How to feed the picky vegetarian?

August 10, 2007

In a message dated 8/10/2007 6:52:26 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

mainvillefamily writes:

Any advice on how to handle this or how to balance her diet (w/o

having to cook a separate " major " meal each mealtime)? Any advice is

appreciated!

I think you're doing a great job!! I've always d to the

notion/doctor opinion that kids will listen to their bodies for the most part

and get

the nutrients they need. It sure has been the case with my kids. They can go

days with just carbs (or so it seems) and then they get on a kick where they

want and eat all the other things to round out the nutrition. If she looks

healthy & happy and the doc says she is ok, I'd just keep on with what you're

doing. Amy

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August 10, 2007

My dd (11 in September) is the only vegetarian in the house (the rest

of us were just too weak, lol) -- she's been a lacto-ovo vegetarian

for almost a year now, and has never wavered in her decision.

BUT, she's kind of " picky " . I hate to use that word b/c I don't want

to label her as such (I don't want her to think " I'm a picky eater so

I don't have to eat that or try something new " ) She won't eat bell

peppers, onions, fresh spinach or any other fresh greens, cabbage,

tomatoes, zucchinin, squash, sweet potatoes, most dried beans and

other veggies that I cook.

She will eat, broccoli, corn, pinto beans (usually only refried -

she " sometimes " eats the dry beans I've cooked), green beans, baby

carrots and lettuce. I'm sure there are a few other things. While

she likes lettuce, she isn't crazy about salads. She'll eat them,

but it can be a mild arguement to get her too. he doesn't like

anything w/ tomato sauce or spaghetti sauce (except pizza)

She eats pasta, rice, and couscous. But I feel like she's just not

eating enough of the right things. I feel like she needs more

veggies in her diet. She's happy to eat fettucini alfredo and a

boiled egg or two everyday -- but even that isn't healthy to eat

everyday! There is very little variety in her diet and I'm worried

she's not eating enough protein and other essential vitamins.

She does take a multi-vitamin, but who knows how much of that is

actually absorbed, plus I want her to get the majority of her

nutrients from food!

I don't want to argue w/ her over it, but I do want her to eat

better. The family has always supported her, always, but I just

cannot keep making her a separate meal (I already make a separate

meal for my 2 yr old if there is something we're eating w/ dairy in

it b/c he's allergic). So I don't want to have to make 3 different

meals every time we eat!

I dont' want to sound selfish like I'm not catering to her, because I

am --- but for example, last night I made rotini in veggie broth with

sauteed fresh spinach, mushrooms and tomatoes (sauteed in olive oil

w/ a little lemon juice) and left the chicken on the side for her dad

and brothers, served it w/ homemade foccacia (w/ olive oil and basil

dressing/dip) and a side of fresh steamed broccoli -- so of course

all she wants to eat is the broccoli and foccacia! She wouldn't

touch the noodles b/c she doesn't like mushrooms and tomatoes! I

told her if it was that big of a deal she shoud just pick them out,

then it's " well I don't like the spinach either " .

Seriously, I thought that was a great vegetarian meal (w/o the

chicken of course which like I said was on the side) -- but she

just " thinks " she doesn't like mushrooms (although she'll eat them

when she doesn't know they're in something) and thinks she doesn't

like tomatoes or spaghetti sauce (even though that's whats on pizza) -

so she won't even give it a chance.

I believe food battles are totally non-productive and create " eating

stress " , I don't want meal time to be a source of anxiety for her

thinking " what is mom going to argue w/ me about at this meal " . I

don't want her to avoid meal time, or to think of food as the enemy.

I believe meal time is a family affair and food should be enjoyed.

The dinner table is my favorite place in the house and the entire

family sits down to dinner every night together. Meal time is

important to me, time that we take out of our day to spend with each

other w/o worrying about the hassles of the world! But lately, it's

just not that way!

I don't want to argue w/ her - but her diet HAS to improve. I

include her in the meal planning and she says, " Sure, I'll try that "

but the minute she looks at a new dish, she already decides she

doesn't like it!

I love her dearly and want to encourage her eating choices (for her

it is moral and spiritual), but I am also concerned that she is not

eating properly!

Any advice on how to handle this or how to balance her diet (w/o

having to cook a separate " major " meal each mealtime)? Any advice is

appreciated!

Thanks,

Stacee

August 10, 2007

I think that is why I started juicing. I felt that I wouldn't get enough of

the food that I needed. And it was fun. So much so that my husband has

taken over making the juice mid morning and I make the smoothies in the

afternoon.

My husband does get a little heavy handed with the kale, making the juice

very thick and.....kale-y! LOL And garlic! I guess he thinks that one of

us is going to turn into a vampire unless we get enough garlic. But,

usually he does a great job.

We have put some pretty strange things in our juice, but mostly they are

pretty delicious.