Any help re DD 11 wanting to become vegetarian?

[bradsmissus]

Well, she's nearly 11. She wants to be vegetarian which I have no probelms with, in fact I'm rather proud! (Not sure why?!)

I am not a vegetarian so any advice on what your vegetarian DCs like to eat and whether she needs any supplements? She is a good eater, not really fussy and will try most things.

Taking DS to bed now but back later for all your MN veggie wisdom!

[paranoidmother]

Hi am a none veggie but I would suggest as she's 11 you could look on the internet or library with her for suggestions of what she might like to try and perhaps you and your family would try with her. Would she like to help in the kitchen to?

veggie society also have ideas info for children.

[janeite]

DD1 (14) has been 'mostly veggie' for most of her life and is now totally veggie again.

DD2 (12) was always a confirmed carnivore but has just become veggie.

I've been veggie for over 20 years / dp is a carnivore!

Things that both girls are happy to gobble up include:

Pasta with homemade pesto and roasted vege;
Lentils in any shape or form;
chickpea curry;
chickpea tagine with cous cous;
thai curry with tofu or cashew nuts or omelette strips for protein;
cheese and potato bake with vege;
falafel, pitta, salad etc;
veggie sausage casserole and baked potatoes or homemade wedges;
noodles and stir fry vege including soy beans with honey, chilli, soy etc;
they like quorn fillets but I can't stand them - they marinade them in soy, garlic etc before cooking;
veggie sausages with mash and savoy, or as toad in the hole.

Hope that gives you a few ideas!

They've never had supplements and tend towards the disgustingly healthy side.

[ChuppaChups]

yawn....

[Yurtgirl]

Chuppachups - why be so rude?
Dont click on the thread if it doesnt interest you!!!

Janeites list is really good - but Janeite you are definitely a better cook than me

Hurrah for your dd - long may her wise eating continue

Perhaps you could try being a veggie household for a few days each week - its easier to cook entirely veggie rather than a meat meal and a veggie meal
Also you can try preparing a veggie meal, dish up dds and then add the meat element

HTH

[janeite]

Thank you Yurt Girl. Chuppa is bringing something from another thread and following me around. I feel like a celebrity!

[ChuppaChups]

everyone else is rude so i will be too!

[Jas]

I was going t suggest the same as Yurtgirl - ging veggie with her.

This is what my mum did when I stopped eating meat at about 10, as it was much easier to cook a veggie meal for everyone and do extra meat fr my carnivore family than try and cook me a seperate meal every day.

I still use books by Rose Elliott. They are probably quite dated now, but great fr basic family friendly foods.

[Spidermama]

My dd decided to be veggie at the age of about 7. She's now 11 so people are finally realising it's not a phase.

I'm veggie but my DH and the three DSs eat meat so I often do a meat option and a veggie option.

As a family we (or rather they) eat meat just once or twice a week. DH is a great cook and doesn't mind doing the veggie option. It's worth having things like these in the freezer. Tivall are expensive but they do really nice veggie stuff including hot dog sausages.

It's also worth going to the health food shop now and again for veggie ideas.

I use lots of beans, lentils and nuts. They're good for protein. Rose Elliot's Bean Book is very good but my favourite veggie cookbook is Leith's Vegetarian Bible which is absolutely great.

It doesn't occur to me to cook meat (dh does that) so all my meal ideas are veggie anyway.

Some general rules -- Puy lentils are lovely. Much more tasty than orange ones. Otherwise you'll have to experiement with different beans as they all taste different. Some are sweeter or nuttier than others.

Frijoles or refried beans are good. Soak pinto beans overnight then boil. Then fry some finely chopped onion, add the mashed up beans and fry them. Add a tin of tomatoes and some chilli, a slug of oil and you have frijoles. This can be served in tacos or burritoes with cheese, salad, soured cream and salsa.

By the way, good on you for taking this so well and rising to the challenge. Excellent mum work!!

[bradsmissus]

Thanks all for advice and links/ideas.

She has found the Young Veggie website today. She has also been through my weekly menu and come up with some ways we can adapt our meals so she can eat similar things, meat free. I have decided to eat some of her veggie meals too as I want her to feel supported.

We are going to go to the supermarket together in the week, once school hols start, and look at ingredients.

She does like to help with cooking so it should all be quite a fun thing for us to do together.

[BCNS]

ohhh great link .. we doing this with ds1 at the moment.. 2 weeks in and he's still going strong bless him

[janeite]

Let us know what you buy - you will be able to inspire the rest of us!