Help! This kid's a vegetarian!

Re: Help! This kid's a vegetarian!

• DandelionMom

  October 2011

  My 10 y/o will occasionally decide to be a vegetarian (nbd because I'm one too).  We eat lots of beans and tofu.  There are lots of meat substitutes (we don't eat those because we're gluten-free and most of them have wheat).  To keep things interesting we eat lots of ethnic dinners.

  This week's dinners: Monday-greek salad with falafel and hummus, Tue-black bean tacos, Wed-pasta with marinara and garlicy white beans, Thur-pad thai with baked tofu, Fri-pizzas.

  ETA: The vegetarian phase usually ends on Saturday morning when the husband cooks up a batch of bacon. 

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• LSU628 member

  October 2011

  He needs protein. Will he eat a PB&J sandwich? What about beans? My DD will eat black beans straight out of the can. She also loves hummus and will dip anything and everything (green beans, chicken, pita bread, the spoon) in the hummus and always asks for more. You could try making a veggie and lentils soup. What about trying to hide the meat like in a spaghetti sauce where he may not realize it's meat. Will he do fish? Weelicious has a delicious salmon recipe and DD loves fried trout or catfish. Even a tuna fish sandwich or tuna or chicken salad on crackers would be better than no protein at all.

  
  
  
  

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• LSU628 member

  October 2011

  Still thinking out loud here, will he eat edamame, or maybe try introducing some sushi (nothing raw, DD loves the snow crab rolls). They are finger-food and fun to eat and an excellent source of protien. DD also likes shrimp. I boil or steam the shrimp and serve it with angel hair pasta with the Earth Balance "butter", olive oil, and a sprinkle of dill and garlic.

  
  
  
  

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• MommaK.not member

  October 2011

  See, this is the thing...he gets more than enough protein so I am not worried about his nutrition.  I am worried about having absolutely no variety in our meals. 

  He will not eat fish, soup, cereal, chili, pizza that isn't red (he hates the cheese on it if it is from the pizzeria, and would not touch my veggie pizza!)... I guess we will have to resign ourselves to eating baked sweet potatoes (no mashed, au gratin, scalloped), couscous (no rice, risotto, etc), pasta, and canned peas (I hate peas) forever.  I will just have to be content knowing that he is getting the nutrition that he needs and that he does like vegetables and fruit of all kind.

  Thanks for the input, ladies!

  
  L'isle Sur la Sorgue, Provence
  
  
  

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• magdusia member

  October 2011

  if he hates the cheese on the pizza, make it / buy it without the cheese.  When we go to a pizza place, they sometimes make cheeseless pizza which is REALLY good! lots of veggies.

  btw- has he told you whey he wants to be a vegetarian? 

  Kids have a mind of their own and your grandson is really using his!  i think it's awesome he's so passionate about being a vegetarian. 

  You got some great ideas.. 

  I would google some vegeterian recipe blogs.. i have some yummy blogs listed on my allergy blog, i can't get into it anymore at work b/c they blocked it (booo!).  Otherwise i would list them on here.

  I think as long as he's not complaining that he's bored, than he's really not bored.  

  Oh, recently i made very good veggie burgers for myself and super easy.  

  -Drain a can of black beans (i use 1/2 can)
  -Add panko (or regular bread crumbs).. as much as you like
  -Add garlic (to your liking)
  -Add minced or powdered onion (to your liking)
  

  I pretty much add what ever veggies i have in the house (as long as they aren't watery). 
  

  I have added almond butter a few times which wasn't so bad and it binded it better (but not necessary..)

  I have made patties / meatballs and into a side order with this mixture. 
  

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• MommaK.not member

  October 2011

  magdusia:

  Kids have a mind of their own and your grandson is really using his!  i think it's awesome he's so passionate about being a vegetarian. 
  He doesn't "want to be a vegetarian" as much as he just doesn't "eat meat" (his words) or anything that resembles meat.  For example, he doesn't "get" that veggie dogs or veggie burgers aren't meat. (although, he will eat meatballs!   )

  I think as long as he's not complaining that he's bored, than he's really not bored.  
  Oh, I didn't say HE was bored; it's me! 
  
  His dad works with adults with developmental disabilities (autism) and has usually eaten by the time he gets home, and DH travels a lot, so 75% of the time, it is just the 2 of us which makes it hard because I find myself just giving him the same thing because I know he'll eat it.

  I think I just "used" you ladies to vent because I don't think there really is an answer to this dilemma.  I probably should have mentioned that he has Asperger's and this is probably (hopefully) a phase that he will grow out of.  But I DO thank everyone for the ideas; maybe I'll just start cooking for the household as if we were all vegetarians and then maybe he'll change his "attitude"! 

  Thanks everyone, for the advice and ideas!

  
   

  
  L'isle Sur la Sorgue, Provence
  
  
  

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• Summer0715 member

  October 2011

  My husbands a vegan and our child will be raised a veggie kid (though I am a traditional meat eater).  There are some great options out there.  There are non-meat hot dogs that he can have with mac n' cheese, scrambled eggs with homefries, homeade veggie burgers ( I find if you make them with a child who doesn't want to eat meat they do get the fact that there is no meat), tofu sticks (breaded and fried like a fish stick), veggie tacos or burritos, veggie sushi.....those are just some ideas

  

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