The KInd Life Community Forum
Use this space to share stories, exchange ideas, ask questions, and contribute to our growing community!
help...my son is addicted to cheese!
Started
by Kim G
on October 17, 2009
Hi everyone!I am a vegetarian who wants to make my way back to veganism. We (husband, son and I) were vegan when my son was younger but then we started eating cheese again and now cheese is one of my son's staple foods. He is going through a real picky stage where all he wants to eat is cheese, fruit, bread and pasta. I tried to give him the substitute cheeses but he knows the difference and usually won't eat them. Anybody have any advice? I don't even care if he is vegan or not, I just don't want him to be SO addicted. Also, any advice on how to get him to eat more veggies?
cover veggies with cheese as compromise. serious. there is no way to end somebody's addiction without them wanting to do it for themselves. There's no cheese detox center to admit him to so you might as well get him to incorporate healthier foods into his diet... once people get used to healthy foods their desire for unhealthy food weans.
Thanks =) I have tried that though....if he can see the veggies at all he won't eat them. The exception is carrots...he will eat straight carrot sticks. I can also get him to eat spinach and cheese raviolis but I think it's because the spinach is so mixed in to the cheese and then covered with tomato sauce. I also blend up spirulina in his smoothies and he's fine with that too. I guess I just might have to get more creative with my cooking!
Kim:
Try lightly steaming and then thoroughly blending veggies like spinach, broccoli, even cauliflower and pour it into sauces. It works!!!
Kim -- How old is your son?
Juicing is a great way to get kids their veges. Juice some apples with cucumber and celery and a little maple syrup. You can pretty much put apples with anything. You could also make mashed potatoes and add some cauliflower and mash together. The color and texure are the same. Even though I sneak veges into various dishes, I always put a little of the veges on the kids plate. They can eat them or not eat them. My daughter started out not liking any veges, but now she eats carrots, broccoli, and peas. Good Luck.
What about putting a yummy vegan gravy over the veggies. THere is a great recipe for one on happyherbivore.com Just search brown gravy.
Is he more likley to eat his veggies if he helps you cook them? What about veggie sushi rolls made at home?
As for the cheese - it is addictive. What happens if there is just no more cheese in the house? Maybe you can make some yummy treats as a snack in place of the cheese. It seems like when you get kids in the kitchen to help cooking they are more likely to eat the food they have had a hand in making.
vegandad is another good food blog.
Thanks everyone for your responses! I will definitely try some of your suggestions. My son is 3 and he is going through a picky eating phase....he does drink juice with veggies in it and loves sushi but I can usually only get him to eat daikon radish roll or avocado roll....but I guess that's something right? Yes, I will try grinding up veggies and putting them in sauces since "hiding" them seems to be the most effective way right now. I actually make a great vegan mac and cheese sauce using carrots or squash (courtesy of The Ultimate Uncheese cookbook).....although he doesn't always eat this version! I guess I'm just hoping that one day he will be okay with just eating whatever veggies I put on his plate. As for not having cheese in the house....I am vegan but my husband and son both still like cheese so I still buy it for them.
Hey Kim!
I am a nanny, and I have tried sooo many ways to get kids to eat vegetables!
Here are a couple of my fave solutions:
Ants on a Log - celery with almond butter and raisins placed on top
Yam Fries, lots of kids love these!!
Mac and Cheese with soy beans/peas/corn mixed in.
Soups: If your son will eat soups, I puree EVERYTHING into a soup and the kids like it. I usually use a pretty basic starter, like a squash or cauliflower, with some vegetable stock, spices and other hidden goodies like broccoli, carrots, chick peas, root veggies, onion.. I just throw stuff together usually, but Pumpkin Apple, Cauliflower Coconut, and Broccoli Cheese have been hits!
best of luck!!!
I hate to take the tough love approach here, but sometimes just don't give him a choice. If he's hungry enough, he'll eat it. If you let him have the upper hand, he will know he can get what he wants. Cheese, (and dairy in general), have been linked to cancer. My youngest daughter is practically a vegan (my oldest is), and only has dairy maybe once a month, if that. Both of them changed their diets on their own, and can now really appreciate how they feel without the dairy. Cheese does have some addictive effects. Even if you don't want to make him vegan, getting him off the cheese will be for the best. Good luck!
20 Comments