.

My kid would eat ground beef daily if I let him. Some things that make chicken palatable to him:
- buy good chicken breast from a butcher or farmers market. The texture of mass produced chicken can be really off-putting
- grill the chicken so the extra “stuff” ( I guess it’s fat - the white stuff that comes out sometimes) falls into the grill.
- try out various marinades
- have chicken in ways where there are other flavors and texture - for example- chicken fajitas with fresh salsa and black beans.
- have a favored side - sometimes I make something like ramen noodles. For my kid, fresh bread is always a hit (‘fresh” could be those rolls that are half-baked and you finish baking them at home)
- it sounds like you do not k=like ground chicken or turkey - maybe some soups / stews that use regular chicken.

For salmon/fish
- fish tacos - if on a weekend I make fresh tortillas.
- salmon cakes / patties
- again, I find grilling to result in a better texture. No extra fat stays on the fish.

Do pounded-thin chicken cutlets, dipped in egg and then breaded and baked. A good alternative to dry chicken breasts.

Turkey meatballs. Plain Grilled chicken. Chicken burgers or chicken fajitas. You can use ground turkey or pork in bolognese or tacos. My kids also like Chicken Alfredo.