Guest guest Posted September 15, 2004 Report Share Posted September 15, 2004 My daughter just started the 1st grade and has just recently been introduced to vegetarianism. She loves the books we read to her but I'm concerned about what she eats at school. How do you remove McDonalds from the life of a five year old? Or better yet, how do I encourage her to eat the lunch that I pack for her instead of the lunch provided by the school? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 15, 2004 Report Share Posted September 15, 2004 My 10 year old likes to buy school lunches - the thought makes me shudder - but I talked her into buying on " salad " days and packing lunch the rest of the time. A more experienced vegan mother advised me to just relax, kids are bound to try things we don't want them to eat now and then due to peer pressure or curiousity, but as long as we keep things healthy at home we're giving them a good foundation. It gets easier when they hit high school, our high school cafeteria offers a salad bar, veggie burgers and meatless bean tacos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 15, 2004 Report Share Posted September 15, 2004 Well how does your daughter feel about being vegetarian? Is she proud of it? Tell her that school lunch isn't healthy and that a lot/ most of the food they provide have dead animals in them. When my daugther finds out something has a 'dead animal' it is no longer deemed edible. I told her that mcdonalds is evil and even puts dead animals in french fries (which would normally be vegetarian) so she no longer wants to go there. My mother took her to play there once and bought her their fries. Mcdonald's is not a word I wanted in her vocabulary. She can get a vegetarian kids meal from taco bell. So she doesn't miss 'getting a toy.' I don't think most kids would want to eat what they are given at school.. my daughter would rather have a hummus pita or pb & j with some fruit and juice or soymilk. But she's been veggie all her life and can't fathom knowingly eating an animal. Renee --- shellydc7 <shellydc7 wrote: > My daughter just started the 1st grade and has just > recently been > introduced to vegetarianism. She loves the books we > read to her but > I'm concerned about what she eats at school. How do > you remove > McDonalds from the life of a five year old? Or > better yet, how do I > encourage her to eat the lunch that I pack for her > instead of the > lunch provided by the school? > > > _______________________________ Declare Yourself - Register online to vote today! http://vote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 > " shellydc7 " <shellydc7 > School Lunch > > My daughter just started the 1st grade and has just recently been > introduced to vegetarianism. She loves the books we read to her but > I'm concerned about what she eats at school. How do you remove > McDonalds from the life of a five year old? Or better yet, how do I > encourage her to eat the lunch that I pack for her instead of the > lunch provided by the school? If you ask her teacher and any other same-grade teachers, you might find there are other veggie kids and you can encourage your dd to sit with them at lunch time. The teachers will usually pass along your info to the parents. (Depending on the school, you may be able to go to lunch with your dd and introduce her to the other veggie kids.) I assume you would have to pay for her school lunches, so isn't there a point when she won't be able to buy the school's lunch? (In our state, we have to deposit money into the child's lunch account - if it runs out, kids are NOT allowed to " charge " meals, so they only get milk and a side dish until the parent puts more money in.) Does she get to help choose what you pack for her? My son would only ask to eat at McDs after his dad visits, since he takes him there for fries - after I tell him enough no's, it eventually drops off his radar. I never ever eat at fast food joints, so my son doesn't ever even think about it any more (I'm not thrilled his dad's moving nearer to us). Maybe you could wean her off by making a once/week special trip just for fries, and then she might start forgetting. It's the same with TV, once it's gone, there's a short phase of missing it, then the child will have found ways to replace it. Whatever your decision (to wean her off gently or to stop entirely), tell her the way it's going to be, and stick with it no matter how much she whines and cries. Sympathize, but don't give in, and be very matter-of-fact about it. Doh --------- " There is *never* a good reason not to be as loving as you can possibly be. " ~Rob Brezny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 You can get grilled cheese in the kids happy meal, in place of the burger, you just have to request it when ordering. They also have some healthier alternatives on the menu now, such as: salads, fruit/yogurt parfaits, fruit cup, apple juice or milk. For the times when you just need to get that toy in the Happy Meal, or play in the Playplace with friends. I've been there, know the feeling. We are lacto-ovo vegetarian, my daughter(who is now a healthy, beautiful 13yr old teenager) & I frequented Mc Donald's about once per week-every two weeks, for the social aspects, & toys mainly. From about your daughters age until about three yrs ago(about 10yrs old) She lost interest in their toys, she discovered Subway, loves their veggie kids meal, or 6 inch Veggie on whole wheat. She also gave up soda last Feb(for lent- & she has never gone back-her choice)she prefers water! So hang in there, keep the faith, your daughter will grow-up making good choices, as you are setting a great example for her. Peace.... Dawn shellydc7 <shellydc7 wrote: My daughter just started the 1st grade and has just recently been introduced to vegetarianism. She loves the books we read to her but I'm concerned about what she eats at school. How do you remove McDonalds from the life of a five year old? Or better yet, how do I encourage her to eat the lunch that I pack for her instead of the lunch provided by the school? For more information about vegetarianism, please visit the VRG website at http://www.vrg.org and for materials especially useful for families go to http://www.vrg.org/family.This is a discussion list and is not intended to provide personal medical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional. edical advice. Medical advice should be obtained from a qualified health professional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 My 4th grader and I comprimise, she buys milk at school (we're ovo-lacto) or a dessert some days and packs the rest. that way she can walk through the line with everyone else. When it's stuffed crust pizza day she buys. That way MOST of the time I know what she's eating, hope that helps! Jodi Doh! [dohdriver] Thursday, September 16, 2004 1:34 AM Re: School Lunch > " shellydc7 " <shellydc7 > School Lunch > > My daughter just started the 1st grade and has just recently been > introduced to vegetarianism. She loves the books we read to her but > I'm concerned about what she eats at school. How do you remove > McDonalds from the life of a five year old? Or better yet, how do I > encourage her to eat the lunch that I pack for her instead of the > lunch provided by the school? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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