New here with six kids and a non-veg dh

[Guest guest]

I am transitioning to vegan for health reasons. I am also sensitive

to gluten and soy, which eliminates a LOT of vegan meat subs and

recipes! I am trying to convince my husband to do this with me,

because I am very concerned with the way his health is too, and I

know it would improve on a vegan diet. He is going to be VERY

resistant, but I'm going to try my best.

 

My older three girls will go along with anything we decide, as far as

diet. They might comment about not having tuna, or ham, or turkey for

sandwiches, but other than that, they'll be fine. My 9yo won't say

much, but he'll miss steak and lamb chops, and have a hard time

figuring out what else to eat!

 

My 8yo is a VERY picky, self-limiting eater anyway, so I'm used to

his not eating! Much of what he likes is vegetarian anyway, so not

too much problem.

 

Lastly, I have a 14-month-old daughter. I saw several posts from

parents of toddlers. Initially, I had the same concerns for my

daughter that the other parents did. I didn't feel she was eating

enough (even though she was healthy and looked just fine!). My

comment to the other parents is not to worry! Even if your child is

skinny, it's FINE--as long as your child is healthy, active, and

happy. I have two very skinny ones myself (and my very fussy 8yo is

not one of them). It's just the way they are. Sooner or later, all

kids eat. They really do!

 

My little one is still nursing part time, and taking an organic soy

formula the other part of the time. I am just beginning to

try " alternative " milks on her this week. She has had no dairy, no

soy products other than her formula, egg only once or twice (in

french toast), wheat only a couple of times (I keep her gluten free

like me most of the time, out of caution), and a lot of different

fruits and veggies, cooked and raw. Some she liked, some she didn't.

She usually has one grain and one fruit or veggie per meal, or two

fruits, or two veggies. I let her decide how much she wants. Her

favorites are grapes, blueberries, cooked broccoli, and avocados.

 

Anyway, I joined this list to hear how other parents were feeding

their veggie kids. Looking forward to hearing what you all have to

share! Marilyn

[Guest guest]

Kate--I have NO idea. LOL! Right now I'm just trying to eat vegan myself,

and find vegan meals my whole family will like. I still make meat based meals

for them many nights, even though I don't eat it, until such time as my

husband agrees to a trial of eliminating it for himself. I don't feed the baby

meat. My 8yo mostly eats pasta, grated cheese, fruit, and salads, by choice. My

girls (ages 13, 15, and 21) are all disabled, and would pretty much go along

with whatever is in the house. They never had much dairy, because of the older

one being lactose intolerant--I simply never used anything but rice milk

with them since they were babies.

 

I have eliminated gluten, dairy, egg, meat, and soy from my own diet, but

haven't done more than encourage less dairy and meat for everyone else, and not

introduce it to the baby. I have ordered a DVD series from Dr. McDougall's

website, to view WITH my husband (I already told him I had done this, out of

serious concern for his health, and I think he'll watch them with me).

 

That's where I'm at. Marilyn

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Are you planning to transition all your kids to vegan, too, or to keep vegan

yourself and have everyone else be vegetarian or do their own thing? Just

curious - it seems like it would be quite a challenge to move an entire family

from an omnivore diet to vegan overnight! I would also caution that moving to a

diet that far from the mainstream, you would have to have their willingness to

try it for reasons other than " I said so " . But maybe others disagree?

 

Kate

 

 

: sahmomof8: Mon, 17 Dec 2007

20:50:07 +0000 New here with six kids and a non-veg dh

 

 

 

 

I am transitioning to vegan for health reasons. I am also sensitive to gluten

and soy, which eliminates a LOT of vegan meat subs and recipes! I am trying to

convince my husband to do this with me, because I am very concerned with the way

his health is too, and I know it would improve on a vegan diet. He is going to

be VERY resistant, but I'm going to try my best.My older three girls will go

along with anything we decide, as far as diet. They might comment about not

having tuna, or ham, or turkey for sandwiches, but other than that, they'll be

fine. My 9yo won't say much, but he'll miss steak and lamb chops, and have a

hard time figuring out what else to eat!My 8yo is a VERY picky, self-limiting

eater anyway, so I'm used to his not eating! Much of what he likes is vegetarian

anyway, so not too much problem.Lastly, I have a 14-month-old daughter. I saw

several posts from parents of toddlers. Initially, I had the same concerns for

my daughter that the other parents did. I didn't feel she was eating enough

(even though she was healthy and looked just fine!). My comment to the other

parents is not to worry! Even if your child is skinny, it's FINE--as long as

your child is healthy, active, and happy. I have two very skinny ones myself

(and my very fussy 8yo is not one of them). It's just the way they are. Sooner

or later, all kids eat. They really do! My little one is still nursing part

time, and taking an organic soy formula the other part of the time. I am just

beginning to try " alternative " milks on her this week. She has had no dairy, no

soy products other than her formula, egg only once or twice (in french toast),

wheat only a couple of times (I keep her gluten free like me most of the time,

out of caution), and a lot of different fruits and veggies, cooked and raw. Some

she liked, some she didn't. She usually has one grain and one fruit or veggie

per meal, or two fruits, or two veggies. I let her decide how much she wants.

Her favorites are grapes, blueberries, cooked broccoli, and avocados.Anyway, I

joined this list to hear how other parents were feeding their veggie kids.

Looking forward to hearing what you all have to share! Marilyn

 

 

 

 

 

 

_______________

Share life as it happens with the new Windows Live.

http://www.windowslive.com/share.html?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_Wave2_sharelife_122007

 

 

[Guest guest]

To transition from an omnivore diet to vegetarian/vegan, or from

vegetarian to vegan, my advice is to " take up " new healthy, tasty,

cruelty-free foods. I think this approach works better than trying

to " give up " the old foods, which may have bonds that are difficult

to break. By taking up instead of giving up, the new foods quietly

and almost effortlessly displace the old foods.

 

Then after a few months, when your family realizes they feel and

look better than ever, you can let them know the magic was simply

all those plant-based foods they have been enjoying.

 

A family that is happy and healthy, relishing the abundance of a

plant-based diet, can then readily acknowledge the linkage between

treating themselves well and improving the condition of the world

and all its wondrous inhabitants.

 

Regards,

Alan

 

 

 

 

, Kate Nattrass <katenattrass

wrote:

>

> Are you planning to transition all your kids to vegan, too, or to

keep vegan yourself and have everyone else be vegetarian or do their

own thing? Just curious - it seems like it would be quite a

challenge to move an entire family from an omnivore diet to vegan

overnight! I would also caution that moving to a diet that far from

the mainstream, you would have to have their willingness to try it

for reasons other than " I said so " . But maybe others disagree?

>

> Kate

>

> : sahmomof8: Mon, 17 Dec 2007 20:50:07

+0000 New here with six kids and a non-veg dh

>

>

> I am transitioning to vegan for health reasons. I am also

sensitive to gluten and soy, which eliminates a LOT of vegan meat

subs and recipes! I am trying to convince ....