Guest guest Posted January 4, 2010 Report Share Posted January 4, 2010 Hi Amelia, A child will not starve to death. We use the 3-bite rule: you must try 3 bites of what is on your plate; if you don't like it, you get peanut butter and honey on whole grain toast. Try making 25% whole wheatpasta with 75% white; increase the amount of while every time. Kids love to dip; whole grain pasta and steamed veggies in marinara or peanut sauce; fruit in yogurt; crunch veggies and whole grain crackers in hummus. Just start making gradual changes (this will be easier if you plan out meals and snacks a couple of weeks at a time.  ________________________________ Amelia Golden <agolden vegie parents Mon, January 4, 2010 2:24:45 PM I am so disappointed in myself - long  Hi all, I'm not on this listserve very often but I do read nearly everything that it is written. I hope you, as veggie parents, can give me some guidance with this issue. As my children grow (I have 2.5 year old twin boys) I am more and more distressed at the direction their diet is taking. I became a vegetarian in 1990 when it became clear to me that my body didn't do well with meat. Two years later I was finally diagnosed with lactose intolerance after a lifetime of stomach issues that disappeared as soon as I dropped dairy. I was, at that point, vegan. I became involved in macrobiotics and studied it intensively for 5 years. I loved how I felt on the diet and thought/think it has tremendous value. I also became a macrobiotic/ vegan caterer and owned my own company for 7 years. After I sold the company, my partner and I kept up the same style of cooking, taking turns and eating very well. I have become more of an ethical vegetarian in the past 10 years and am teaching my boys about meat/animals. I also believe that animal milk is not meant for humans and that it contributes to a host of problems. So here's the thing: I'm not practicing what I preach. First of all, the boys eat dairy. I really researched the whole fat content thing and I just didn't think I could get enough fat in their diet without it. I also didn't want to start soy formula which I was using to supplement my own efforts because I heard it could lead to allergies to soy later on in life (plus one of my sons had trouble digesting everything except for one kind of formula). My boys are over the 100th percentile in height but between the 10th and 25th in weight. They are quite skinny and I just choose the easy route by giving them dairy. I only " cook " for them on the weekends. I work and am now a single mother who works full-time outside of the house. I have a nanny. She makes their meals. They have such a limited repertoire it isn't funny. And nearly all of it is bread (which I think is basically nutritionally useless) and dairy. They will eat tonnes of fruit but won't eat any vegetables. I add avocado to their smoothies (and tofu). They will eat carrots and cucumbers. So far I have been unable to get them to eat whole grains or beans. I've tried nearly every pre-packaged veggie entree that there is (or at least is available in Canada) but the only one they like are veggie dogs (that's if I can get them to put a forkful past their lips). I know all too well you can be unhealthy as a vegetarian and eating veggie dogs as your source of protein is going to contribute to that. I've also tried to switch them to whole grain pasta and it was a no-go. Before kids, I never bought anything with ingredients I didn't recognize. The other day I looked at my beautiful glass jars full of grains and beans and realized that I literally hadn't cooked anything from them in over a year. I just got frustrated at cooking for them (and you know that this type of cooking is time consuming) and them not eating it. I literally have 1 hour with them in the morning before I have to get ready for work and 1 hour with them in the evening after I get home before they go to sleep. Then I eat dinner (don't ask - often a bowl of cheerios or 3 english muffins or something like that) and go to bed myself (usually it's only about an hour from the time I've put them down). I can't bear to think of cooking during that 1 hour. I feel like I need it. But then I feel like something's got to give and maybe that hour is it. On weekends, I can't cook. They are attached to me. They need to be watched constantly. I just started to use the tv to give me a half hour in the kitchen to put away groceries and put something together for lunch (dairy, pasta and bread anyone?) but after about a half hour, it stops holding their attention and then they just bug each other and it's counterproductive. I can't believe I've got to this place. It's not what I want for them and it's not what I want for me. I know I sound pretty hard-core with the way I lived but it worked so well for me and was so easy since I was cooking for a living. Now I'm a lawyer, I grab food here and there and I collapse at home. I don't want a poor me. I just don't know how to change this (not to mention how to deal with the refusal of all the food that I'm likely to cook if I can figure out how to do that too....oh, and let's also not talk about my mother's constant whining about her not being able to feed them meat) OK. If you stuck with this long self-pitying tale, I appreciate it. Thanks for " listening " and I hope somebody has btdt and can help me out. Amelia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 4, 2010 Report Share Posted January 4, 2010 Try this http://www.pjchmiel.com/vegan/indian.html On Mon, Jan 4, 2010 at 3:02 PM, robin koloms <rkoloms wrote: > > > Hi Amelia, > > A child will not starve to death. We use the 3-bite rule: you must try 3 > bites of what is on your plate; if you don't like it, you get peanut butter > and honey on whole grain toast. > > Try making 25% whole wheatpasta with 75% white; increase the amount of > while every time. > > Kids love to dip; whole grain pasta and steamed veggies in marinara or > peanut sauce; fruit in yogurt; crunch veggies and whole grain crackers in > hummus. > > Just start making gradual changes (this will be easier if you plan out > meals and snacks a couple of weeks at a time. > > > > ________________________________ > Amelia Golden <agolden <agolden%40rogers.com>> > vegie parents < <%40> > > > Mon, January 4, 2010 2:24:45 PM > I am so disappointed in myself - long > > > > Hi all, > > I'm not on this listserve very often but I do read nearly everything that > it is written. I hope you, as veggie parents, can give me some guidance with > this issue. > > As my children grow (I have 2.5 year old twin boys) I am more and more > distressed at the direction their diet is taking. I became a vegetarian in > 1990 when it became clear to me that my body didn't do well with meat. Two > years later I was finally diagnosed with lactose intolerance after a > lifetime of stomach issues that disappeared as soon as I dropped dairy. I > was, at that point, vegan. I became involved in macrobiotics and studied it > intensively for 5 years. I loved how I felt on the diet and thought/think it > has tremendous value. I also became a macrobiotic/ vegan caterer and owned > my own company for 7 years. After I sold the company, my partner and I kept > up the same style of cooking, taking turns and eating very well. I have > become more of an ethical vegetarian in the past 10 years and am teaching my > boys about meat/animals. I also believe that animal milk is not meant for > humans and that it contributes to a host of problems. > > So here's the thing: I'm not practicing what I preach. First of all, the > boys eat dairy. I really researched the whole fat content thing and I just > didn't think I could get enough fat in their diet without it. I also didn't > want to start soy formula which I was using to supplement my own efforts > because I heard it could lead to allergies to soy later on in life (plus one > of my sons had trouble digesting everything except for one kind of formula). > My boys are over the 100th percentile in height but between the 10th and > 25th in weight. They are quite skinny and I just choose the easy route by > giving them dairy. I only " cook " for them on the weekends. I work and am now > a single mother who works full-time outside of the house. I have a nanny. > She makes their meals. They have such a limited repertoire it isn't funny. > And nearly all of it is bread (which I think is basically nutritionally > useless) and dairy. They will eat tonnes of fruit but won't > eat any vegetables. I add avocado to their smoothies (and tofu). They will > eat carrots and cucumbers. So far I have been unable to get them to eat > whole grains or beans. I've tried nearly every pre-packaged veggie entree > that there is (or at least is available in Canada) but the only one they > like are veggie dogs (that's if I can get them to put a forkful past their > lips). I know all too well you can be unhealthy as a vegetarian and eating > veggie dogs as your source of protein is going to contribute to that. I've > also tried to switch them to whole grain pasta and it was a no-go. Before > kids, I never bought anything with ingredients I didn't recognize. > > The other day I looked at my beautiful glass jars full of grains and beans > and realized that I literally hadn't cooked anything from them in over a > year. I just got frustrated at cooking for them (and you know that this type > of cooking is time consuming) and them not eating it. I literally have 1 > hour with them in the morning before I have to get ready for work and 1 hour > with them in the evening after I get home before they go to sleep. Then I > eat dinner (don't ask - often a bowl of cheerios or 3 english muffins or > something like that) and go to bed myself (usually it's only about an hour > from the time I've put them down). I can't bear to think of cooking during > that 1 hour. I feel like I need it. But then I feel like something's got to > give and maybe that hour is it. On weekends, I can't cook. They are attached > to me. They need to be watched constantly. I just started to use the tv to > give me a half hour in the kitchen to put away groceries > and put something together for lunch (dairy, pasta and bread anyone?) but > after about a half hour, it stops holding their attention and then they just > bug each other and it's counterproductive. > > I can't believe I've got to this place. It's not what I want for them and > it's not what I want for me. I know I sound pretty hard-core with the way I > lived but it worked so well for me and was so easy since I was cooking for a > living. Now I'm a lawyer, I grab food here and there and I collapse at home. > I don't want a poor me. I just don't know how to change this (not to mention > how to deal with the refusal of all the food that I'm likely to cook if I > can figure out how to do that too....oh, and let's also not talk about my > mother's constant whining about her not being able to feed them meat) > > OK. If you stuck with this long self-pitying tale, I appreciate it. Thanks > for " listening " and I hope somebody has btdt and can help me out. > > Amelia > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 4, 2010 Report Share Posted January 4, 2010 Planning out meals was going to be my suggestion. When I was working full time, I made 4 dinners on Sunday. If you can get a sitter for 2 hours, DO IT! It will save you time and sanity during the week when youa re strapped for time and rest. I also use t.v. for that 30 min break every once in awhile. Just try to remember all those great things you used to do and bring them back slowly. Like Robin said, gradually make changes and get that other junk out of the house. When kids only have good choices in front of them, they can only make good choices  P.S. I was a teacher for 5 years and I am the room mom this year at my daughter's school- the skinniest kids are fed whole cow milk (they fill up on the milk and don't eat thier meals and want junky snacks between meals) This is the best time of the year to make this change. And, just smile and generourly disagree with your mom Cassie Dixon --- On Mon, 1/4/10, robin koloms <rkoloms wrote: robin koloms <rkoloms Re: I am so disappointed in myself - long Monday, January 4, 2010, 4:02 PM  Hi Amelia, A child will not starve to death. We use the 3-bite rule: you must try 3 bites of what is on your plate; if you don't like it, you get peanut butter and honey on whole grain toast. Try making 25% whole wheatpasta with 75% white; increase the amount of while every time. Kids love to dip; whole grain pasta and steamed veggies in marinara or peanut sauce; fruit in yogurt; crunch veggies and whole grain crackers in hummus. Just start making gradual changes (this will be easier if you plan out meals and snacks a couple of weeks at a time.  ____________ _________ _________ __ Amelia Golden <agolden (AT) rogers (DOT) com> vegie parents <@gro ups.com> Mon, January 4, 2010 2:24:45 PM I am so disappointed in myself - long  Hi all, I'm not on this listserve very often but I do read nearly everything that it is written. I hope you, as veggie parents, can give me some guidance with this issue. As my children grow (I have 2.5 year old twin boys) I am more and more distressed at the direction their diet is taking. I became a vegetarian in 1990 when it became clear to me that my body didn't do well with meat. Two years later I was finally diagnosed with lactose intolerance after a lifetime of stomach issues that disappeared as soon as I dropped dairy. I was, at that point, vegan. I became involved in macrobiotics and studied it intensively for 5 years. I loved how I felt on the diet and thought/think it has tremendous value. I also became a macrobiotic/ vegan caterer and owned my own company for 7 years. After I sold the company, my partner and I kept up the same style of cooking, taking turns and eating very well. I have become more of an ethical vegetarian in the past 10 years and am teaching my boys about meat/animals. I also believe that animal milk is not meant for humans and that it contributes to a host of problems. So here's the thing: I'm not practicing what I preach. First of all, the boys eat dairy. I really researched the whole fat content thing and I just didn't think I could get enough fat in their diet without it. I also didn't want to start soy formula which I was using to supplement my own efforts because I heard it could lead to allergies to soy later on in life (plus one of my sons had trouble digesting everything except for one kind of formula). My boys are over the 100th percentile in height but between the 10th and 25th in weight. They are quite skinny and I just choose the easy route by giving them dairy. I only " cook " for them on the weekends. I work and am now a single mother who works full-time outside of the house. I have a nanny. She makes their meals. They have such a limited repertoire it isn't funny. And nearly all of it is bread (which I think is basically nutritionally useless) and dairy. They will eat tonnes of fruit but won't eat any vegetables. I add avocado to their smoothies (and tofu). They will eat carrots and cucumbers. So far I have been unable to get them to eat whole grains or beans. I've tried nearly every pre-packaged veggie entree that there is (or at least is available in Canada) but the only one they like are veggie dogs (that's if I can get them to put a forkful past their lips). I know all too well you can be unhealthy as a vegetarian and eating veggie dogs as your source of protein is going to contribute to that. I've also tried to switch them to whole grain pasta and it was a no-go. Before kids, I never bought anything with ingredients I didn't recognize. The other day I looked at my beautiful glass jars full of grains and beans and realized that I literally hadn't cooked anything from them in over a year. I just got frustrated at cooking for them (and you know that this type of cooking is time consuming) and them not eating it. I literally have 1 hour with them in the morning before I have to get ready for work and 1 hour with them in the evening after I get home before they go to sleep. Then I eat dinner (don't ask - often a bowl of cheerios or 3 english muffins or something like that) and go to bed myself (usually it's only about an hour from the time I've put them down). I can't bear to think of cooking during that 1 hour. I feel like I need it. But then I feel like something's got to give and maybe that hour is it. On weekends, I can't cook. They are attached to me. They need to be watched constantly. I just started to use the tv to give me a half hour in the kitchen to put away groceries and put something together for lunch (dairy, pasta and bread anyone?) but after about a half hour, it stops holding their attention and then they just bug each other and it's counterproductive. I can't believe I've got to this place. It's not what I want for them and it's not what I want for me. I know I sound pretty hard-core with the way I lived but it worked so well for me and was so easy since I was cooking for a living. Now I'm a lawyer, I grab food here and there and I collapse at home. I don't want a poor me. I just don't know how to change this (not to mention how to deal with the refusal of all the food that I'm likely to cook if I can figure out how to do that too....oh, and let's also not talk about my mother's constant whining about her not being able to feed them meat) OK. If you stuck with this long self-pitying tale, I appreciate it. Thanks for " listening " and I hope somebody has btdt and can help me out. Amelia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 4, 2010 Report Share Posted January 4, 2010 Hi Amelia, First, I suggest you stop beating yourself up! I have one child, work part-time from home, and have a partner to help, and I think you are a hero for doing twins on your own and working full-time! Wow! You are amazing! This kind of thing happens to every family with working parents – really, it does. One thing I thought of is that our son really got interested in cooking at about the age of your boys … maybe they would be interested in helping you cook. We have several kids’ cookbooks – not necessarily vegetarian, but we alter recipes that aren’t vegetarian, or we talk about how yucky and sad those recipes are, and then move on to whatever we’re going to make. :-) But, the pictures of kids and puppets making food is really fun for our son. He even makes up his own recipes now … some are disgusting, but we let him go, and he usually eats them, no matter how gross. But, some of his recipes are actually really good and everyone eats them. It’s also a way for us to spend time together and make food at the same time – and while he’s doing his own recipes, I can unload and reload the dishwasher, put laundry in, or make a salad for the fridge. Here are some things we do together that helps us all eat better all week – first, we belong to a CSA, so we have fresh, organic veggies and fruits each week and must eat them – it is motivating; we make a big green salad once a week, he helps cut stuff up with a butter knife, and he puts it in a big bowl that goes in a crisper, and since he helped make it, he actually eats salad now (bonus :-)); we make a big soup once each week to eat during the week, he helps chop stuff up with a butter knife again, and he puts it all in the pot, and then he really loves adding spices and using the pepper grinder and stuff like that – and he really likes using pasta in unique colors or shapes (beet- and spinach-dyed spirals are his favorite); we make a big pot of rice or pasta or another grain once a week (he loves measuring the water and the grains into the pan), and use it all week in different dishes (with tomato sauce and parmesan one night, with veggies and peanut sauce another night, with steamed veggies and falafel another night, etc.); we steam or roast big pots of veggies a couple times a week, so they’re ready to go with whatever meal (and our son helps to chop those and puts them in and measures the water); we try new healthy snacks all the time, where I’m happy with that as a meal, in case he doesn’t eat the lovely meal we have that night – the new one is “ants on a log” – celery filled with peanut butter with raisins pressed along the pb (he didn’t like celery or raisins before this snack). And we just stock organic, healthy stuff, so that’s the ingredients of what we make. Some quick meals are a pound of pasta cooked and dumped into a casserole dish, then a can of kidney beans or a ½ block of tofu cubed, with a can of tomatoes, any fresh veggies we want (green pepper, onions, tomatoes, or left-over zucchini, eggplant, etc.), mozzarella shredded on top (or vegan cheese if you want to do that), and bake til the cheese melts. Easy, nutritious, good, and here’s the bonus – left-overs for another night! :-) Also, don’t know if you have this in your area, but we have meal delivery services here, where caterers provide you as many meals as you like – 3 meals a day for all family members, or just a couple dinners, or whatever. They’re all cooked and packaged up, and you just reheat them or freeze them and take out on another day. Super convenient. We have one here in southern CA that does organic and vegetarian foods. It’s pricey, but worth it if that fits your needs. We also have places here where you go prepare meals – they say it takes an hour to prepare a week of dinners for your family. They have buffet type bars set up, you get containers and go through and put together a casserole, enchiladas, whatever their recipes are that week, and take them home and cook them as you need them. It’s also pricey, but has vegetarian and vegan and special meal options, and you get to see what goes in to the food – and you don’t have to shop for the food, cut or prepare anything, or even clean up your kitchen. Maybe the nanny could do that for you once a week, if you can’t? For her extra work, maybe you could tip her with some of those meals for her family. :-) Oh, good luck! And know you aren’t alone. I know a woman who says that parenting humbles us so much – as an example, she tells how she used to roll her eyes at her sister-in-law feeding her kids things like spaghettios and frozen veggies … then fast-forward to when she had her own kids … she said she realized she just sent her kids to bed without a bath after saying, “a banana is a vegetable today, they’re fine -- please get in bed!” Yeah, we all have those days! And those weeks and months … :-) Lorraine On Behalf Of Amelia Golden Monday, January 04, 2010 12:25 PM vegie parents I am so disappointed in myself - long Hi all, I'm not on this listserve very often but I do read nearly everything that it is written. I hope you, as veggie parents, can give me some guidance with this issue. As my children grow (I have 2.5 year old twin boys) I am more and more distressed at the direction their diet is taking. I became a vegetarian in 1990 when it became clear to me that my body didn't do well with meat. Two years later I was finally diagnosed with lactose intolerance after a lifetime of stomach issues that disappeared as soon as I dropped dairy. I was, at that point, vegan. I became involved in macrobiotics and studied it intensively for 5 years. I loved how I felt on the diet and thought/think it has tremendous value. I also became a macrobiotic/vegan caterer and owned my own company for 7 years. After I sold the company, my partner and I kept up the same style of cooking, taking turns and eating very well. I have become more of an ethical vegetarian in the past 10 years and am teaching my boys about meat/animals. I also believe that animal milk is not meant for humans and that it contributes to a host of problems. So here's the thing: I'm not practicing what I preach. First of all, the boys eat dairy. I really researched the whole fat content thing and I just didn't think I could get enough fat in their diet without it. I also didn't want to start soy formula which I was using to supplement my own efforts because I heard it could lead to allergies to soy later on in life (plus one of my sons had trouble digesting everything except for one kind of formula). My boys are over the 100th percentile in height but between the 10th and 25th in weight. They are quite skinny and I just choose the easy route by giving them dairy. I only " cook " for them on the weekends. I work and am now a single mother who works full-time outside of the house. I have a nanny. She makes their meals. They have such a limited repertoire it isn't funny. And nearly all of it is bread (which I think is basically nutritionally useless) and dairy. They will eat tonnes of fruit but won't eat any vegetables. I add avocado to their smoothies (and tofu). They will eat carrots and cucumbers. So far I have been unable to get them to eat whole grains or beans. I've tried nearly every pre-packaged veggie entree that there is (or at least is available in Canada) but the only one they like are veggie dogs (that's if I can get them to put a forkful past their lips). I know all too well you can be unhealthy as a vegetarian and eating veggie dogs as your source of protein is going to contribute to that. I've also tried to switch them to whole grain pasta and it was a no-go. Before kids, I never bought anything with ingredients I didn't recognize. The other day I looked at my beautiful glass jars full of grains and beans and realized that I literally hadn't cooked anything from them in over a year. I just got frustrated at cooking for them (and you know that this type of cooking is time consuming) and them not eating it. I literally have 1 hour with them in the morning before I have to get ready for work and 1 hour with them in the evening after I get home before they go to sleep. Then I eat dinner (don't ask - often a bowl of cheerios or 3 english muffins or something like that) and go to bed myself (usually it's only about an hour from the time I've put them down). I can't bear to think of cooking during that 1 hour. I feel like I need it. But then I feel like something's got to give and maybe that hour is it. On weekends, I can't cook. They are attached to me. They need to be watched constantly. I just started to use the tv to give me a half hour in the kitchen to put away groceries and put something together for lunch (dairy, pasta and bread anyone?) but after about a half hour, it stops holding their attention and then they just bug each other and it's counterproductive. I can't believe I've got to this place. It's not what I want for them and it's not what I want for me. I know I sound pretty hard-core with the way I lived but it worked so well for me and was so easy since I was cooking for a living. Now I'm a lawyer, I grab food here and there and I collapse at home. I don't want a poor me. I just don't know how to change this (not to mention how to deal with the refusal of all the food that I'm likely to cook if I can figure out how to do that too....oh, and let's also not talk about my mother's constant whining about her not being able to feed them meat) OK. If you stuck with this long self-pitying tale, I appreciate it. Thanks for " listening " and I hope somebody has btdt and can help me out. Amelia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 5, 2010 Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 Hi Amelia Wow do I hear your frustration. I've got a now-5-year-old that went through that at about the same age. We were down to like 2 things she would eat, neither particularly healthy. They just do that at that age. The good news is, they usually will start to add things back pretty soon and even begin to like new things. My daughter is now really excited about eggplant and artichokes (thank you, Farmville - but that's another story). First of all, do not fall into the trap of beating yourself up or expecting to be perfect mom all the time. You are human and not a t.v. mom. :-) You are doing an awesome thing for them, raising them vegetarian, and doing things like putting tofu & avo in their smoothies. Way ahead of the game already. My daughter has friends in her playgroup who are allowed gorge themselves on whatever candy they can get their hands on, just for one example. The things I see these kids eat! The processed foods, the high fructose corn syrup. . . blech. 5 year-olds drinking soda pop? Why? I still dilute the juice! Anyway my daughter wasn't interested in beans for a while either but that comes and goes now. She mostly likes them. By 3 she wouldn't eat avocado anymore, loves it again now. You see what I mean. This too shall pass. . . I read Robin's response and thought she put it nicely, introducing things gradually. I also hate cooking time consuming meals that nobody else eats. So if you can plan in advance like she says and freeze some stuff, that should help. The dipping thing is really good too. A friend of mine could get her kids to eat ANYTHING at about your kids' age, as long as she could put it on a stick. Go figure. My kid will eat only " purple " lettuce because I called it " princess lettuce " the first time I gave it to her. I've heard people get good results for boys by everything being " dinosaur food " . Also my daughter won't eat a sandwich (except pb & j) unless it's " deconstructed " - everything separately all over the plate. Soups pureed so they don't know what's in there. Stuff like that. Also it won't be much longer before you stop worrying about fat in their diet, I'm more worried about protein these days. Like you said it's so easy to fall back on soy hotdogs. And your mother's voice in your head doesn't help, I've got my in-laws' very genuine and sweet concern making me very crazy. And personally I think the t.v. is a good tool as long as you don't overdo it. Again, it won't be that much longer before they can play without constant watching. They grow up way too fast! Enjoy your time with them and don't beat yourself up, that's the best advice I can give you. Now that I have made the decision not to try to be perfect, and the house is generally in a tornado-hit-here-recently state, I am enjoying my kid a lot more. Do you have any like-minded friends in your area that you can cook with or anything? Good luck and let us know when it starts to get better, which it will. Dee On Jan 4, 2010, at 12:24 PM, Amelia Golden wrote: > Hi all, > > I'm not on this listserve very often but I do read nearly everything > that it is written. I hope you, as veggie parents, can give me some > guidance with this issue. > > As my children grow (I have 2.5 year old twin boys) I am more and > more distressed at the direction their diet is taking. I became a > vegetarian in 1990 when it became clear to me that my body didn't do > well with meat. Two years later I was finally diagnosed with lactose > intolerance after a lifetime of stomach issues that disappeared as > soon as I dropped dairy. I was, at that point, vegan. I became > involved in macrobiotics and studied it intensively for 5 years. I > loved how I felt on the diet and thought/think it has tremendous > value. I also became a macrobiotic/vegan caterer and owned my own > company for 7 years. After I sold the company, my partner and I kept > up the same style of cooking, taking turns and eating very well. I > have become more of an ethical vegetarian in the past 10 years and > am teaching my boys about meat/animals. I also believe that animal > milk is not meant for humans and that it contributes to a host of > problems. > > So here's the thing: I'm not practicing what I preach. First of all, > the boys eat dairy. I really researched the whole fat content thing > and I just didn't think I could get enough fat in their diet without > it. I also didn't want to start soy formula which I was using to > supplement my own efforts because I heard it could lead to allergies > to soy later on in life (plus one of my sons had trouble digesting > everything except for one kind of formula). My boys are over the > 100th percentile in height but between the 10th and 25th in weight. > They are quite skinny and I just choose the easy route by giving > them dairy. I only " cook " for them on the weekends. I work and am > now a single mother who works full-time outside of the house. I have > a nanny. She makes their meals. They have such a limited repertoire > it isn't funny. And nearly all of it is bread (which I think is > basically nutritionally useless) and dairy. They will eat tonnes of > fruit but won't > eat any vegetables. I add avocado to their smoothies (and tofu). > They will eat carrots and cucumbers. So far I have been unable to > get them to eat whole grains or beans. I've tried nearly every pre- > packaged veggie entree that there is (or at least is available in > Canada) but the only one they like are veggie dogs (that's if I can > get them to put a forkful past their lips). I know all too well you > can be unhealthy as a vegetarian and eating veggie dogs as your > source of protein is going to contribute to that. I've also tried to > switch them to whole grain pasta and it was a no-go. Before kids, I > never bought anything with ingredients I didn't recognize. > > The other day I looked at my beautiful glass jars full of grains and > beans and realized that I literally hadn't cooked anything from them > in over a year. I just got frustrated at cooking for them (and you > know that this type of cooking is time consuming) and them not > eating it. I literally have 1 hour with them in the morning before I > have to get ready for work and 1 hour with them in the evening after > I get home before they go to sleep. Then I eat dinner (don't ask - > often a bowl of cheerios or 3 english muffins or something like > that) and go to bed myself (usually it's only about an hour from the > time I've put them down). I can't bear to think of cooking during > that 1 hour. I feel like I need it. But then I feel like something's > got to give and maybe that hour is it. On weekends, I can't cook. > They are attached to me. They need to be watched constantly. I just > started to use the tv to give me a half hour in the kitchen to put > away groceries > and put something together for lunch (dairy, pasta and bread > anyone?) but after about a half hour, it stops holding their > attention and then they just bug each other and it's > counterproductive. > > I can't believe I've got to this place. It's not what I want for > them and it's not what I want for me. I know I sound pretty hard- > core with the way I lived but it worked so well for me and was so > easy since I was cooking for a living. Now I'm a lawyer, I grab food > here and there and I collapse at home. I don't want a poor me. I > just don't know how to change this (not to mention how to deal with > the refusal of all the food that I'm likely to cook if I can figure > out how to do that too....oh, and let's also not talk about my > mother's constant whining about her not being able to feed them meat) > > OK. If you stuck with this long self-pitying tale, I appreciate it. > Thanks for " listening " and I hope somebody has btdt and can help me > out. > > Amelia > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 5, 2010 Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 I totally know your stress. I went through the same thing until finally I had enough too. I knew my kids weren't eating healthy and it was my fault. I was afraid of them starving (so I'd give them junk just so they'd eat something), I was afraid of getting into an argument with them and I was afraid of their rejection (as silly as that sounds). But finally I snapped and thought that I'm the adult here and if I want my kids to eat healthy and be healthy it's in MY hands. I stopped buying junk and started offering them only healthy whole foods (grains, beans, veggies, nuts, fruits) and that was it. They refused to eat the first few times I offered them beans, grains or veggies but I wouldn't give them anything else and after a few nights they finally started eating what I gave them. I was actually VERY surprised! Soon my boys were eating just about everything I served them and I never thought that would happen! Anyways, you just have to be tough and do what's best for their health. You have the control! And they probably won't really mind the good foods as much as you think.  Try adding foods in slowly....have you read the whole " Sneaky Chef " concept of " hiding " veggies in food? I do that all the time and it works marvelously. For example, cook carrots and sweet potato then puree it and add it to spaghetti sauce. My kids devour it and you can't tell it's even in there. Good luck! --- On Mon, 1/4/10, Amelia Golden <agolden wrote: Amelia Golden <agolden I am so disappointed in myself - long " vegie parents " Monday, January 4, 2010, 3:24 PM  Hi all, I'm not on this listserve very often but I do read nearly everything that it is written. I hope you, as veggie parents, can give me some guidance with this issue. As my children grow (I have 2.5 year old twin boys) I am more and more distressed at the direction their diet is taking. I became a vegetarian in 1990 when it became clear to me that my body didn't do well with meat. Two years later I was finally diagnosed with lactose intolerance after a lifetime of stomach issues that disappeared as soon as I dropped dairy. I was, at that point, vegan. I became involved in macrobiotics and studied it intensively for 5 years. I loved how I felt on the diet and thought/think it has tremendous value. I also became a macrobiotic/ vegan caterer and owned my own company for 7 years. After I sold the company, my partner and I kept up the same style of cooking, taking turns and eating very well. I have become more of an ethical vegetarian in the past 10 years and am teaching my boys about meat/animals. I also believe that animal milk is not meant for humans and that it contributes to a host of problems. So here's the thing: I'm not practicing what I preach. First of all, the boys eat dairy. I really researched the whole fat content thing and I just didn't think I could get enough fat in their diet without it. I also didn't want to start soy formula which I was using to supplement my own efforts because I heard it could lead to allergies to soy later on in life (plus one of my sons had trouble digesting everything except for one kind of formula). My boys are over the 100th percentile in height but between the 10th and 25th in weight. They are quite skinny and I just choose the easy route by giving them dairy. I only " cook " for them on the weekends. I work and am now a single mother who works full-time outside of the house. I have a nanny. She makes their meals. They have such a limited repertoire it isn't funny. And nearly all of it is bread (which I think is basically nutritionally useless) and dairy. They will eat tonnes of fruit but won't eat any vegetables. I add avocado to their smoothies (and tofu). They will eat carrots and cucumbers. So far I have been unable to get them to eat whole grains or beans. I've tried nearly every pre-packaged veggie entree that there is (or at least is available in Canada) but the only one they like are veggie dogs (that's if I can get them to put a forkful past their lips). I know all too well you can be unhealthy as a vegetarian and eating veggie dogs as your source of protein is going to contribute to that. I've also tried to switch them to whole grain pasta and it was a no-go. Before kids, I never bought anything with ingredients I didn't recognize. The other day I looked at my beautiful glass jars full of grains and beans and realized that I literally hadn't cooked anything from them in over a year. I just got frustrated at cooking for them (and you know that this type of cooking is time consuming) and them not eating it. I literally have 1 hour with them in the morning before I have to get ready for work and 1 hour with them in the evening after I get home before they go to sleep. Then I eat dinner (don't ask - often a bowl of cheerios or 3 english muffins or something like that) and go to bed myself (usually it's only about an hour from the time I've put them down). I can't bear to think of cooking during that 1 hour. I feel like I need it. But then I feel like something's got to give and maybe that hour is it. On weekends, I can't cook. They are attached to me. They need to be watched constantly. I just started to use the tv to give me a half hour in the kitchen to put away groceries and put something together for lunch (dairy, pasta and bread anyone?) but after about a half hour, it stops holding their attention and then they just bug each other and it's counterproductive. I can't believe I've got to this place. It's not what I want for them and it's not what I want for me. I know I sound pretty hard-core with the way I lived but it worked so well for me and was so easy since I was cooking for a living. Now I'm a lawyer, I grab food here and there and I collapse at home. I don't want a poor me. I just don't know how to change this (not to mention how to deal with the refusal of all the food that I'm likely to cook if I can figure out how to do that too....oh, and let's also not talk about my mother's constant whining about her not being able to feed them meat) OK. If you stuck with this long self-pitying tale, I appreciate it. Thanks for " listening " and I hope somebody has btdt and can help me out. Amelia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 5, 2010 Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 Hi Amelia, I work with clients in my coaching business who are in the same situation as you and I highly recommend that you get out your crockpot! With a crockpot you can throw together some beans and veggies and have a delicious soup, stew or chili ready when you get home. Pair it with a salad from one of those organic bag mixes, baby carrots, grape tomatoes, etc. and a vinegar based dressing and you have a healthy low fat meal. You can freeze or refrigerate the crockpot meal and have it throughout the week. Try the Vegetarian Slow Cooker cookbook. There are also lots of great Vegan recipes on fatfreevegan.com and fatfree.com. As for your kids being picky eaters. Do not allow them to have special kid prepared meals. They should eat exactly what you are eating, even the salads. At first they will protest and not eat, but believe me they will NOT starve themselves. I also use the three bite rule with my kids and then they can have one piece of fruit before bed. I let them know that the food is available if they change their mind. Many times they have been so hungry that they not only ask me to bring the food back out, but they clean their plate! I have to say that I haven't had any pickyness from my kids since we started a garden in our backyard! The kids want to eat the veggies we grow. They help plant the seeds, watch them grow and then pluck the fruits and veggies from the garden. They also help me in preparing salads and chopping veggies. How ever you can involve them in the kitchen on the weekend when you have time will make a BIG difference. We have a Learning Tower for them to stand in safely. It is much safer than a stepping stool. I hope that helps! Gretchen ____________ _________ _________ __ Amelia Golden <agolden (AT) rogers (DOT) com> vegie parents <@gro ups.com> Mon, January 4, 2010 2:24:45 PM I am so disappointed in myself - long  Hi all, I'm not on this listserve very often but I do read nearly everything that it is written. I hope you, as veggie parents, can give me some guidance with this issue. As my children grow (I have 2.5 year old twin boys) I am more and more distressed at the direction their diet is taking. I became a vegetarian in 1990 when it became clear to me that my body didn't do well with meat. Two years later I was finally diagnosed with lactose intolerance after a lifetime of stomach issues that disappeared as soon as I dropped dairy. I was, at that point, vegan. I became involved in macrobiotics and studied it intensively for 5 years. I loved how I felt on the diet and thought/think it has tremendous value. I also became a macrobiotic/ vegan caterer and owned my own company for 7 years. After I sold the company, my partner and I kept up the same style of cooking, taking turns and eating very well. I have become more of an ethical vegetarian in the past 10 years and am teaching my boys about meat/animals. I also believe that animal milk is not meant for humans and that it contributes to a host of problems. So here's the thing: I'm not practicing what I preach. First of all, the boys eat dairy. I really researched the whole fat content thing and I just didn't think I could get enough fat in their diet without it. I also didn't want to start soy formula which I was using to supplement my own efforts because I heard it could lead to allergies to soy later on in life (plus one of my sons had trouble digesting everything except for one kind of formula). My boys are over the 100th percentile in height but between the 10th and 25th in weight. They are quite skinny and I just choose the easy route by giving them dairy. I only " cook " for them on the weekends. I work and am now a single mother who works full-time outside of the house. I have a nanny. She makes their meals. They have such a limited repertoire it isn't funny. And nearly all of it is bread (which I think is basically nutritionally useless) and dairy. They will eat tonnes of fruit but won't eat any vegetables. I add avocado to their smoothies (and tofu). They will eat carrots and cucumbers. So far I have been unable to get them to eat whole grains or beans. I've tried nearly every pre-packaged veggie entree that there is (or at least is available in Canada) but the only one they like are veggie dogs (that's if I can get them to put a forkful past their lips). I know all too well you can be unhealthy as a vegetarian and eating veggie dogs as your source of protein is going to contribute to that. I've also tried to switch them to whole grain pasta and it was a no-go. Before kids, I never bought anything with ingredients I didn't recognize. The other day I looked at my beautiful glass jars full of grains and beans and realized that I literally hadn't cooked anything from them in over a year. I just got frustrated at cooking for them (and you know that this type of cooking is time consuming) and them not eating it. I literally have 1 hour with them in the morning before I have to get ready for work and 1 hour with them in the evening after I get home before they go to sleep. Then I eat dinner (don't ask - often a bowl of cheerios or 3 english muffins or something like that) and go to bed myself (usually it's only about an hour from the time I've put them down). I can't bear to think of cooking during that 1 hour. I feel like I need it. But then I feel like something's got to give and maybe that hour is it. On weekends, I can't cook. They are attached to me. They need to be watched constantly. I just started to use the tv to give me a half hour in the kitchen to put away groceries and put something together for lunch (dairy, pasta and bread anyone?) but after about a half hour, it stops holding their attention and then they just bug each other and it's counterproductive. I can't believe I've got to this place. It's not what I want for them and it's not what I want for me. I know I sound pretty hard-core with the way I lived but it worked so well for me and was so easy since I was cooking for a living. Now I'm a lawyer, I grab food here and there and I collapse at home. I don't want a poor me. I just don't know how to change this (not to mention how to deal with the refusal of all the food that I'm likely to cook if I can figure out how to do that too....oh, and let's also not talk about my mother's constant whining about her not being able to feed them meat) OK. If you stuck with this long self-pitying tale, I appreciate it. Thanks for " listening " and I hope somebody has btdt and can help me out. Amelia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 5, 2010 Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 I wish I had more to help out, but for me, to get the whole wheat pasta, it might be the brand you are buyng. One brand we tried was awful! The brand I use now, you can't tell the difference. It is Ronzoni Healthy Harvest. I have even fed it to people who eat white pasta and they can't tell the difference. I too have a picky eater and have given up at times. It is hard to get him to eat anything new and much of what we usually eat. The 3 bite rule that someone else suggested is a good idea, but if your kids are like mine, it will take a long time to work and I am sure with your limited time with them, you don't want to waste it battling. One thing I can also suggest, is smoothies. You can sneak so much in them with the kids never noticing. If they are the kind that will freak out when you add something, make the ingredients when they are sleeping and freeze them in ice cube trays so that you can just add them. We make all fruit smoothies and add carrot juice, spinach and somethimes juice made with greens that I buy from the store. That gets the veggies in. You can say the spinach is green magic sprinkles or as my kids call them, chocolate chips (go figure!) There is also that book that Seinfeld's wife wrote that adds veggies into regular food. Maybe your picky eaters will go for the " breads " (muffins and such) in there... I wish I could be more help. Good luck!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 5, 2010 Report Share Posted January 5, 2010 I live in Chicago, about a mile north of Devon; non of my favorite restaurants were listed! ________________________________ Jatin Shah <jatin7 Mon, January 4, 2010 3:33:52 PM Re: I am so disappointed in myself - long  Try this http://www.pjchmiel.com/vegan/indian.html On Mon, Jan 4, 2010 at 3:02 PM, robin koloms <rkoloms > wrote: > > > Hi Amelia, > > A child will not starve to death. We use the 3-bite rule: you must try 3 > bites of what is on your plate; if you don't like it, you get peanut butter > and honey on whole grain toast. > > Try making 25% whole wheatpasta with 75% white; increase the amount of > while every time. > > Kids love to dip; whole grain pasta and steamed veggies in marinara or > peanut sauce; fruit in yogurt; crunch veggies and whole grain crackers in > hummus. > > Just start making gradual changes (this will be easier if you plan out > meals and snacks a couple of weeks at a time. > > > > ____________ _________ _________ __ > Amelia Golden <agolden (AT) rogers (DOT) com <agolden%40rogers. com>> > vegie parents <@gro ups.com<% 40. com> > > > Mon, January 4, 2010 2:24:45 PM > I am so disappointed in myself - long > > > > Hi all, > > I'm not on this listserve very often but I do read nearly everything that > it is written. I hope you, as veggie parents, can give me some guidance with > this issue. > > As my children grow (I have 2.5 year old twin boys) I am more and more > distressed at the direction their diet is taking. I became a vegetarian in > 1990 when it became clear to me that my body didn't do well with meat. Two > years later I was finally diagnosed with lactose intolerance after a > lifetime of stomach issues that disappeared as soon as I dropped dairy. I > was, at that point, vegan. I became involved in macrobiotics and studied it > intensively for 5 years. I loved how I felt on the diet and thought/think it > has tremendous value. I also became a macrobiotic/ vegan caterer and owned > my own company for 7 years. After I sold the company, my partner and I kept > up the same style of cooking, taking turns and eating very well. I have > become more of an ethical vegetarian in the past 10 years and am teaching my > boys about meat/animals. I also believe that animal milk is not meant for > humans and that it contributes to a host of problems. > > So here's the thing: I'm not practicing what I preach. First of all, the > boys eat dairy. I really researched the whole fat content thing and I just > didn't think I could get enough fat in their diet without it. I also didn't > want to start soy formula which I was using to supplement my own efforts > because I heard it could lead to allergies to soy later on in life (plus one > of my sons had trouble digesting everything except for one kind of formula). > My boys are over the 100th percentile in height but between the 10th and > 25th in weight. They are quite skinny and I just choose the easy route by > giving them dairy. I only " cook " for them on the weekends. I work and am now > a single mother who works full-time outside of the house. I have a nanny. > She makes their meals. They have such a limited repertoire it isn't funny. > And nearly all of it is bread (which I think is basically nutritionally > useless) and dairy. They will eat tonnes of fruit but won't > eat any vegetables. I add avocado to their smoothies (and tofu). They will > eat carrots and cucumbers. So far I have been unable to get them to eat > whole grains or beans. I've tried nearly every pre-packaged veggie entree > that there is (or at least is available in Canada) but the only one they > like are veggie dogs (that's if I can get them to put a forkful past their > lips). I know all too well you can be unhealthy as a vegetarian and eating > veggie dogs as your source of protein is going to contribute to that. I've > also tried to switch them to whole grain pasta and it was a no-go. Before > kids, I never bought anything with ingredients I didn't recognize. > > The other day I looked at my beautiful glass jars full of grains and beans > and realized that I literally hadn't cooked anything from them in over a > year. I just got frustrated at cooking for them (and you know that this type > of cooking is time consuming) and them not eating it. I literally have 1 > hour with them in the morning before I have to get ready for work and 1 hour > with them in the evening after I get home before they go to sleep. Then I > eat dinner (don't ask - often a bowl of cheerios or 3 english muffins or > something like that) and go to bed myself (usually it's only about an hour > from the time I've put them down). I can't bear to think of cooking during > that 1 hour. I feel like I need it. But then I feel like something's got to > give and maybe that hour is it. On weekends, I can't cook. They are attached > to me. They need to be watched constantly. I just started to use the tv to > give me a half hour in the kitchen to put away groceries > and put something together for lunch (dairy, pasta and bread anyone?) but > after about a half hour, it stops holding their attention and then they just > bug each other and it's counterproductive. > > I can't believe I've got to this place. It's not what I want for them and > it's not what I want for me. I know I sound pretty hard-core with the way I > lived but it worked so well for me and was so easy since I was cooking for a > living. Now I'm a lawyer, I grab food here and there and I collapse at home. > I don't want a poor me. I just don't know how to change this (not to mention > how to deal with the refusal of all the food that I'm likely to cook if I > can figure out how to do that too....oh, and let's also not talk about my > mother's constant whining about her not being able to feed them meat) > > OK. If you stuck with this long self-pitying tale, I appreciate it. Thanks > for " listening " and I hope somebody has btdt and can help me out. > > Amelia > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 I know that Barilla is non-GMO; I don't know about Ronzoni ________________________________ itshotinjt04 <itshotinjt04 Tue, January 5, 2010 11:25:05 AM Re: I am so disappointed in myself - long  I wish I had more to help out, but for me, to get the whole wheat pasta, it might be the brand you are buyng. One brand we tried was awful! The brand I use now, you can't tell the difference. It is Ronzoni Healthy Harvest. I have even fed it to people who eat white pasta and they can't tell the difference. I too have a picky eater and have given up at times. It is hard to get him to eat anything new and much of what we usually eat. The 3 bite rule that someone else suggested is a good idea, but if your kids are like mine, it will take a long time to work and I am sure with your limited time with them, you don't want to waste it battling. One thing I can also suggest, is smoothies. You can sneak so much in them with the kids never noticing. If they are the kind that will freak out when you add something, make the ingredients when they are sleeping and freeze them in ice cube trays so that you can just add them. We make all fruit smoothies and add carrot juice, spinach and somethimes juice made with greens that I buy from the store. That gets the veggies in. You can say the spinach is green magic sprinkles or as my kids call them, chocolate chips (go figure!) There is also that book that Seinfeld's wife wrote that adds veggies into regular food. Maybe your picky eaters will go for the " breads " (muffins and such) in there... I wish I could be more help. Good luck!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Hi, New to the listserv but I thought I might have a helpful resource for you! Saving Dinner is a series of weekly menus accompanied by the shopping list. She does a vegetarian series and they are super cheap, you can buy print books or ebooks from www.savingdinner.com. Most of the meals are around 30 minutes in prep time and there is always a casserole night and a croc pot night. They are vegetarian not vegan but probably not to hard to adapt vegan for someone with a few years in the kitchen under her belt! This has been a great resource for us and was actually the book that gave us our kickstart into vegetarianism! Good luck! , Cassie Dixon <roxy87cabriolet wrote: > > Planning out meals was going to be my suggestion. When I was working full time, I made 4 dinners on Sunday. If you can get a sitter for 2 hours, DO IT! It will save you time and sanity during the week when youa re strapped for time and rest. > I also use t.v. for that 30 min break every once in awhile. > Just try to remember all those great things you used to do and bring them back slowly. Like Robin said, gradually make changes and get that other junk out of the house. When kids only have good choices in front of them, they can only make good choices  > P.S. I was a teacher for 5 years and I am the room mom this year at my daughter's school- the skinniest kids are fed whole cow milk (they fill up on the milk and don't eat thier meals and want junky snacks between meals) > This is the best time of the year to make this change. > And, just smile and generourly disagree with your mom > Cassie Dixon > > > > > > --- On Mon, 1/4/10, robin koloms <rkoloms wrote: > > > robin koloms <rkoloms > Re: I am so disappointed in myself - long > > Monday, January 4, 2010, 4:02 PM > > >  > > > > Hi Amelia, > > A child will not starve to death. We use the 3-bite rule: you must try 3 bites of what is on your plate; if you don't like it, you get peanut butter and honey on whole grain toast. > > Try making 25% whole wheatpasta with 75% white; increase the amount of while every time. > > Kids love to dip; whole grain pasta and steamed veggies in marinara or peanut sauce; fruit in yogurt; crunch veggies and whole grain crackers in hummus. > > Just start making gradual changes (this will be easier if you plan out meals and snacks a couple of weeks at a time. > >  > > ____________ _________ _________ __ > Amelia Golden <agolden (AT) rogers (DOT) com> > vegie parents <@gro ups.com> > Mon, January 4, 2010 2:24:45 PM > I am so disappointed in myself - long > >  > Hi all, > > I'm not on this listserve very often but I do read nearly everything that it is written. I hope you, as veggie parents, can give me some guidance with this issue. > > As my children grow (I have 2.5 year old twin boys) I am more and more distressed at the direction their diet is taking. I became a vegetarian in 1990 when it became clear to me that my body didn't do well with meat. Two years later I was finally diagnosed with lactose intolerance after a lifetime of stomach issues that disappeared as soon as I dropped dairy. I was, at that point, vegan. I became involved in macrobiotics and studied it intensively for 5 years. I loved how I felt on the diet and thought/think it has tremendous value. I also became a macrobiotic/ vegan caterer and owned my own company for 7 years. After I sold the company, my partner and I kept up the same style of cooking, taking turns and eating very well. I have become more of an ethical vegetarian in the past 10 years and am teaching my boys about meat/animals. I also believe that animal milk is not meant for humans and that it contributes to a host of problems. > > So here's the thing: I'm not practicing what I preach. First of all, the boys eat dairy. I really researched the whole fat content thing and I just didn't think I could get enough fat in their diet without it. I also didn't want to start soy formula which I was using to supplement my own efforts because I heard it could lead to allergies to soy later on in life (plus one of my sons had trouble digesting everything except for one kind of formula). My boys are over the 100th percentile in height but between the 10th and 25th in weight. They are quite skinny and I just choose the easy route by giving them dairy. I only " cook " for them on the weekends. I work and am now a single mother who works full-time outside of the house. I have a nanny. She makes their meals. They have such a limited repertoire it isn't funny. And nearly all of it is bread (which I think is basically nutritionally useless) and dairy. They will eat tonnes of fruit but won't > eat any vegetables. I add avocado to their smoothies (and tofu). They will eat carrots and cucumbers. So far I have been unable to get them to eat whole grains or beans. I've tried nearly every pre-packaged veggie entree that there is (or at least is available in Canada) but the only one they like are veggie dogs (that's if I can get them to put a forkful past their lips). I know all too well you can be unhealthy as a vegetarian and eating veggie dogs as your source of protein is going to contribute to that. I've also tried to switch them to whole grain pasta and it was a no-go. Before kids, I never bought anything with ingredients I didn't recognize. > > The other day I looked at my beautiful glass jars full of grains and beans and realized that I literally hadn't cooked anything from them in over a year. I just got frustrated at cooking for them (and you know that this type of cooking is time consuming) and them not eating it. I literally have 1 hour with them in the morning before I have to get ready for work and 1 hour with them in the evening after I get home before they go to sleep. Then I eat dinner (don't ask - often a bowl of cheerios or 3 english muffins or something like that) and go to bed myself (usually it's only about an hour from the time I've put them down). I can't bear to think of cooking during that 1 hour. I feel like I need it. But then I feel like something's got to give and maybe that hour is it. On weekends, I can't cook. They are attached to me. They need to be watched constantly. I just started to use the tv to give me a half hour in the kitchen to put away groceries > and put something together for lunch (dairy, pasta and bread anyone?) but after about a half hour, it stops holding their attention and then they just bug each other and it's counterproductive. > > I can't believe I've got to this place. It's not what I want for them and it's not what I want for me. I know I sound pretty hard-core with the way I lived but it worked so well for me and was so easy since I was cooking for a living. Now I'm a lawyer, I grab food here and there and I collapse at home. I don't want a poor me. I just don't know how to change this (not to mention how to deal with the refusal of all the food that I'm likely to cook if I can figure out how to do that too....oh, and let's also not talk about my mother's constant whining about her not being able to feed them meat) > > OK. If you stuck with this long self-pitying tale, I appreciate it. Thanks for " listening " and I hope somebody has btdt and can help me out. > > Amelia > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Great idea thanks ________________________________ mommydittle <jlhufnagle Wed, January 6, 2010 3:18:12 PM Re: I am so disappointed in myself - long Hi, New to the listserv but I thought I might have a helpful resource for you! Saving Dinner is a series of weekly menus accompanied by the shopping list. She does a vegetarian series and they are super cheap, you can buy print books or ebooks from www.savingdinner. com. Most of the meals are around 30 minutes in prep time and there is always a casserole night and a croc pot night. They are vegetarian not vegan but probably not to hard to adapt vegan for someone with a few years in the kitchen under her belt! This has been a great resource for us and was actually the book that gave us our kickstart into vegetarianism! Good luck! @gro ups.com, Cassie Dixon <roxy87cabriolet@ ...> wrote: > > Planning out meals was going to be my suggestion. When I was working full time, I made 4 dinners on Sunday. If you can get a sitter for 2 hours, DO IT! It will save you time and sanity during the week when youa re strapped for time and rest. > I also use t.v. for that 30 min break every once in awhile. > Just try to remember all those great things you used to do and bring them back slowly. Like Robin said, gradually make changes and get that other junk out of the house. When kids only have good choices in front of them, they can only make good choices  > P.S. I was a teacher for 5 years and I am the room mom this year at my daughter's school- the skinniest kids are fed whole cow milk (they fill up on the milk and don't eat thier meals and want junky snacks between meals) > This is the best time of the year to make this change. > And, just smile and generourly disagree with your mom > Cassie Dixon > > > > > > --- On Mon, 1/4/10, robin koloms <rkoloms > wrote: > > > robin koloms <rkoloms > > Re: I am so disappointed in myself - long > @gro ups.com > Monday, January 4, 2010, 4:02 PM > > >  > > > > Hi Amelia, > > A child will not starve to death. We use the 3-bite rule: you must try 3 bites of what is on your plate; if you don't like it, you get peanut butter and honey on whole grain toast. > > Try making 25% whole wheatpasta with 75% white; increase the amount of while every time. > > Kids love to dip; whole grain pasta and steamed veggies in marinara or peanut sauce; fruit in yogurt; crunch veggies and whole grain crackers in hummus. > > Just start making gradual changes (this will be easier if you plan out meals and snacks a couple of weeks at a time. > >  > > ____________ _________ _________ __ > Amelia Golden <agolden (AT) rogers (DOT) com> > vegie parents <@ gro ups.com> > Mon, January 4, 2010 2:24:45 PM > I am so disappointed in myself - long > >  > Hi all, > > I'm not on this listserve very often but I do read nearly everything that it is written. I hope you, as veggie parents, can give me some guidance with this issue. > > As my children grow (I have 2.5 year old twin boys) I am more and more distressed at the direction their diet is taking. I became a vegetarian in 1990 when it became clear to me that my body didn't do well with meat. Two years later I was finally diagnosed with lactose intolerance after a lifetime of stomach issues that disappeared as soon as I dropped dairy. I was, at that point, vegan. I became involved in macrobiotics and studied it intensively for 5 years. I loved how I felt on the diet and thought/think it has tremendous value. I also became a macrobiotic/ vegan caterer and owned my own company for 7 years. After I sold the company, my partner and I kept up the same style of cooking, taking turns and eating very well. I have become more of an ethical vegetarian in the past 10 years and am teaching my boys about meat/animals. I also believe that animal milk is not meant for humans and that it contributes to a host of problems. > > So here's the thing: I'm not practicing what I preach. First of all, the boys eat dairy. I really researched the whole fat content thing and I just didn't think I could get enough fat in their diet without it. I also didn't want to start soy formula which I was using to supplement my own efforts because I heard it could lead to allergies to soy later on in life (plus one of my sons had trouble digesting everything except for one kind of formula). My boys are over the 100th percentile in height but between the 10th and 25th in weight. They are quite skinny and I just choose the easy route by giving them dairy. I only " cook " for them on the weekends. I work and am now a single mother who works full-time outside of the house. I have a nanny. She makes their meals. They have such a limited repertoire it isn't funny. And nearly all of it is bread (which I think is basically nutritionally useless) and dairy. They will eat tonnes of fruit but won't > eat any vegetables. I add avocado to their smoothies (and tofu). They will eat carrots and cucumbers. So far I have been unable to get them to eat whole grains or beans. I've tried nearly every pre-packaged veggie entree that there is (or at least is available in Canada) but the only one they like are veggie dogs (that's if I can get them to put a forkful past their lips). I know all too well you can be unhealthy as a vegetarian and eating veggie dogs as your source of protein is going to contribute to that. I've also tried to switch them to whole grain pasta and it was a no-go. Before kids, I never bought anything with ingredients I didn't recognize. > > The other day I looked at my beautiful glass jars full of grains and beans and realized that I literally hadn't cooked anything from them in over a year. I just got frustrated at cooking for them (and you know that this type of cooking is time consuming) and them not eating it. I literally have 1 hour with them in the morning before I have to get ready for work and 1 hour with them in the evening after I get home before they go to sleep. Then I eat dinner (don't ask - often a bowl of cheerios or 3 english muffins or something like that) and go to bed myself (usually it's only about an hour from the time I've put them down). I can't bear to think of cooking during that 1 hour. I feel like I need it. But then I feel like something's got to give and maybe that hour is it. On weekends, I can't cook. They are attached to me. They need to be watched constantly. I just started to use the tv to give me a half hour in the kitchen to put away groceries > and put something together for lunch (dairy, pasta and bread anyone?) but after about a half hour, it stops holding their attention and then they just bug each other and it's counterproductive. > > I can't believe I've got to this place. It's not what I want for them and it's not what I want for me. I know I sound pretty hard-core with the way I lived but it worked so well for me and was so easy since I was cooking for a living. Now I'm a lawyer, I grab food here and there and I collapse at home. I don't want a poor me. I just don't know how to change this (not to mention how to deal with the refusal of all the food that I'm likely to cook if I can figure out how to do that too....oh, and let's also not talk about my mother's constant whining about her not being able to feed them meat) > > OK. If you stuck with this long self-pitying tale, I appreciate it. Thanks for " listening " and I hope somebody has btdt and can help me out. > > Amelia > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Saving Dinner the Vegetarian way is a great cookbook! You should be able to find it at your local library. ________________________________ mommydittle <jlhufnagle Wed, January 6, 2010 2:18:12 PM Re: I am so disappointed in myself - long  Hi, New to the listserv but I thought I might have a helpful resource for you! Saving Dinner is a series of weekly menus accompanied by the shopping list. She does a vegetarian series and they are super cheap, you can buy print books or ebooks from www.savingdinner. com. Most of the meals are around 30 minutes in prep time and there is always a casserole night and a croc pot night. They are vegetarian not vegan but probably not to hard to adapt vegan for someone with a few years in the kitchen under her belt! This has been a great resource for us and was actually the book that gave us our kickstart into vegetarianism! Good luck! @gro ups.com, Cassie Dixon <roxy87cabriolet@ ...> wrote: > > Planning out meals was going to be my suggestion. When I was working full time, I made 4 dinners on Sunday. If you can get a sitter for 2 hours, DO IT! It will save you time and sanity during the week when youa re strapped for time and rest. > I also use t.v. for that 30 min break every once in awhile. > Just try to remember all those great things you used to do and bring them back slowly. Like Robin said, gradually make changes and get that other junk out of the house. When kids only have good choices in front of them, they can only make good choices  > P.S. I was a teacher for 5 years and I am the room mom this year at my daughter's school- the skinniest kids are fed whole cow milk (they fill up on the milk and don't eat thier meals and want junky snacks between meals) > This is the best time of the year to make this change. > And, just smile and generourly disagree with your mom > Cassie Dixon > > > > > > --- On Mon, 1/4/10, robin koloms <rkoloms > wrote: > > > robin koloms <rkoloms > > Re: I am so disappointed in myself - long > @gro ups.com > Monday, January 4, 2010, 4:02 PM > > >  > > > > Hi Amelia, > > A child will not starve to death. We use the 3-bite rule: you must try 3 bites of what is on your plate; if you don't like it, you get peanut butter and honey on whole grain toast. > > Try making 25% whole wheatpasta with 75% white; increase the amount of while every time. > > Kids love to dip; whole grain pasta and steamed veggies in marinara or peanut sauce; fruit in yogurt; crunch veggies and whole grain crackers in hummus. > > Just start making gradual changes (this will be easier if you plan out meals and snacks a couple of weeks at a time. > >  > > ____________ _________ _________ __ > Amelia Golden <agolden (AT) rogers (DOT) com> > vegie parents <@ gro ups.com> > Mon, January 4, 2010 2:24:45 PM > I am so disappointed in myself - long > >  > Hi all, > > I'm not on this listserve very often but I do read nearly everything that it is written. I hope you, as veggie parents, can give me some guidance with this issue. > > As my children grow (I have 2.5 year old twin boys) I am more and more distressed at the direction their diet is taking. I became a vegetarian in 1990 when it became clear to me that my body didn't do well with meat. Two years later I was finally diagnosed with lactose intolerance after a lifetime of stomach issues that disappeared as soon as I dropped dairy. I was, at that point, vegan. I became involved in macrobiotics and studied it intensively for 5 years. I loved how I felt on the diet and thought/think it has tremendous value. I also became a macrobiotic/ vegan caterer and owned my own company for 7 years. After I sold the company, my partner and I kept up the same style of cooking, taking turns and eating very well. I have become more of an ethical vegetarian in the past 10 years and am teaching my boys about meat/animals. I also believe that animal milk is not meant for humans and that it contributes to a host of problems. > > So here's the thing: I'm not practicing what I preach. First of all, the boys eat dairy. I really researched the whole fat content thing and I just didn't think I could get enough fat in their diet without it. I also didn't want to start soy formula which I was using to supplement my own efforts because I heard it could lead to allergies to soy later on in life (plus one of my sons had trouble digesting everything except for one kind of formula). My boys are over the 100th percentile in height but between the 10th and 25th in weight. They are quite skinny and I just choose the easy route by giving them dairy. I only " cook " for them on the weekends. I work and am now a single mother who works full-time outside of the house. I have a nanny. She makes their meals. They have such a limited repertoire it isn't funny. And nearly all of it is bread (which I think is basically nutritionally useless) and dairy. They will eat tonnes of fruit but won't > eat any vegetables. I add avocado to their smoothies (and tofu). They will eat carrots and cucumbers. So far I have been unable to get them to eat whole grains or beans. I've tried nearly every pre-packaged veggie entree that there is (or at least is available in Canada) but the only one they like are veggie dogs (that's if I can get them to put a forkful past their lips). I know all too well you can be unhealthy as a vegetarian and eating veggie dogs as your source of protein is going to contribute to that. I've also tried to switch them to whole grain pasta and it was a no-go. Before kids, I never bought anything with ingredients I didn't recognize. > > The other day I looked at my beautiful glass jars full of grains and beans and realized that I literally hadn't cooked anything from them in over a year. I just got frustrated at cooking for them (and you know that this type of cooking is time consuming) and them not eating it. I literally have 1 hour with them in the morning before I have to get ready for work and 1 hour with them in the evening after I get home before they go to sleep. Then I eat dinner (don't ask - often a bowl of cheerios or 3 english muffins or something like that) and go to bed myself (usually it's only about an hour from the time I've put them down). I can't bear to think of cooking during that 1 hour. I feel like I need it. But then I feel like something's got to give and maybe that hour is it. On weekends, I can't cook. They are attached to me. They need to be watched constantly. I just started to use the tv to give me a half hour in the kitchen to put away groceries > and put something together for lunch (dairy, pasta and bread anyone?) but after about a half hour, it stops holding their attention and then they just bug each other and it's counterproductive. > > I can't believe I've got to this place. It's not what I want for them and it's not what I want for me. I know I sound pretty hard-core with the way I lived but it worked so well for me and was so easy since I was cooking for a living. Now I'm a lawyer, I grab food here and there and I collapse at home. I don't want a poor me. I just don't know how to change this (not to mention how to deal with the refusal of all the food that I'm likely to cook if I can figure out how to do that too....oh, and let's also not talk about my mother's constant whining about her not being able to feed them meat) > > OK. If you stuck with this long self-pitying tale, I appreciate it. Thanks for " listening " and I hope somebody has btdt and can help me out. > > Amelia > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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