Anyone out there with vegetarian little kids?

A

andreaindc

Well-known member
My five-year-old has been studying birds this week at school. She has always loved chicken nuggets but last night at the dinner table said she would not eat birds any longer. When offered her usual turkey sandwich today, she reiterated this position. I'm okay with this as long as she gets protein other ways.

She is not an adventurous eater. Doesn't do eggs and is reluctant to get on the bean train. Won't eat nuts (although she loves peanut butter.) Won't eat fish. She loves cheese, but I will only give her so much of it. Anyone have any kid-friendly alternative protein recipes out there - beans or otherwise?

(I can't wait til she finds out what hamburgers - the only beef she will eat - come from!)

 
Andrea, your little one sounds very bright. You may need to have a crash course

in nutrition with her to explain that if she cuts out her main protein source, she will NEED to be a bit more adventurous in her other food choices. This just may help her add more variety to her diet.

 
If she's going to give up meat completely, she will need to eat grain/legume combos to get

her protein.

Burritos with beans, rice and veggies would be good. You can try black and pinto beans in addition to the standard refried ones.

I will ask my friend who is an RD for more kid-friendly ideas.

 
Thanks. We did have the discussion about alternative foods, emphasizing legumes and nuts.

She's familiar with the food pyramid, so I hope that will help. I have also offered to let her go through my vegetarian cookbooks to pick out recipes she would like to help prepare and try. I'll give her a week or two and see how it goes.

My husband and I eat vegetarian more often than not, but not as plain food as she is used to, so any suggestions are appreciated!

 
vegetarian curry (mild) with basmati rice? Let her help you make it and

she'll be much more likely to eat it - and love it.

Also, do little child-size salads with bits of nuts, dried fruit, sunflower seeds, cheese, etc.

Minestrone soup, lentil soup, Debbie's U.S. Senate bean soup

Again, let her help you make it, stir the pot, whatever. My kids always loved to be part of the process.

 
is she averse to beef? AND this might pass, although...

my 6-yr-old granddaughter seems to be on a chicken nuggets diet for the duration.

 
Hi Rick. She doesn't like beef - except burgers - I don't know what she thinks they are made of!

Fortunately, I found a vegetarian "chicken" nugget at the store that she will eat. So that will help some.

And you're right it may pass. I went through a temporary vegetarian phase when I was young(although I think I snapped out of it partly because my mom was less accommodating). I didn't hit it until I was 9 or 10 though.

 
Hi Lisa. I'll definitely try those. Have heard good things about them...

I don't have a lot of experience with tofu, but would be happy to try her with it. I know it comes in different types of firmness. Do you have any recommendations or recipes?

 
Unfortunately, I'm more experienced with eating tofu than cooking with it.

The Boca Burgers are really good. My meat-a-saurus brother-in-law even eats them!

 
Here's my favorite vegan recipe: Broccoli and Tofu in Spicy Peanut Sauce

Assuming you can get your girl to eat broccoli, lol. Firm tofu is better for this, but I've made it with the softer type too.

BROCCOLI AND TOFU IN SPICY PEANUT SAUCE

From The Enchanted Broccoli Forest by Mollie Katzen
(This '70's vegetarian book is a real treasure, with whimsical illustrations that your daughter might enjoy.)

Serves 4-5.

Steam some rice before you start.

Sauce:
1/2 cup unprocessed peanut butter
1/2 cup hot water
1/4 cup cider vinegar
2 Tbs. tamari (or soy) sauce
1 Tbs. blackstrap molasses
1/4 to 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper

Whisk together the peanut butter and water in a saucepan. Whisk in remaining ingredients. Set aside.

Saute:
1 1-lb bunch broccoli
3 Tbs. peanut oil
2 tsp. freshly grated ginger root
4 medium cloves garlic, minced
1 lb tofu, cit into small cubes
Salt
2 cups thinly sliced onion
Pepper
1 cup coarsely chopped raw peanuts
2-3 Tbs. tamari (or soy) sauce
2 scallions, minced

Cut the broccoli florets off the stalks and chop coarsely. Peel the stems and slice diagonally into thin slices. Set aside.

Heat a wok or skillet. Add 1 Tbs. of the oil. Add half the ginger and half the garlic. Salt lightly and saute over medium heat 1 minute. Add the tofu, turn the heat to high and stir-fry for 5 minutes. Transfer to the saucepan of peanut sauce.

Wipe out the pan and add 2 Tbs. of oil. Saute remaining ginger and garlic with a little salt. Add onions and pepper and stir-fry over medium heat until soft. Add broccoli, peanuts and tamari sauce. Saute over medium-high heat until broccoli is bright green and just tender.

Meanwhile, heat sauce gently--don't boil.

Toss sauce with broccoli mixture until well-incorporated. Sprinkle with scallions.

Serve over rice, passing additional tamnari, hot sauce, and more chopped peanuts, if desired.

 
Okay, it happened tonight. Just found out burgers are off the list.

I was definitively told no more meat and no more birds. We'll see if it's a phase...

 
Andrea, this reminds me of a conversation I had with my 6 yo niece this past summer

She is not a vegetarian, but does not get served a lot of beef or pork because of her mother's eating habits.

They went to In-N-Out burger before coming to our house, and she had a burger and was telling me about it. Somehow someone said something about it being "meat" - and she got this shocked look on her face. She looked at her mother and said "A burger has meat in it??!!" It was priceless.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top