Vegetarian diet for my family?!
Answers: Hello, I am slowly turning my family vegetarian and have fairly fussy children. We seem to eat a lot of cheese and not much else at the moment. Does anyone have some unusual veggie recipes which kids will love and which are easy to make to help me in my vegetarian campaign? Many thanks, Mildred
http://www.peta2.com/STUFF/s-recipereal....
There is some really yummy stuff on here!
You should talk to a nutritionist about making sure you and your kids are getting the right amount of nutrients and protein. As for recipes, you might just need to experiment. Try beans for protein (like baked beans), and fake meat products might be good until your kids get used to being veg.
Eggplant, spinach wraps (with cream cheese, these could be a big hit with little ones), eggs such as fritatta, omelets, etc., stir-fry, and if you experiment with different fruits you'll find some new flavors that may replace the cravings for meat. I leave meat out of my recipes at home, I replace spinach, rice, millet and some tofu. Millet loaf is good - you won't eat as much because it's definitely not meat loaf, but it grows on you. Also, this time of year squash is delicious. I saw a recipe on squash lasagna by Rachel Ray, the pureed orange squash seemed to take the place of ricotta.
You don't specify how you're using cheese in your recipes.
In the most vulgar american way, you can throw cheese into a lot of vegetarian dishes.
But if you take the French way of adding some cheese to plain dishes, like boulangere or gratin potatoes, it can be a source of protein without being the centre of the meal.
I don't like the first opening line " I Am turning My family Vegetarian"
don't they have a choice.
its actually against the law now to turn your children vegetarian without them making a conscious decision themselves
I was living with my aunt, and her son and daughter(my cousins). They really look up to me, and I have been around for them when she was at work and not around. I went vegan in july, of this year, and my aunt totally freaked out. She would tell me to keep it quite around the house, she didn't want her kids to find out because if they wanted to do the same she claimed preparing meals would be too hard. So, SHE was making THEIR choice for them.
The point though, is to educate your children and let them make their own conscience decision.
As far as recipies, I enjoy having my veggies in a meal instead of out, and I love Jasmine Rice with zucchini, soy beans, onions, garlic, broccoli and spinach, for seasoning, I use this great teriyaki sauce, Soy Vay and soy sauce, and some sesame oil and sesame seeds!!! Geez, I'm getting hungry now....
I think it`s wrong to make your kids vegetarians, they should have the right to choose, if later in life they agree with what you are doing then fair enough.
i made a veggie pasta tonight as although we are not vegetarians my daughter had a friend over who is. my boys dont like veg much but i cut it up fine, mushrooms, pepper, onion, grated carrot, sweetcorn and fried in little olive oil added tomatoes, garlic, black & red pepper and simmered it for ages, served with pasta they said it was delicious and ate all of it which is unusual for them. so why not give it a try to make even more healthy u can use wholewheat pasta like i did. i sprinkled grated cheese on it when serving it too.
Right now I'm a flexitarian(I know booo!! You still eat meat). Yes but rarely. Ie holidays and when I eat at someone elses house(some are good about having a veggie option for me.) I may become completely vegetarian in the future but for now this works for me. Why are you trying to force your beliefs on your children? Is there a husband involved? What about him? I suggest you find some alternatives. Taco night is great. Make theirs w/ chicken or beef if they want it and yours w/ beans. Make your own pizza. Pasta is a great vegetarian meal. Stir fry is good. Can make it veggie or w/ meat. If the rest of your family is okay w/ being vegetarian definatley see a nutrionist about this(especially for the kids.) I just don't believe in forcing one's own views on others.
Thats good, but that will you do when oneday your child says I want to have a hamburger.
No offence, but there is only one reason that children are fussy when it comes to food... it's that the food does not taste good. Okay?
So, you need to learn to cook properly. You need to get the knack for cooking. Sure, recipes are great for ideas, but once you get the hang of it, recipes are really no longer needed, you just throw things together, make a meal, and that's it.
Some people will never ever be able to cook well. Such as our family friend's mother -- cooking for what... her whole life and sucks to this day. Her kids have never known any different and eat it all up, but put tonnes of soy sauce etc. on their food, because it lacks flavour, it's not cooked properly, over cooked, under cooked, and just... yuck...
Buy a wok if you don't have one.
Learn to use it.
Get a thermos pot for soups, congee, etc.
Get a rice cooker.
Get cook book from library.
Take lessons from all of your friends.
I especially take advantage of people I know from other countries and get them to show me how they cook. Doesn't guarantee they are a good cook, but more people are good cooks from other countries than N. America. And remember, traditional dishes from all cultures around the world are mostly vegan so, lots of interesting stuff out there.
I'm sorry, Mildred, with growing children, IMO I find vegetarian diets a form of child abuse. I truly believe that.
more like slowly kiling your kids will to a real life you control freak. Just because you have been suckered into the bull patter of the veggie freak world dont force your kids into it too. You have a resposibility as a mother not too. Get real give your kids meat
Your making your children become vegetarian? Bad move. Malnourishment central.