Guest guest Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Hi everyone I joined the group a month or so ago because of my crazy situation. I have not had a chance to post anything where do i begin? there are a whole lot of reasons I need help! I am 23 and have been a vegetarian for 10yrs...ive been trying to shift to vegan for awhile now...THE CHINA STUDY (by dr colin campbell) really changed my life anyways, I found my soulmate less than a year ago...unfortunately, hes greek, a single dad of two with crazy crazy family all around him I say " unfortunately greek " because up until we started dating, they had a tradition of eating a whole lamb for easter dinner...yikes!! well, johnny has two daughters (3 and 8). the older daughter is not biologically his, but he has full custody of both of them because their mother is a crackwhore. The other daughter has severe abandonment issues b/c her mom abandoned her 2x before the age of 18months, and none of her family ever got her help! Lily (8yr old) has ADHD and RAD (reactive attachment disorder). Johnnys mom is freakin crazy....and the maternal grandmother has companion rights and does visitation. Well, cheri (the grandmother) is an alcoholic and negligent....all of the family involved are crazy and trying to control him. Johnny is a DJ and works nights. Up until a few months ago, his mother was watching them 5 nights a week. his mother has severe emotional problems herself especially since she suffered tragic loss from age of 15 and never got help for it. She resents lily and favors the youngest (b/c shes biological) Ani. I decided we had to make a change. I now watch them 5 nights a week. Being the person I am, I have made some serious good changes to the household. Johnny is now a vegetarian and says thought of eating meat makes him sick. I have a wealth of knowledge regarding nutrition especially about the veg diet. Well, the children have been a different story. Their crackwhore mother fed them fast food and never anything but junk. Ani likes frozen waffles (wtf-we suspect cw (the mother-crackwhore) would just give her a frozen waffle..too lazy to even toast it). So, veggies are a foreign concept. It took a little bit, but Johnny has stopped taking easy way out sometimes by doing fast food. Johnny goes off of two hrs of sleep a night and spends most of time running lily to all of her groups and therapy and doc apps along with visitation (CW sees girls two hrs a week at YWCA). so normal diet pattern is difficult to achieve,. So these girls are junkfood junkies and dont want veggies. We found that the girls like the Almond breeze milk. They are cereal junkies....let me tell you i have serve anxiety from trying to feed these children...for a while it was going pretty well...mind you im dealing with behavioral issues on both ends. Ani is very whining and this is the first time shes encountered rules. We started the " timeout chair, " and that's been a battle but with progress. Lily has actually been the easier one because we have a solid routine. Now, it is the food thing!!!!! Nana (the maternal great grandmother) is not a very nice person. She interrogates Johnny about everything and yet has told him he's not lily's father multiple time. She is insistent on meat/dairy diet. They only see her maybe on few weekends a month. Cheri (the grandmother) just doesnt care. She has sent them home from 4hr visit, and all they ate was poptarts. Now it's fastfood too. We are working on these people from the adult level, but i need to help the girls eat better with me and understand why. Lily has been the worst though. She all of the sudden wants cowsmilk and doesnt want the almond breeze. After eats a few bites of anything, claims she doesnt like it. I am pulling out my hair especially when she complained of pasta again! I don't know what to feed them and am struggling to get them to eat healthier. And as johnny said yesterday there is no going back. Knowing what he does now he cannot buy anything but whole wheat and non cowsmilk. I sincerely appologize for the insanely long post, but i felt i had to introduce the whole situation. I do hope to use this as a resource for tips and advice If anyone has any suggestions regarding my whole situation, id love the help. Mostly, I want to know if anyone has any suggestions on what i could give lily to read or watch. She is very very smart (the one part she has not had delay in), and I think if she learned this stuff on her own she would make better decisions. I'm a huge science nerd (and on my way to grad school), so we discuss environment stuff a lot especially when she tells me something she learned at school. I'd say lit or videos on health or compassion would be beneficial. Anything for an almost 9yr old who is quite excelled for her age. Again sorry for the entirely too long post. Thanks Amanda crowbabe1094 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Wow! That is a horrendous situation. How much of the time are the kids with you and Johnny as a family? I think you can work on your own situation at home and let the other parts fall into place with time. That might be as long as a year or two, but making the home life stable with appropriate rules and consequences and rewards will be a great start. If you don't bring food into your house that you don't want the kids to have, it won't be a choice. Asking the children to help with grocery shopping and meal preparation is an excellent place to start, they can even help put together the grocery list by looking in the flyers or in cookbooks to find interesting recipes to try. When it's time to prepare the meal ask the girls to each select a vegetable or fruit to go with the meal. Most kids like mashed potatoes and they're good for them, so why not make a vegan gravy to go with it? Make a vegan meatloaf from http://www.veganlunchbox.com/loaf_studio.html to serve with it. Try whole wheat pasta with pesto and a corn salad on the side, finish the meal with fruit sherbert. These girls are used to being served non-nutritious foods in pretty colours, so you have to liven up the colours on their dinner plate to keep it interesting. For breakfast try oatmeal cooked in water with 1 tbsp of peanut butter and a handful of raisins or chocolate chips, wash it down with 1 c. calcium fortified orange juice. Make lunches using tortillas and fill the wrap with peanut butter and a banana or peanut butter with raisins, use hummus and sprouts, make veggies and dip, alphabet soup with chunks of zucchini, carrots and kidney beans and tomatoes. The possibilities are endless. Their behaviour will improve, their memory will improve and they'll start to enjoy healthy food. The Chocolate Almond Breeze is excellent warmed up with a tsp of dark cocoa stirred into it, otherwise it is quite sweet. Make them a fruit smoothie using bananas, raspberries and almond milk, or almond milk, 1 tbsp. peanut butter and one banana. If they can only eat healthy at home first, you've won your first battle. You can tackle the family members one at a time after that. Good luck. On Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 9:23 AM, crowbabe1094 <crowbabe1094wrote: > Hi everyone > > I joined the group a month or so ago because of my crazy situation. I have > not had a chance to post anything > > where do i begin? there are a whole lot of reasons I need help! > > I am 23 and have been a vegetarian for 10yrs...ive been trying to shift to > vegan for awhile now...THE CHINA STUDY (by dr colin campbell) really changed > my life > > anyways, I found my soulmate less than a year ago...unfortunately, hes > greek, a single dad of two with crazy crazy family all around him > > I say " unfortunately greek " because up until we started dating, they had a > tradition of eating a whole lamb for easter dinner...yikes!! > > well, johnny has two daughters (3 and 8). the older daughter is not > biologically his, but he has full custody of both of them because their > mother is a crackwhore. The other daughter has severe abandonment issues b/c > her mom abandoned her 2x before the age of 18months, and none of her family > ever got her help! Lily (8yr old) has ADHD and RAD (reactive attachment > disorder). Johnnys mom is freakin crazy....and the maternal grandmother has > companion rights and does visitation. Well, cheri (the grandmother) is an > alcoholic and negligent....all of the family involved are crazy and trying > to control him. > > Johnny is a DJ and works nights. Up until a few months ago, his mother was > watching them 5 nights a week. his mother has severe emotional problems > herself especially since she suffered tragic loss from age of 15 and never > got help for it. She resents lily and favors the youngest (b/c shes > biological) Ani. I decided we had to make a change. I now watch them 5 > nights a week. Being the person I am, I have made some serious good changes > to the household. > > Johnny is now a vegetarian and says thought of eating meat makes him sick. > I have a wealth of knowledge regarding nutrition especially about the veg > diet. Well, the children have been a different story. Their crackwhore > mother fed them fast food and never anything but junk. Ani likes frozen > waffles (wtf-we suspect cw (the mother-crackwhore) would just give her a > frozen waffle..too lazy to even toast it). So, veggies are a foreign > concept. It took a little bit, but Johnny has stopped taking easy way out > sometimes by doing fast food. Johnny goes off of two hrs of sleep a night > and spends most of time running lily to all of her groups and therapy and > doc apps along with visitation (CW sees girls two hrs a week at YWCA). so > normal diet pattern is difficult to achieve,. > > So these girls are junkfood junkies and dont want veggies. > > We found that the girls like the Almond breeze milk. They are cereal > junkies....let me tell you i have serve anxiety from trying to feed these > children...for a while it was going pretty well...mind you im dealing with > behavioral issues on both ends. Ani is very whining and this is the first > time shes encountered rules. We started the " timeout chair, " and that's been > a battle but with progress. Lily has actually been the easier one because we > have a solid routine. Now, it is the food thing!!!!! > > Nana (the maternal great grandmother) is not a very nice person. She > interrogates Johnny about everything and yet has told him he's not lily's > father multiple time. She is insistent on meat/dairy diet. They only see her > maybe on few weekends a month. Cheri (the grandmother) just doesnt care. She > has sent them home from 4hr visit, and all they ate was poptarts. Now it's > fastfood too. We are working on these people from the adult level, but i > need to help the girls eat better with me and understand why. > > Lily has been the worst though. She all of the sudden wants cowsmilk and > doesnt want the almond breeze. After eats a few bites of anything, claims > she doesnt like it. I am pulling out my hair especially when she complained > of pasta again! I don't know what to feed them and am struggling to get them > to eat healthier. And as johnny said yesterday there is no going back. > Knowing what he does now he cannot buy anything but whole wheat and non > cowsmilk. > > I sincerely appologize for the insanely long post, but i felt i had to > introduce the whole situation. I do hope to use this as a resource for tips > and advice > > If anyone has any suggestions regarding my whole situation, id love the > help. > > Mostly, I want to know if anyone has any suggestions on what i could give > lily to read or watch. She is very very smart (the one part she has not had > delay in), and I think if she learned this stuff on her own she would make > better decisions. I'm a huge science nerd (and on my way to grad school), so > we discuss environment stuff a lot especially when she tells me something > she learned at school. I'd say lit or videos on health or compassion would > be beneficial. Anything for an almost 9yr old who is quite excelled for her > age. > > Again sorry for the entirely too long post. > > Thanks > > Amanda > crowbabe1094 <crowbabe1094%40> > > > -- Regards, Vibeke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Wow. Sounds like a tremendous up-hill battle, but I agree with Vibeke Vale - if you don't have junk in the house, it's not a choice. My son will try new things, but occasionally (like with my favorite, brussels sprouts) he will decide he doesn't like them for some reason. I would love him to do a 3 bite thing, but just having him take one is a big accomplishment. We do ask that he not say things are gross, or yucky or whatever if he has never eaten them, or if it has been a while because his tastes may have changed. I always put at least one on his plate, because it's still part of dinner, but he only has to try it, and he can get more if he wants more (he likes to overload his plate on some things, and then won't eat them all, so we do one scoop, or one piece and he can get more if he would like more as long as the other stuff is also being eaten on his plate). He's generally up for trying new things, which is the biggest battle, but we keep offering and making it (allbeit a small part right now) of what is served on his plate. Just getting used to seeing it there can also help - he used to not like green beans (but loved the yellow wax beans and all other kinds of beans and still does) but we'd put one or 2 and he'd try a bite here or there and now loves them. It took over a year of trying and with one or 2, it wasn't a lot to ask since he already didn't think he liked them, but he was used to seeing them on his plate and just started eating them one day, no fuss or anything. Maybe try some baking (they can both help with adding/mixing, the older daughter can probably help measure things out,etc). You can make pumpkin muffins or carrot muffins (add a handful of dried fruit or chocolate chips, not too many, but just enough...). It's at least a healthy sweet kind of snack. Have them help make popcorn (we do ours on the stove in a metal bowl with foil over the top, so we have to do it, but our son pours the popcorn and oil/salt/turmeric (to make it yellow)) if they like salty junky stuff. Yogurt is a good snack, too - there is soy, rice and coconut milk yogurts out there (maybe hard to find in some areas, though), but, if you find a plain soy/rice/coconut yogurt you can use one cup of it to make your own, too (I got a yogurt maker to do this, as it's cheaper, but it does require some time, and a little experimentation since they do not set up as firmly - you have to thicken them, I've had good results with a tablespoon of potato starch to thicken the soymilk). There are recipes that do it w/out a yogurtmaker, but I have never tried, I figured we'd be better off with the maker (we got the cheapest one -around $20 from amazon) and pretty quickly had it pay for itself in savings, but I've fallen out of the habit of making it. You can later add healthy extras (wheat germ, fresh/canned/frozen fruits, sweeten with agave nectar, make some coffee yogurt w/powdered coffee for you if you like that, there are endless possibilities). Good for you for making such great changes and being such a good role model for these young girls! They sound like they really need you and your influence, so they are very lucky that they have you in their lives! Missie On Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 9:30 AM, Vibeke Vale <vibekevale wrote: > Wow! That is a horrendous situation. How much of the time are the kids > with you and Johnny as a family? I think you can work on your own situation > at home and let the other parts fall into place with time. That might be as > long as a year or two, but making the home life stable with appropriate > rules and consequences and rewards will be a great start. If you don't > bring food into your house that you don't want the kids to have, it won't be > a choice. Asking the children to help with grocery shopping and meal > preparation is an excellent place to start, they can even help put together > the grocery list by looking in the flyers or in cookbooks to find > interesting recipes to try. When it's time to prepare the meal ask the > girls to each select a vegetable or fruit to go with the meal. Most kids > like mashed potatoes and they're good for them, so why not make a vegan > gravy to go with it? Make a vegan meatloaf from > http://www.veganlunchbox.com/loaf_studio.html to serve with it. Try whole > wheat pasta with pesto and a corn salad on the side, finish the meal with > fruit sherbert. These girls are used to being served non-nutritious foods > in pretty colours, so you have to liven up the colours on their dinner plate > to keep it interesting. For breakfast try oatmeal cooked in water with 1 > tbsp of peanut butter and a handful of raisins or chocolate chips, wash it > down with 1 c. calcium fortified orange juice. Make lunches using tortillas > and fill the wrap with peanut butter and a banana or peanut butter with > raisins, use hummus and sprouts, make veggies and dip, alphabet soup with > chunks of zucchini, carrots and kidney beans and tomatoes. The > possibilities are endless. Their behaviour will improve, their memory will > improve and they'll start to enjoy healthy food. The Chocolate Almond > Breeze is excellent warmed up with a tsp of dark cocoa stirred into it, > otherwise it is quite sweet. Make them a fruit smoothie using bananas, > raspberries and almond milk, or almond milk, 1 tbsp. peanut butter and one > banana. If they can only eat healthy at home first, you've won your first > battle. You can tackle the family members one at a time after that. > > Good luck. > > On Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 9:23 AM, crowbabe1094 <crowbabe1094wrote: > >> Hi everyone >> >> I joined the group a month or so ago because of my crazy situation. I have >> not had a chance to post anything >> >> where do i begin? there are a whole lot of reasons I need help! >> >> I am 23 and have been a vegetarian for 10yrs...ive been trying to shift to >> vegan for awhile now...THE CHINA STUDY (by dr colin campbell) really >> changed >> my life >> >> anyways, I found my soulmate less than a year ago...unfortunately, hes >> greek, a single dad of two with crazy crazy family all around him >> >> I say " unfortunately greek " because up until we started dating, they had a >> tradition of eating a whole lamb for easter dinner...yikes!! >> >> well, johnny has two daughters (3 and 8). the older daughter is not >> biologically his, but he has full custody of both of them because their >> mother is a crackwhore. The other daughter has severe abandonment issues >> b/c >> her mom abandoned her 2x before the age of 18months, and none of her >> family >> ever got her help! Lily (8yr old) has ADHD and RAD (reactive attachment >> disorder). Johnnys mom is freakin crazy....and the maternal grandmother >> has >> companion rights and does visitation. Well, cheri (the grandmother) is an >> alcoholic and negligent....all of the family involved are crazy and trying >> to control him. >> >> Johnny is a DJ and works nights. Up until a few months ago, his mother was >> watching them 5 nights a week. his mother has severe emotional problems >> herself especially since she suffered tragic loss from age of 15 and never >> got help for it. She resents lily and favors the youngest (b/c shes >> biological) Ani. I decided we had to make a change. I now watch them 5 >> nights a week. Being the person I am, I have made some serious good >> changes >> to the household. >> >> Johnny is now a vegetarian and says thought of eating meat makes him sick. >> I have a wealth of knowledge regarding nutrition especially about the veg >> diet. Well, the children have been a different story. Their crackwhore >> mother fed them fast food and never anything but junk. Ani likes frozen >> waffles (wtf-we suspect cw (the mother-crackwhore) would just give her a >> frozen waffle..too lazy to even toast it). So, veggies are a foreign >> concept. It took a little bit, but Johnny has stopped taking easy way out >> sometimes by doing fast food. Johnny goes off of two hrs of sleep a night >> and spends most of time running lily to all of her groups and therapy and >> doc apps along with visitation (CW sees girls two hrs a week at YWCA). so >> normal diet pattern is difficult to achieve,. >> >> So these girls are junkfood junkies and dont want veggies. >> >> We found that the girls like the Almond breeze milk. They are cereal >> junkies....let me tell you i have serve anxiety from trying to feed these >> children...for a while it was going pretty well...mind you im dealing with >> behavioral issues on both ends. Ani is very whining and this is the first >> time shes encountered rules. We started the " timeout chair, " and that's >> been >> a battle but with progress. Lily has actually been the easier one because >> we >> have a solid routine. Now, it is the food thing!!!!! >> >> Nana (the maternal great grandmother) is not a very nice person. She >> interrogates Johnny about everything and yet has told him he's not lily's >> father multiple time. She is insistent on meat/dairy diet. They only see >> her >> maybe on few weekends a month. Cheri (the grandmother) just doesnt care. >> She >> has sent them home from 4hr visit, and all they ate was poptarts. Now it's >> fastfood too. We are working on these people from the adult level, but i >> need to help the girls eat better with me and understand why. >> >> Lily has been the worst though. She all of the sudden wants cowsmilk and >> doesnt want the almond breeze. After eats a few bites of anything, claims >> she doesnt like it. I am pulling out my hair especially when she >> complained >> of pasta again! I don't know what to feed them and am struggling to get >> them >> to eat healthier. And as johnny said yesterday there is no going back. >> Knowing what he does now he cannot buy anything but whole wheat and non >> cowsmilk. >> >> I sincerely appologize for the insanely long post, but i felt i had to >> introduce the whole situation. I do hope to use this as a resource for >> tips >> and advice >> >> If anyone has any suggestions regarding my whole situation, id love the >> help. >> >> Mostly, I want to know if anyone has any suggestions on what i could give >> lily to read or watch. She is very very smart (the one part she has not >> had >> delay in), and I think if she learned this stuff on her own she would make >> better decisions. I'm a huge science nerd (and on my way to grad school), >> so >> we discuss environment stuff a lot especially when she tells me something >> she learned at school. I'd say lit or videos on health or compassion would >> be beneficial. Anything for an almost 9yr old who is quite excelled for >> her >> age. >> >> Again sorry for the entirely too long post. >> >> Thanks >> >> Amanda >> crowbabe1094 <crowbabe1094%40> >> >> >> > > -- > Regards, > > Vibeke > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Hi, Amanda - I don't have much to add except that you are doing something wonderful by caring about the health of these girls. Giving them these healthier choices will benefit them so much in life. I understand that it's got to feel like an uphill battle. Heck, even with my son, who has been raised with whole foods and as a vegan, the older he gets, the more exposed he is to the junk food side of life, and sometimes does challenge us on healthier choices. That is all that is available to him, though: we don't have junk in the house and I won't buy it. I would just add that as much as you can manage, try to avoid food becoming a battleground. It should be pleasant and enjoyable. I agree that baking with the girls is a great idea, and one that's good for bonding as well. Good luck to you, Amanda. You're doing a great thing here! Marla >> >> On Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 9:23 AM, crowbabe1094 <crowbabe1094wrote: >> >>> Hi everyone >>> >>> I joined the group a month or so ago because of my crazy situation. I have >>> not had a chance to post anything >>> >>> where do i begin? there are a whole lot of reasons I need help! >>> >>> I am 23 and have been a vegetarian for 10yrs...ive been trying to shift to >>> vegan for awhile now...THE CHINA STUDY (by dr colin campbell) really >>> changed >>> my life >>> >>> anyways, I found my soulmate less than a year ago...unfortunately, hes >>> greek, a single dad of two with crazy crazy family all around him >>> >>> I say " unfortunately greek " because up until we started dating, they had a >>> tradition of eating a whole lamb for easter dinner...yikes!! >>> >>> well, johnny has two daughters (3 and 8). the older daughter is not >>> biologically his, but he has full custody of both of them because their >>> mother is a crackwhore. The other daughter has severe abandonment issues >>> b/c >>> her mom abandoned her 2x before the age of 18months, and none of her >>> family >>> ever got her help! Lily (8yr old) has ADHD and RAD (reactive attachment >>> disorder). Johnnys mom is freakin crazy....and the maternal grandmother >>> has >>> companion rights and does visitation. Well, cheri (the grandmother) is an >>> alcoholic and negligent....all of the family involved are crazy and trying >>> to control him. >>> >>> Johnny is a DJ and works nights. Up until a few months ago, his mother was >>> watching them 5 nights a week. his mother has severe emotional problems >>> herself especially since she suffered tragic loss from age of 15 and never >>> got help for it. She resents lily and favors the youngest (b/c shes >>> biological) Ani. I decided we had to make a change. I now watch them 5 >>> nights a week. Being the person I am, I have made some serious good >>> changes >>> to the household. >>> >>> Johnny is now a vegetarian and says thought of eating meat makes him sick. >>> I have a wealth of knowledge regarding nutrition especially about the veg >>> diet. Well, the children have been a different story. Their crackwhore >>> mother fed them fast food and never anything but junk. Ani likes frozen >>> waffles (wtf-we suspect cw (the mother-crackwhore) would just give her a >>> frozen waffle..too lazy to even toast it). So, veggies are a foreign >>> concept. It took a little bit, but Johnny has stopped taking easy way out >>> sometimes by doing fast food. Johnny goes off of two hrs of sleep a night >>> and spends most of time running lily to all of her groups and therapy and >>> doc apps along with visitation (CW sees girls two hrs a week at YWCA). so >>> normal diet pattern is difficult to achieve,. >>> >>> So these girls are junkfood junkies and dont want veggies. >>> >>> We found that the girls like the Almond breeze milk. They are cereal >>> junkies....let me tell you i have serve anxiety from trying to feed these >>> children...for a while it was going pretty well...mind you im dealing with >>> behavioral issues on both ends. Ani is very whining and this is the first >>> time shes encountered rules. We started the " timeout chair, " and that's >>> been >>> a battle but with progress. Lily has actually been the easier one because >>> we >>> have a solid routine. Now, it is the food thing!!!!! >>> >>> Nana (the maternal great grandmother) is not a very nice person. She >>> interrogates Johnny about everything and yet has told him he's not lily's >>> father multiple time. She is insistent on meat/dairy diet. They only see >>> her >>> maybe on few weekends a month. Cheri (the grandmother) just doesnt care. >>> She >>> has sent them home from 4hr visit, and all they ate was poptarts. Now it's >>> fastfood too. We are working on these people from the adult level, but i >>> need to help the girls eat better with me and understand why. >>> >>> Lily has been the worst though. She all of the sudden wants cowsmilk and >>> doesnt want the almond breeze. After eats a few bites of anything, claims >>> she doesnt like it. I am pulling out my hair especially when she >>> complained >>> of pasta again! I don't know what to feed them and am struggling to get >>> them >>> to eat healthier. And as johnny said yesterday there is no going back. >>> Knowing what he does now he cannot buy anything but whole wheat and non >>> cowsmilk. >>> >>> I sincerely appologize for the insanely long post, but i felt i had to >>> introduce the whole situation. I do hope to use this as a resource for >>> tips >>> and advice >>> >>> If anyone has any suggestions regarding my whole situation, id love the >>> help. >>> >>> Mostly, I want to know if anyone has any suggestions on what i could give >>> lily to read or watch. She is very very smart (the one part she has not >>> had >>> delay in), and I think if she learned this stuff on her own she would make >>> better decisions. I'm a huge science nerd (and on my way to grad school), >>> so >>> we discuss environment stuff a lot especially when she tells me something >>> she learned at school. I'd say lit or videos on health or compassion would >>> be beneficial. Anything for an almost 9yr old who is quite excelled for >>> her >>> age. >>> >>> Again sorry for the entirely too long post. >>> >>> Thanks >>> >>> Amanda >>> crowbabe1094 <crowbabe1094%40> >>> >>> >>> >> >> -- >> Regards, >> >> Vibeke >> >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 I just want to let you know that my kids have been veg since birth and are great eaters. HOWEVER, they have all gone through stages where no matter what I put on the table it is instantly called icky, gross and icksgusting (my 5 year old's way of saying disgusting)..and that's just upon seeing it.. AND even if they liked it before. I have no advice for this. sometimes we'd offer a pb & j ( on whole wheat, of course), but sometimes we'd put our foot down and refuse to serve anything else. Mood dependent, I guess. Just remember that all kids do this and try not to get too stressed about it. Probably more info than you want, but my sister just got out of a somewhat similar situation....she was dating a man that she thought was wonderful, he had two boys and the " crazy " ex and family that seemed to be strict carnivores. I'm not saying that this is not your soulmate, but what I noticed with my sister was that since they had sooo many obstacles and so many people against them, they actually seemed to thrive on that. I'm just saying be careful. Hopefully he is everything you hope and things work out, but another hardship can be getting too attached to the kids very quickly so that you feel they need you and therefore you never can leave. And I bet that you are a really wonderful person being that you're willing to take on so much responsibility...just be sure to take care of yourself! Good luck and Take care! Don't get too stressed about the refusals to try new foods, but stick to your guns! Jill --- On Wed, 3/18/09, Missie <mszzzi wrote: Missie <mszzzi Re: intro/huge mountains to overcome Wednesday, March 18, 2009, 3:40 PM Wow. Sounds like a tremendous up-hill battle, but I agree with Vibeke Vale - if you don't have junk in the house, it's not a choice. My son will try new things, but occasionally (like with my favorite, brussels sprouts) he will decide he doesn't like them for some reason. I would love him to do a 3 bite thing, but just having him take one is a big accomplishment. We do ask that he not say things are gross, or yucky or whatever if he has never eaten them, or if it has been a while because his tastes may have changed. I always put at least one on his plate, because it's still part of dinner, but he only has to try it, and he can get more if he wants more (he likes to overload his plate on some things, and then won't eat them all, so we do one scoop, or one piece and he can get more if he would like more as long as the other stuff is also being eaten on his plate). He's generally up for trying new things, which is the biggest battle, but we keep offering and making it (allbeit a small part right now) of what is served on his plate. Just getting used to seeing it there can also help - he used to not like green beans (but loved the yellow wax beans and all other kinds of beans and still does) but we'd put one or 2 and he'd try a bite here or there and now loves them. It took over a year of trying and with one or 2, it wasn't a lot to ask since he already didn't think he liked them, but he was used to seeing them on his plate and just started eating them one day, no fuss or anything. Maybe try some baking (they can both help with adding/mixing, the older daughter can probably help measure things out,etc). You can make pumpkin muffins or carrot muffins (add a handful of dried fruit or chocolate chips, not too many, but just enough...). It's at least a healthy sweet kind of snack. Have them help make popcorn (we do ours on the stove in a metal bowl with foil over the top, so we have to do it, but our son pours the popcorn and oil/salt/turmeric (to make it yellow)) if they like salty junky stuff. Yogurt is a good snack, too - there is soy, rice and coconut milk yogurts out there (maybe hard to find in some areas, though), but, if you find a plain soy/rice/coconut yogurt you can use one cup of it to make your own, too (I got a yogurt maker to do this, as it's cheaper, but it does require some time, and a little experimentation since they do not set up as firmly - you have to thicken them, I've had good results with a tablespoon of potato starch to thicken the soymilk). There are recipes that do it w/out a yogurtmaker, but I have never tried, I figured we'd be better off with the maker (we got the cheapest one -around $20 from amazon) and pretty quickly had it pay for itself in savings, but I've fallen out of the habit of making it. You can later add healthy extras (wheat germ, fresh/canned/ frozen fruits, sweeten with agave nectar, make some coffee yogurt w/powdered coffee for you if you like that, there are endless possibilities) . Good for you for making such great changes and being such a good role model for these young girls! They sound like they really need you and your influence, so they are very lucky that they have you in their lives! Missie On Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 9:30 AM, Vibeke Vale <vibekevale (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote: > Wow! That is a horrendous situation. How much of the time are the kids > with you and Johnny as a family? I think you can work on your own situation > at home and let the other parts fall into place with time. That might be as > long as a year or two, but making the home life stable with appropriate > rules and consequences and rewards will be a great start. If you don't > bring food into your house that you don't want the kids to have, it won't be > a choice. Asking the children to help with grocery shopping and meal > preparation is an excellent place to start, they can even help put together > the grocery list by looking in the flyers or in cookbooks to find > interesting recipes to try. When it's time to prepare the meal ask the > girls to each select a vegetable or fruit to go with the meal. Most kids > like mashed potatoes and they're good for them, so why not make a vegan > gravy to go with it? Make a vegan meatloaf from > http://www.veganlun chbox.com/ loaf_studio. html to serve with it. Try whole > wheat pasta with pesto and a corn salad on the side, finish the meal with > fruit sherbert. These girls are used to being served non-nutritious foods > in pretty colours, so you have to liven up the colours on their dinner plate > to keep it interesting. For breakfast try oatmeal cooked in water with 1 > tbsp of peanut butter and a handful of raisins or chocolate chips, wash it > down with 1 c. calcium fortified orange juice. Make lunches using tortillas > and fill the wrap with peanut butter and a banana or peanut butter with > raisins, use hummus and sprouts, make veggies and dip, alphabet soup with > chunks of zucchini, carrots and kidney beans and tomatoes. The > possibilities are endless. Their behaviour will improve, their memory will > improve and they'll start to enjoy healthy food. The Chocolate Almond > Breeze is excellent warmed up with a tsp of dark cocoa stirred into it, > otherwise it is quite sweet. Make them a fruit smoothie using bananas, > raspberries and almond milk, or almond milk, 1 tbsp. peanut butter and one > banana. If they can only eat healthy at home first, you've won your first > battle. You can tackle the family members one at a time after that. > > Good luck. > > On Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 9:23 AM, crowbabe1094 <crowbabe1094@ >wrote: > >> Hi everyone >> >> I joined the group a month or so ago because of my crazy situation. I have >> not had a chance to post anything >> >> where do i begin? there are a whole lot of reasons I need help! >> >> I am 23 and have been a vegetarian for 10yrs...ive been trying to shift to >> vegan for awhile now...THE CHINA STUDY (by dr colin campbell) really >> changed >> my life >> >> anyways, I found my soulmate less than a year ago...unfortunately , hes >> greek, a single dad of two with crazy crazy family all around him >> >> I say " unfortunately greek " because up until we started dating, they had a >> tradition of eating a whole lamb for easter dinner...yikes! ! >> >> well, johnny has two daughters (3 and 8). the older daughter is not >> biologically his, but he has full custody of both of them because their >> mother is a crackwhore. The other daughter has severe abandonment issues >> b/c >> her mom abandoned her 2x before the age of 18months, and none of her >> family >> ever got her help! Lily (8yr old) has ADHD and RAD (reactive attachment >> disorder). Johnnys mom is freakin crazy....and the maternal grandmother >> has >> companion rights and does visitation. Well, cheri (the grandmother) is an >> alcoholic and negligent... .all of the family involved are crazy and trying >> to control him. >> >> Johnny is a DJ and works nights. Up until a few months ago, his mother was >> watching them 5 nights a week. his mother has severe emotional problems >> herself especially since she suffered tragic loss from age of 15 and never >> got help for it. She resents lily and favors the youngest (b/c shes >> biological) Ani. I decided we had to make a change. I now watch them 5 >> nights a week. Being the person I am, I have made some serious good >> changes >> to the household. >> >> Johnny is now a vegetarian and says thought of eating meat makes him sick. >> I have a wealth of knowledge regarding nutrition especially about the veg >> diet. Well, the children have been a different story. Their crackwhore >> mother fed them fast food and never anything but junk. Ani likes frozen >> waffles (wtf-we suspect cw (the mother-crackwhore) would just give her a >> frozen waffle..too lazy to even toast it). So, veggies are a foreign >> concept. It took a little bit, but Johnny has stopped taking easy way out >> sometimes by doing fast food. Johnny goes off of two hrs of sleep a night >> and spends most of time running lily to all of her groups and therapy and >> doc apps along with visitation (CW sees girls two hrs a week at YWCA). so >> normal diet pattern is difficult to achieve,. >> >> So these girls are junkfood junkies and dont want veggies. >> >> We found that the girls like the Almond breeze milk. They are cereal >> junkies....let me tell you i have serve anxiety from trying to feed these >> children...for a while it was going pretty well...mind you im dealing with >> behavioral issues on both ends. Ani is very whining and this is the first >> time shes encountered rules. We started the " timeout chair, " and that's >> been >> a battle but with progress. Lily has actually been the easier one because >> we >> have a solid routine. Now, it is the food thing!!!!! >> >> Nana (the maternal great grandmother) is not a very nice person. She >> interrogates Johnny about everything and yet has told him he's not lily's >> father multiple time. She is insistent on meat/dairy diet. They only see >> her >> maybe on few weekends a month. Cheri (the grandmother) just doesnt care. >> She >> has sent them home from 4hr visit, and all they ate was poptarts. Now it's >> fastfood too. We are working on these people from the adult level, but i >> need to help the girls eat better with me and understand why. >> >> Lily has been the worst though. She all of the sudden wants cowsmilk and >> doesnt want the almond breeze. After eats a few bites of anything, claims >> she doesnt like it. I am pulling out my hair especially when she >> complained >> of pasta again! I don't know what to feed them and am struggling to get >> them >> to eat healthier. And as johnny said yesterday there is no going back. >> Knowing what he does now he cannot buy anything but whole wheat and non >> cowsmilk. >> >> I sincerely appologize for the insanely long post, but i felt i had to >> introduce the whole situation. I do hope to use this as a resource for >> tips >> and advice >> >> If anyone has any suggestions regarding my whole situation, id love the >> help. >> >> Mostly, I want to know if anyone has any suggestions on what i could give >> lily to read or watch. She is very very smart (the one part she has not >> had >> delay in), and I think if she learned this stuff on her own she would make >> better decisions. I'm a huge science nerd (and on my way to grad school), >> so >> we discuss environment stuff a lot especially when she tells me something >> she learned at school. I'd say lit or videos on health or compassion would >> be beneficial. Anything for an almost 9yr old who is quite excelled for >> her >> age. >> >> Again sorry for the entirely too long post. >> >> Thanks >> >> Amanda >> crowbabe1094@ <crowbabe1094% 40> >> >> >> > > -- > Regards, > > Vibeke > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 I agree with this as well, they will do this to you at many stages, even with stuff they liked the day before. When I was about 10 I went to visit my dad (they had divorced a couple years before) for the summer. He and my new stepmom had decided to put my sister and I on a " no sugar " diet (they have always been fad- jumpers lol) while we were there. It was abrupt and unexplained. We were confused and angry. We were fairly neglected at that point by my mom who was working on a degree. We were used to having our way with junkfood by then. There actually seemed to be some withdrawal symptoms and nothing was really accomplished except to make us really hard to be around. So that was a flash in the pan that we never really understood. I don't even know why I'm telling you except to counsel that " cold turkey " may not work great for kids. Flexibility is good too. I've since had parenting classes that lightened me up a bit on health for my own kid (since of course I backlashed against my own parenting and got a bit crazy about it). Flexibility, thinking about not the one meal but the whole week as far as nutrition goes, allowing some junkfood (and your own healthier versions of junkfood even better). Let her have the frozen waffles once in a while (espesh if she'll eat the health food store version). My heart goes out to those girls and hopefully they can at least have improved diet and psyche while they are with you that's about all you can ask. It's not going to be perfect so try for better. Good luck with those pesky relatives, you will see lots of people harping on them here and there on this list, me included. :-) You might want to send them to grandma's with sandwiches it sounds like! Maybe they can make them with you. The younger one might like to cut them into shapes with cookie cutters. I have found with my 4 year old that I can give her the same foods in different ways and one way she'll eat it, another she won't. Sometimes she insists on " cutting " up her own food. Sometimes she gets tired of doing it and I cut it for her, then she eats it all up. Sometimes I arrange the food in a happy face or something and she loves that and eats everything up. Sometimes she likes popping soybeans out of the pods to eat them, sometimes I'll see she's not eating them and pop them all out and they get gobbled up. Also that vegan lunchbox site is a GREAT resource for kids. . . . try some of the recipes that look like things they're used to, like corndogs or something. Above all, try not to let your own anxiety show and be as relaxed about it as you can. The more it becomes a battlefield, the more everyone loses. You can lead a horse to water. . . I wonder if the older girl might like " Diet for a New America " ? I was 13 when I read it. :-) Good luck! Dee On Mar 18, 2009, at 9:34 AM, Marla Rose wrote: > Hi, Amanda - > > I don't have much to add except that you are doing something > wonderful by > caring about the health of these girls. Giving them these healthier > choices > will benefit them so much in life. I understand that it's got to > feel like > an uphill battle. Heck, even with my son, who has been raised with > whole > foods and as a vegan, the older he gets, the more exposed he is to > the junk > food side of life, and sometimes does challenge us on healthier > choices. > That is all that is available to him, though: we don't have junk in > the > house and I won't buy it. I would just add that as much as you can > manage, > try to avoid food becoming a battleground. It should be pleasant and > enjoyable. I agree that baking with the girls is a great idea, and one > that's good for bonding as well. > > Good luck to you, Amanda. You're doing a great thing here! > > Marla > > >> > >> On Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 9:23 AM, crowbabe1094 <crowbabe1094 > >wrote: > >> > >>> Hi everyone > >>> > >>> I joined the group a month or so ago because of my crazy > situation. I have > >>> not had a chance to post anything > >>> > >>> where do i begin? there are a whole lot of reasons I need help! > >>> > >>> I am 23 and have been a vegetarian for 10yrs...ive been trying > to shift to > >>> vegan for awhile now...THE CHINA STUDY (by dr colin campbell) > really > >>> changed > >>> my life > >>> > >>> anyways, I found my soulmate less than a year > ago...unfortunately, hes > >>> greek, a single dad of two with crazy crazy family all around him > >>> > >>> I say " unfortunately greek " because up until we started dating, > they had a > >>> tradition of eating a whole lamb for easter dinner...yikes!! > >>> > >>> well, johnny has two daughters (3 and 8). the older daughter is > not > >>> biologically his, but he has full custody of both of them > because their > >>> mother is a crackwhore. The other daughter has severe > abandonment issues > >>> b/c > >>> her mom abandoned her 2x before the age of 18months, and none of > her > >>> family > >>> ever got her help! Lily (8yr old) has ADHD and RAD (reactive > attachment > >>> disorder). Johnnys mom is freakin crazy....and the maternal > grandmother > >>> has > >>> companion rights and does visitation. Well, cheri (the > grandmother) is an > >>> alcoholic and negligent....all of the family involved are crazy > and trying > >>> to control him. > >>> > >>> Johnny is a DJ and works nights. Up until a few months ago, his > mother was > >>> watching them 5 nights a week. his mother has severe emotional > problems > >>> herself especially since she suffered tragic loss from age of 15 > and never > >>> got help for it. She resents lily and favors the youngest (b/c > shes > >>> biological) Ani. I decided we had to make a change. I now watch > them 5 > >>> nights a week. Being the person I am, I have made some serious > good > >>> changes > >>> to the household. > >>> > >>> Johnny is now a vegetarian and says thought of eating meat makes > him sick. > >>> I have a wealth of knowledge regarding nutrition especially > about the veg > >>> diet. Well, the children have been a different story. Their > crackwhore > >>> mother fed them fast food and never anything but junk. Ani likes > frozen > >>> waffles (wtf-we suspect cw (the mother-crackwhore) would just > give her a > >>> frozen waffle..too lazy to even toast it). So, veggies are a > foreign > >>> concept. It took a little bit, but Johnny has stopped taking > easy way out > >>> sometimes by doing fast food. Johnny goes off of two hrs of > sleep a night > >>> and spends most of time running lily to all of her groups and > therapy and > >>> doc apps along with visitation (CW sees girls two hrs a week at > YWCA). so > >>> normal diet pattern is difficult to achieve,. > >>> > >>> So these girls are junkfood junkies and dont want veggies. > >>> > >>> We found that the girls like the Almond breeze milk. They are > cereal > >>> junkies....let me tell you i have serve anxiety from trying to > feed these > >>> children...for a while it was going pretty well...mind you im > dealing with > >>> behavioral issues on both ends. Ani is very whining and this is > the first > >>> time shes encountered rules. We started the " timeout chair, " and > that's > >>> been > >>> a battle but with progress. Lily has actually been the easier > one because > >>> we > >>> have a solid routine. Now, it is the food thing!!!!! > >>> > >>> Nana (the maternal great grandmother) is not a very nice person. > She > >>> interrogates Johnny about everything and yet has told him he's > not lily's > >>> father multiple time. She is insistent on meat/dairy diet. They > only see > >>> her > >>> maybe on few weekends a month. Cheri (the grandmother) just > doesnt care. > >>> She > >>> has sent them home from 4hr visit, and all they ate was > poptarts. Now it's > >>> fastfood too. We are working on these people from the adult > level, but i > >>> need to help the girls eat better with me and understand why. > >>> > >>> Lily has been the worst though. She all of the sudden wants > cowsmilk and > >>> doesnt want the almond breeze. After eats a few bites of > anything, claims > >>> she doesnt like it. I am pulling out my hair especially when she > >>> complained > >>> of pasta again! I don't know what to feed them and am struggling > to get > >>> them > >>> to eat healthier. And as johnny said yesterday there is no going > back. > >>> Knowing what he does now he cannot buy anything but whole wheat > and non > >>> cowsmilk. > >>> > >>> I sincerely appologize for the insanely long post, but i felt i > had to > >>> introduce the whole situation. I do hope to use this as a > resource for > >>> tips > >>> and advice > >>> > >>> If anyone has any suggestions regarding my whole situation, id > love the > >>> help. > >>> > >>> Mostly, I want to know if anyone has any suggestions on what i > could give > >>> lily to read or watch. She is very very smart (the one part she > has not > >>> had > >>> delay in), and I think if she learned this stuff on her own she > would make > >>> better decisions. I'm a huge science nerd (and on my way to grad > school), > >>> so > >>> we discuss environment stuff a lot especially when she tells me > something > >>> she learned at school. I'd say lit or videos on health or > compassion would > >>> be beneficial. Anything for an almost 9yr old who is quite > excelled for > >>> her > >>> age. > >>> > >>> Again sorry for the entirely too long post. > >>> > >>> Thanks > >>> > >>> Amanda > >>> crowbabe1094 <crowbabe1094%40> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >> > >> -- > >> Regards, > >> > >> Vibeke > >> > >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 2009 Report Share Posted March 19, 2009 Hi, I wonder is it possible to make the transition smoother by making vegan 'junk food'. Burgers made from mixed veg and potato fried are good, with lavashings of avocado, sauce and you can get soy cream cheese. Nachos are yummy too, using the veg soy cream and avocoado, and pizza with nutritional yeast on top as a cheese substitute. I think the kids are probably struggling with the changes in their lives that are not under their control, and their food situation is something which has been the only consistancy in their lives. I can understand why they would fight it. I think the added bonus of them helping to make the dinners and choosing their meals from a cook book adds excitment and pride. Best of luck. I hope things work out for you all. Ange On Thu, Mar 19, 2009 at 4:48 AM, Dianna Lu <diannalu wrote: > I agree with this as well, they will do this to you at many stages, > even with stuff they liked the day before. > > When I was about 10 I went to visit my dad (they had divorced a couple > years before) for the summer. He and my new stepmom had decided to > put my sister and I on a " no sugar " diet (they have always been fad- > jumpers lol) while we were there. It was abrupt and unexplained. We > were confused and angry. We were fairly neglected at that point by my > mom who was working on a degree. We were used to having our way with > junkfood by then. There actually seemed to be some withdrawal symptoms > and nothing was really accomplished except to make us really hard to > be around. > > So that was a flash in the pan that we never really understood. I > don't even know why I'm telling you except to counsel that " cold > turkey " may not work great for kids. Flexibility is good too. I've > since had parenting classes that lightened me up a bit on health for > my own kid (since of course I backlashed against my own parenting and > got a bit crazy about it). Flexibility, thinking about not the one > meal but the whole week as far as nutrition goes, allowing some > junkfood (and your own healthier versions of junkfood even better). > Let her have the frozen waffles once in a while (espesh if she'll eat > the health food store version). > > My heart goes out to those girls and hopefully they can at least have > improved diet and psyche while they are with you that's about all you > can ask. It's not going to be perfect so try for better. > > Good luck with those pesky relatives, you will see lots of people > harping on them here and there on this list, me included. :-) You > might want to send them to grandma's with sandwiches it sounds like! > Maybe they can make them with you. The younger one might like to cut > them into shapes with cookie cutters. I have found with my 4 year old > that I can give her the same foods in different ways and one way > she'll eat it, another she won't. Sometimes she insists on " cutting " > up her own food. Sometimes she gets tired of doing it and I cut it > for her, then she eats it all up. Sometimes I arrange the food in a > happy face or something and she loves that and eats everything up. > Sometimes she likes popping soybeans out of the pods to eat them, > sometimes I'll see she's not eating them and pop them all out and they > get gobbled up. Also that vegan lunchbox site is a GREAT resource for > kids. . . . try some of the recipes that look like things they're used > to, like corndogs or something. > > Above all, try not to let your own anxiety show and be as relaxed > about it as you can. The more it becomes a battlefield, the more > everyone loses. You can lead a horse to water. . . > > I wonder if the older girl might like " Diet for a New America " ? I was > 13 when I read it. > > :-) > > Good luck! > > Dee > > > On Mar 18, 2009, at 9:34 AM, Marla Rose wrote: > > > Hi, Amanda - > > > > I don't have much to add except that you are doing something > > wonderful by > > caring about the health of these girls. Giving them these healthier > > choices > > will benefit them so much in life. I understand that it's got to > > feel like > > an uphill battle. Heck, even with my son, who has been raised with > > whole > > foods and as a vegan, the older he gets, the more exposed he is to > > the junk > > food side of life, and sometimes does challenge us on healthier > > choices. > > That is all that is available to him, though: we don't have junk in > > the > > house and I won't buy it. I would just add that as much as you can > > manage, > > try to avoid food becoming a battleground. It should be pleasant and > > enjoyable. I agree that baking with the girls is a great idea, and one > > that's good for bonding as well. > > > > Good luck to you, Amanda. You're doing a great thing here! > > > > Marla > > > > >> > > >> On Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 9:23 AM, crowbabe1094 <crowbabe1094<crowbabe1094%40> > > >wrote: > > >> > > >>> Hi everyone > > >>> > > >>> I joined the group a month or so ago because of my crazy > > situation. I have > > >>> not had a chance to post anything > > >>> > > >>> where do i begin? there are a whole lot of reasons I need help! > > >>> > > >>> I am 23 and have been a vegetarian for 10yrs...ive been trying > > to shift to > > >>> vegan for awhile now...THE CHINA STUDY (by dr colin campbell) > > really > > >>> changed > > >>> my life > > >>> > > >>> anyways, I found my soulmate less than a year > > ago...unfortunately, hes > > >>> greek, a single dad of two with crazy crazy family all around him > > >>> > > >>> I say " unfortunately greek " because up until we started dating, > > they had a > > >>> tradition of eating a whole lamb for easter dinner...yikes!! > > >>> > > >>> well, johnny has two daughters (3 and 8). the older daughter is > > not > > >>> biologically his, but he has full custody of both of them > > because their > > >>> mother is a crackwhore. The other daughter has severe > > abandonment issues > > >>> b/c > > >>> her mom abandoned her 2x before the age of 18months, and none of > > her > > >>> family > > >>> ever got her help! Lily (8yr old) has ADHD and RAD (reactive > > attachment > > >>> disorder). Johnnys mom is freakin crazy....and the maternal > > grandmother > > >>> has > > >>> companion rights and does visitation. Well, cheri (the > > grandmother) is an > > >>> alcoholic and negligent....all of the family involved are crazy > > and trying > > >>> to control him. > > >>> > > >>> Johnny is a DJ and works nights. Up until a few months ago, his > > mother was > > >>> watching them 5 nights a week. his mother has severe emotional > > problems > > >>> herself especially since she suffered tragic loss from age of 15 > > and never > > >>> got help for it. She resents lily and favors the youngest (b/c > > shes > > >>> biological) Ani. I decided we had to make a change. I now watch > > them 5 > > >>> nights a week. Being the person I am, I have made some serious > > good > > >>> changes > > >>> to the household. > > >>> > > >>> Johnny is now a vegetarian and says thought of eating meat makes > > him sick. > > >>> I have a wealth of knowledge regarding nutrition especially > > about the veg > > >>> diet. Well, the children have been a different story. Their > > crackwhore > > >>> mother fed them fast food and never anything but junk. Ani likes > > frozen > > >>> waffles (wtf-we suspect cw (the mother-crackwhore) would just > > give her a > > >>> frozen waffle..too lazy to even toast it). So, veggies are a > > foreign > > >>> concept. It took a little bit, but Johnny has stopped taking > > easy way out > > >>> sometimes by doing fast food. Johnny goes off of two hrs of > > sleep a night > > >>> and spends most of time running lily to all of her groups and > > therapy and > > >>> doc apps along with visitation (CW sees girls two hrs a week at > > YWCA). so > > >>> normal diet pattern is difficult to achieve,. > > >>> > > >>> So these girls are junkfood junkies and dont want veggies. > > >>> > > >>> We found that the girls like the Almond breeze milk. They are > > cereal > > >>> junkies....let me tell you i have serve anxiety from trying to > > feed these > > >>> children...for a while it was going pretty well...mind you im > > dealing with > > >>> behavioral issues on both ends. Ani is very whining and this is > > the first > > >>> time shes encountered rules. We started the " timeout chair, " and > > that's > > >>> been > > >>> a battle but with progress. Lily has actually been the easier > > one because > > >>> we > > >>> have a solid routine. Now, it is the food thing!!!!! > > >>> > > >>> Nana (the maternal great grandmother) is not a very nice person. > > She > > >>> interrogates Johnny about everything and yet has told him he's > > not lily's > > >>> father multiple time. She is insistent on meat/dairy diet. They > > only see > > >>> her > > >>> maybe on few weekends a month. Cheri (the grandmother) just > > doesnt care. > > >>> She > > >>> has sent them home from 4hr visit, and all they ate was > > poptarts. Now it's > > >>> fastfood too. We are working on these people from the adult > > level, but i > > >>> need to help the girls eat better with me and understand why. > > >>> > > >>> Lily has been the worst though. She all of the sudden wants > > cowsmilk and > > >>> doesnt want the almond breeze. After eats a few bites of > > anything, claims > > >>> she doesnt like it. I am pulling out my hair especially when she > > >>> complained > > >>> of pasta again! I don't know what to feed them and am struggling > > to get > > >>> them > > >>> to eat healthier. And as johnny said yesterday there is no going > > back. > > >>> Knowing what he does now he cannot buy anything but whole wheat > > and non > > >>> cowsmilk. > > >>> > > >>> I sincerely appologize for the insanely long post, but i felt i > > had to > > >>> introduce the whole situation. I do hope to use this as a > > resource for > > >>> tips > > >>> and advice > > >>> > > >>> If anyone has any suggestions regarding my whole situation, id > > love the > > >>> help. > > >>> > > >>> Mostly, I want to know if anyone has any suggestions on what i > > could give > > >>> lily to read or watch. She is very very smart (the one part she > > has not > > >>> had > > >>> delay in), and I think if she learned this stuff on her own she > > would make > > >>> better decisions. I'm a huge science nerd (and on my way to grad > > school), > > >>> so > > >>> we discuss environment stuff a lot especially when she tells me > > something > > >>> she learned at school. I'd say lit or videos on health or > > compassion would > > >>> be beneficial. Anything for an almost 9yr old who is quite > > excelled for > > >>> her > > >>> age. > > >>> > > >>> Again sorry for the entirely too long post. > > >>> > > >>> Thanks > > >>> > > >>> Amanda > > >>> crowbabe1094 <crowbabe1094%40> <crowbabe1094% > 40> > > >>> > > >>> > > >>> > > >> > > >> -- > > >> Regards, > > >> > > >> Vibeke > > >> > > >> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 I agree with others that have said to make changes in moderation. Frozen waffles aren't the end of the world. My son likes them but I also make him whole grain pancakes on other days. These kids have been through a rough time and if you even make some improvements in their diet they will be better off. What they probably most need is a nurturing home life no matter what they're eating. The food will follow and you can adjust that in a way that's more comfortable to them. Connie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 Hi, You have your challenges without a doubt. One thing kids love is cheese. There are some very nice vegan ones on the market. My kids often have vegan cheese on their sandwiches. I am trying to switch to making more my own cheese for sandwiches. I have a nice recipe for a " cheese " sauce that I use on broccoli etc. I think I have found one that is good for slicing but I need to try it another time or two before I can say for sure as the nuts in it did not blend as creamy as I would have liked them to. By the way, I read the China Study a couple of years ago as well. It really is an awesome book. I just wish I could remember everything better so when I try to explain some of the stuff to other people I sound more knowledgeable than I do. Sheila Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 20, 2009 Report Share Posted March 20, 2009 I get organic, whole grain frozen waffles at Target (though I also sometimes make my own); they make a great " on the go " breakfast with peanut butter and dried cranberries. --- On Fri, 3/20/09, Connie <conniemm wrote: Connie <conniemm Re: intro/huge mountains to overcome Friday, March 20, 2009, 12:39 AM I agree with others that have said to make changes in moderation. Frozen waffles aren't the end of the world. My son likes them but I also make him whole grain pancakes on other days. These kids have been through a rough time and if you even make some improvements in their diet they will be better off. What they probably most need is a nurturing home life no matter what they're eating. The food will follow and you can adjust that in a way that's more comfortable to them. Connie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 21, 2009 Report Share Posted March 21, 2009 We also make our own, and make extra to freeze to have for a quick breakfast. It's kind of time intensive with our little waffle iron, but my son loves to help with the batter, so it could be something to do together with the children, too. Missie On Fri, Mar 20, 2009 at 9:37 AM, robin koloms <rkoloms wrote: > I get organic, whole grain frozen waffles at Target (though I also sometimes > make my own); they make a great " on the go " breakfast with peanut butter and > dried cranberries. > > --- On Fri, 3/20/09, Connie <conniemm wrote: > > Connie <conniemm > Re: intro/huge mountains to overcome > > Friday, March 20, 2009, 12:39 AM > > I agree with others that have said to make changes in moderation. Frozen > waffles aren't the end of the world. My son likes them but I also make him > whole grain pancakes on other days. > > These kids have been through a rough time and if you even make some > improvements in their diet they will be better off. What they probably most > need is a nurturing home life no matter what they're eating. > > The food will follow and you can adjust that in a way that's more > comfortable to them. > > Connie > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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