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Children and the Kind Diet
Started
by Notenell
on August 23, 2011
How do you get a 2 yr old to eat this way? I can see the breakfast part but the dinner is a mystery to me because she doesn't like so much of what we are eating.
I have a 2 year old and a 5 year old and they are mostly willing to eat this way. We've been vegan for 10 months. In the beginning my then 15 month old didn't know the difference, but now that she's 2 she's a bit more picky. But that's just typical 2 year old pickiness. I just serve her what we are eating and refuse to make a separate meal for her. Sometimes we have success, sometimes not. There are certain recipes that I cook because I know they love them like Tofu Pot Pie, Spaghetti with "Meat" crumbles and I put minced veggies in the sauce, Boca and Gardein make terrific "chicken" nuggets, etc. It's honestly hit or miss as to whether or not they like what I make. I find that if I separate out the ingredients she is often more willing to try what we are eating. Or I try to always incorporate something she does like in with the meal so that it's not all foreign. The 5 year old adjusted fine except for the milk. She kept telling me the soy milk tasted weird. BUT after a few months she came around. I just kept offering it and one day she tried it and liked it.
Thank you so much! She likes the rice milk sort of because she likes the sweetness but like you said it is hit and miss! I'll keep on trying. It's nice to know that she will get better at eating what we like! I have a vegan friend who said that they don't even want the meat substitutes anymore because it doesn't appeal to them anymore but we aren't there yet. Unfortunately my husband won't even try to eat healthy! Thanks again
I have a daughter that is 8 and a son that is 5. I try to involve them in the cooking as much as I can, they enjoy the food more and are less likely to be picky (though my son still has his moments).
We are very limited on the pre-made/packaged "meat" items we can use as my son is allergic to soy.
I like to take children vegetarian cook books (and switch out ingredients for vegan ones as needed) and use them for meal ideas. My kids like the pictures and easy directions, and I like that the recipes take into consideration foods that are children friendly.
Something we have begun to do: As we try out new recipes (from any source) a copy of the successful recipes is placed in a binder...kind of like creating our own personal taste cook book. It helps to have recipes that I know my kids will eat in one place...and each week it gets a little thicker. 
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