The KInd Life Community Forum

I have two kids, 5 and 4. I am not forcing TKD on anyone, and do not expect my kids to become Vegetarians although I would like them to eat a variety of vegetarian meals, plus I dont plan of cooking two meals every day. I ahve put my food down and told my hubby I would only like free range chicken for him and the kids or seafood, I really do not want the kids or my hubby to eat red meat.

So how did others cope with children and what are some of the kids favorite recipes. I have found the vegan dads website and really like it :) although I made chickpea patties yeseterday with some veggies I added to the processor although the kids were not too keen.

It going to be a challenge with the kids, they love their milk, yoghurt cheese and chicken. Although they are learning for themselves when they have milk and yoghurt they get sore tummy's.

I have two kids and I can't say that I've found a great solution but I just do my best. My kids are 6 1/2 and 2 1/2. My whole family is on board with this (not that my 2 1/2 year old knows any better and I've never given my daughter 6 1/2 YO much meat anyway). My big issue is it doesn't matter what way I choose to eat, my kids are just darn picky. So I just introduce them to a LOT and watch them reject it all. lol Every once in awhile, something really random sticks. EG, my daughter was introduced to a chili recipe at her school even though I'd tried tons of chili recipes to no avail but this one stick. The caveat.....I have to buy the scoopable chips and she put the chili on them. This results in my 2 1/2 year old eating nothing but chips that meal. He stilsl nurses twice a day though so I don't stress "too" much regarding what he eats. The only animal products I still buy are some organic yogurt that I use when I make their smoothies and this is only because I use a small amount and to the kids it makes a difference in taste whether they'll drink it or not. I'm also much more okay with them eating some packaged food items in moderation, soy nuggets, soy sausage, etc. I really do want to stick to my guns even if they eat a less than stellar vegetarian diet over an unhealthy meat/dairy diet. They also both take a multi-vitamin. I've been listening to The China Study on disc and feel even more strongly that I don't want them to get used to having a taste for that type of eating.

Hi Lisa, Just so you know I've tried a lot of different milk and had various results. My daughter (the 6 1/2 year old) weaned from breastfeeding when she was 14 months and at the time I wasn't vegan and I gave her whole milk. She definitely got the taste for it. After I had read enough to make me not so comfortable with cow's milk, I later started buying less of it over the years. If she had access to it, she'd like it and was never too fond of the alternatives. Once I decided I definitely wanted to be vegan and just didn't believe she needed cows milk for any reason, I just stopped buying it completely. Since trying different types of milk, the first one she seems to enjoy now is almond milk in the original flavor (and this is after many years so don't give up). She'll have that over cereal. She used to just eat it dry. My son seems to be happy to drink any (rice, almond, coconut or soy in regular,vanilla or chocolate flavors). I'm with you on the soy, I'm not thrilled to have a lot of it myself. It makes my stomach hurt a bit too. Sometimes I just get it because it's what is available depending on where I'm shopping.

FWIW, I haven't really laid down the law that nobody in my family is "allowed" to have animal products at all. I'm just not providing them at home. However, if we're at a party and someone serves a pizza I don't really want to make a big deal out of it and make everyone uncomfortable about it just yet. I'm just sort of leading at home by example and also not shying away from giving her honest answers (that won't scare her) when she sees or hears something. Example, she overheard me listening to the China Study and I just told her that this man had done studies that said people who stayed away from animal products were healthier. I didn't mention cancer or heart disease. I just used the word healthy. It was so cute, she said, "I'm the only one in my class that hasn't been absent for being sick, I was only absent when I went to the dentist."

Hi Lisa,You may want to try watching a podcast (I subscribe on iTunes) on Everyday Dish TV with Julie Hasson (they also have them on the website). She tends to bake and do interesting little vegan dishes that can be fun for kids. My nephew is a picky 5 year old and when he stays with me he has to eat what's in my fridge. Last time he was here I made him the Quorn version of 'chicken' nuggets - because his mom said that chicken nuggets are the only thing he would eat - and he never knew the difference. We also did a blackberry cobbler I saw on ED tv, and he had so much fun mixing the batter and staining his fingers with the berries. It's worth a shot. I do hope that helps as an avenue for more kid friendly dishes.

Definitely don't give yourself a hard time! It's such a journey. I think I probably flirted for about 10 years and I found sometimes if I labeled myself a vegetarian or vegan it put too much pressure on me. Right now I try to think of it as I can eat whatever I want to eat, I get to make that choice. I just happen to be choosing to not eat animal products right now. I don't even really tell many people. Where I live it's actually pretty easy to do it without making a big deal about it. I think I read somewhere to focus more on what you're adding to your diet rather than what your omitting and gradually the new additions will take the place of the other stuff.

Good luck!