I need help-Vegetarian related

**halo475** · 11-09-2004, 09:21 PM

My dd has decided she wants to try being a vegetarian. This has been happening for about a week and a half. I try to include no meat based things, but to be honest most if not all of my meals are based on meat.

I am absolutely willing to take a few extra steps to further this cause, but I cannot cook 2 seperate meals.

For example tonight, we had spaghetti and meat balls, I just warmed up some sauce seperate for her-not a problem, but the other night we had hm macaroni and cheese, and she doesn't like it, so she won't eat it.

I am trying, but do you have any suggestions on how to mesh the 2 lifestyles without having to cook 2 seperate meals??

Any suggestions on how to get some protein into this growing teen?? And what to serve??

She won't eat beans, tofu, or cottage cheese and so far has been existing on salads, and hard boiled eggs. (not Vegan, just no meat)

**pqb52** · 11-09-2004, 09:41 PM

as long as she has a dairy product everyday, she shouldn't get in too much trouble.

**COUNTRYBUMPKIN** · 11-10-2004, 05:10 AM

Will she eat natural nut butters, such as peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter etc? I have been going through the same thing with my 15 year old for 2 years now. On Sundays, I make a big pot of veggie soup for her for the week. She loves the cabbage, brown rice , chicken broth, diced tomatoe and corn soup I make for her. She will usually eat a grilled cheese with that or an egg burrito, or even a grilled peanut butter banana sandwich. I buy a great organic baking mix at our local health food store and make her pancakes sometimes for dinner also. I always add a pastured fed egg, because they are a complete food. They have everything in them that your body needs, except vitamin c. My dd is also big on fresh fruit bowls, salads, celery with peanut butter and raisins, whole nuts, salads with a variety of veggies in them, steamed green beans with butter and slivered almonds, homemade egg mc muffins, minus the meat of course

And the last thing I will add and it is a great source of protein, fruit smoothies in the blender with a scoop of whey protein added. She will often have one of these with a slice of taoast and fruit spread for breakfast. This keeps her full until lunchtime.

Let us know how it goes

**DaisyLady** · 11-10-2004, 07:01 AM

Try to find her a book on going vegetarian at the library. She needs to take some responsibility for her decision if she is going to be (picky) about what types of food she will eat. Definitely make sure she continues with eggs and dairy. Otherwise she will not get enough B12. Nuts are good too but are very high in fat and could impact her weight.

I was a vegan for many years and the rest of my family ate meat. I usually ended up cooking two different meals. Maybe your daughter will help out in the kitchen?

**COUNTRYBUMPKIN** · 11-10-2004, 07:10 AM

I forgot to mention this, my dd also takes a quality B complex as well, along with about 10 other different supplements.

The dairy is also raw milkand cheese from pasture fed cows and strictly pasture fed eggs. Nothing with hormones or antibiotics

**Ellise** · 11-10-2004, 08:54 AM

Also make sure she is getting the proper amount of protein. I think she'll be fine as long as she keeps a clear and level head about it.

DS & I are nearly vegetarian. However we make sure we get the correct amounts of the needed nutrients.

Get her in the kitchen with you, afterall she's gonna have to know how to prepare it when she leaves home eventually.
DS began cooking vegetarian when he was about 8 years old. he has his own set of cookbooks as well.

**forestdale** · 11-10-2004, 03:53 PM

I agree with Chriss. Get her a vegetarian cookbook and let her make some of her own meals. Then on the days when she doesn't like what the family is eating or if your food doesn't convert easily to a vegetarian meal, she can make her own.

Remember, meat is not essential to good health. She just need to replace the complete protein and iron and meat provides. Most people eat too much protein so it isn't difficult to replace it. Any good vegetarian cookbook will explain complete protein and the other goodies that food contains, she should understand all this if she's to remain healthy.