What is the best way to get small children on a vegetarian diet?

Question

I have a 6 year old who loves chicken and 5 year old who only likes mac n cheese and a 2 year old who eats everything. I started Jan. 1st on a vegetarian diet and my husband started 2 weeks ago. We decided that meats are really bad and want our children to go vegetarain too. Any ideas on how to do this and make it fun and tastey would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Answer 1

Oh, goodness, litmama, please don't listen to anyone who tells you meat is necessary for children's growth. It's not meat, but PROTEIN, that is essential for growing kids, and protein can come from non-meat sources. I have been vegetarian for three years and I envy those young people who parents have been vegetarian and who raised them from childhood to be vegetarian, too.

There are many websites which can help you start your family on a vegetarian diet, which is the healthiest, most compassionate, most environment-friendly decision you've made. VegFamily.com is one of them. I think there is also a website called VegetarianBaby.com for children under 3.

Congratulations on making this decision. I hope that you stick to your vegetarian diet, not just for your health, but for that of the environment, too.

Answer 2

Well, my kids have been vegan all their life, and they've never had a problem. We cook tasty meals every day and it's gobbled up immediately. Even if it's just some vegetables from the garden fried with garlic and olive oil and nothing else; sauce, salt, etc. They've never been fed on heavy flavours, sugar, salt, etc. before, but I imagine that the further removed the children are from a natural healthy diet, the bigger the change will be; they will miss their addiction to salts, sugars, etc. for a while. Perhaps slowly reduce the flavours, salts, sugars, processed foods, etc. We found that it's not just suar that makes our kids go crazy, but just white flour, such as in crackers. Screaming, falling down, freaking out... Our kids are on a very natural diet, so it's very easy to see what the cause of their sudden odd behaviour is. We switched to whole grain European crispbread instead of crackers, and what a difference. No more freaking out, plus insead of us all eating a whole box at once, they actually fill us up (more like, satisfy our hunger and not fill our belly up).

Just taking out the meat, I'll bet they wouldn't really notice. You could always use some meat substitutes during the transition. Some cut up bits of veggie ham or something into their stir-fry. You just may be surprised at how they won’t even notice the meat is missing. It really has nothing to do with meat, and all to do with good tasty meals. If it doesn’t taste good, they won’t eat it.

I’ll put it to you this way, if I give my daughter a bowl of stir fried vegetables, tofu, and veggie meat bits, she will eat all the tofu and veggie meat bits and leave the vegetables till last, then probably not eat much of them. But if I just give her only vegetables and rice, she’ll eat that all up without demanding some sauce, tofu, veggie meat, or whatever. So, sure, kids will eat the most flavourful things they are presented with first, but you’ll be surprised that if everyone is eating a bowl of veggies and rice, that they’ll eat it too. Hey, in other countries people eat this way every day without any kind of problems with the kids.

My wife is from China, and coming to Canada she found it bizarre that kids wouldn’t eat their meals here; simply because it tasted horrible. She said that her and her siblings would gobble the food up and fight over the best parts. So, keep that in mind, if they won’t eat your food, maybe take some cooking lessons, from someone from China, or India, or somewhere where food actually tastes good on a regular basis. As a kid, I recall many times where I was literally gagging on my meals and didn’t want to eat it, but was forced to sit there by my parents until I finished dinner (I’m from Canada). “No dessert until you finish.” I was willing to skip dessert, but that wasn’t an option (note: in my family now, there is no dessert -- such things are a seperate meal now for a treat). This is a very regular thing in North America. OK, I’m kind of crossing topics, but that’s what I have to say about it.

Answer 3

Well, it sounds like your youngest won't be an issue ("eats everything"), and your middle child's picky eating was already a problem you'll need to work out somehow (perhaps as you try new vegetarian foods, he/she will discover more foods they like?), so that leaves the oldest child. Morningstar and Quorn both make excellent chicken substitutes you could use to ease your family into a vegetarian life. You can also try cooking with seitan--it's amazing in stir frys, for instance.

One way to get older two kids excited about new foods is to involve them in the preparation. When a child feels they were a big help in preparing a meal, they are naturally more eager to eat it. They *want* it to be good, because they had fun making it, so they're predisposed to like it. If you can turn meal preparation into a fun family affair, your kids will be much more likely to approach the results with an open mind. (This may help you with your picky eater, too.)

Answer 4

Take a look at the Vegetarian Society website (link below) - it's full of fantastic information and inspiring stories etc on how to be veggie (both young and old!)
Further to the people who say you should feed your kids meat until they are old enough to decide for themselves, I think the general idea is right but should be the other way around. Feed them a healthy, nutritious vegetarian diet until they are old enough to understand EXACTLY where meat/fish comes from and they can decide whether or not they want any part of that cruel industry.

Answer 5

Mac and cheese can be considered vegetarian IF the cheese involved in animal rennet free. I know that Annies makes one and kraft now has an organic mac and cheese that is animal rennet free. I however suggest Annies because they have a whole wheat mac and cheese. Whole grains are the foundation of good nutrition.

My kids eat mainly a vegetarian diet. We eat Whole grain pastas with different sauces, vegetarian casseroles, rice dishes, stir fry, grilled cheese (animal rennet free cheese) with tomato soup and so much more.

Answer 6

To the guy that thinks putting kids of a vegetarian diet is forcing your opinions down their throats.....what do you think you're doing when you feed your kids meat??? You're forcing your meat-eating opinions down their throats!

I would start by buying the veggie chicen nuggets and other fun meat-replacment foods. Kids won't know the difference.

Answer 7

For the one who loves chicken I suggest Boca Chicken Nuggets. The other 2 you have covered.
I used things like raw fruits or veggies with "dips" allot. Apple with a Nut Butter dip. Veggies with low fat Ranch(or anything else they liked) My kids like plain Hummus too. Mini Pizzas, think outside the box, keep it simple, remember they had more sensitive taste buds than you do. Make things they can eat with their hands too. As for mac & cheese go with organic cheese or vegan cheese. Same on things like pizza.
Lots of luck.

Answer 8

I think it's OK for anyone over 18 to be a vegetarian, but kids need meat for proper growth. If you really want them to stop eating meat, make VERY sure they get plenty of protein. this link should help.

Answer 9

You need to eat meat and fish, its good for you. Eliminating all meat is just silly. And it isn't healthy for your growing kids.
Since you and your spouse have only been vegetarians for a few days, I wouldn't necessarily think you are not going to stay vegen.
But if you do insist on no meat, you better offer tasty, healthy, alternatives because salad isn't going to cut it. you're raising kids- not rabbits

Answer 10

How about giving them a decision rather than forcing your views down their throats, literally.