Dd refusing to eat meat.

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Dd1 (10) has for the last few years went off meat bit by bit and she has now got to the point where she will eat none. This in itself is not a problem. The problem is that she will also not eat cheese, eggs (unless in something like yorkshire pudding but not omelette) shes gone off pasta (think she sickened herself with it as its all she would eat at 1 point)

In fact I think its easier to say what she will eat: crackers/butter, bread and butter, salad and veg, chips, crisps, thats about it actually. I've blown up at her a bit today when she wouldnt eat her dumpling (mince and dumplings) because there was a tiny bit mince still on it, so I've said, ok you want to be a vegetarian, then you will do it correctly so no more haribos, dumplings have suet in, gravy is not veggie (she likes both) etc. I know ive probably shot myself in the foot there, but I'm really worried as I think shes losing weight.

So now im totally stuck on what to feed her. She comes home for dinner as she wasnt eating them and has bread and butter everyday with a bit tomato and cue and crisps (hate her having crisps everyday but she'd not eat otherwise)

I've tried her on quorn chicken and mince, linda mccartney sausages (taste like stuffing which she doesn't like) she wont eat pizza, pasta unless its plain (but like I said above she wont eat it much now)

Any ideas would be very gratefully received.

Was that the flavoured couscous in a packet? If so I don't blame her- it's gross.
Asking her to make a list of what she will eat is a bit unfair, she is probably unaware of the foodstuffs that are available.

This is a journey you have to ecplore together,

No I made it. Couscous in veg stock then baked in oven with a knob of butter. Dp ate it which must mean it was nice! I've tried the packet ones the 1st time I tried couscous and I never ate it again for years thinking it was disgusting.

Don't write off recipes with onion in them. You can omit it altogether or substitute chopped leeks if she'll eat those or finely chopped white cabbage. It works absolutely fine.

Dishes that have cheese on top - you can use hummous as a substitute. I used to do this when vegan, and it works really well with most things.

Rather than asking her to think up meals that she likes, maybe take her food shopping with you. Even if she just picks out some raw veg and a different cereal, that's a start. She can see what catches her eye.

I would be having a discussion with her acknowledging her right to choose what she eats but that being veg/an she has a responsibility to ensure she has proper nutritious food and that you will her with this but that she has to agree to try new foods so you can discover meals she likes. If she won't eat vegetables then game over.

Would she eat paneer? If so (or you think she might) then paneer shashliks without the onion might work.

Re veggie recipe books, I like the Hamlyn All Colour Vegetarian cookbook. Mine is ancient but there's probably a new edition available.

You can get veggie suet for dumplings, I make them sometimes. Not the healthiest option, but nice occasionally.

These are quite nice vegetarian burgers. You can make them spicy by adding more of the cumin. I'd recommend making sure the oil is really hot though otherwise they come out mushy. Still tasted good though.

nothing to add to the range of advice already posted, but read you were after an easy bombay potato recipe, so hope this helps. Good luck!

tyne-teas.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/potato-andor-cauliflower-curry.html

Thanks for all the help and suggestions. I made those veggie burgers by agirlcalledjack and she did have a bite, but didnt like it (I thought they were yummy and will be making them again!)

I showed her the bbc vegetarian site and asked her to have a look through and bookmark a few that she would try, but she's added stuff like pasta with cheese sauce which I know she wont eat, but will give it another go.

Houmous is also a no-go Going to try her with tofu in the week. Does it have a taste?

Tofu doesn't really have a taste which is why it's really good in stir fry dishes with a strong flavour. You can also use it instead of scrambled egg - not my cup of tea personally but a lot of vegan folk do.

If you do use tofu make sure you press out (with kitchen towel) all the liquid from it first. That makes it more solid and easier to cook with. Just cut it into strips and fry as you could chicken etc. Or you can crumble it over a stir fry dish in the last stages. If you freeze blocks of it and cook from frozen it makes it more solid again and changes the texture. Worth experimenting with. I used to really like it with veg and noodles in a stir fry. Dh hated it however so I guess we're all different!

You will probably need to try her with a lot of things more than once before she takes to them - most fussy eaters/children who are suspicious of new foods tend to instantly say they don't like things, but repeated exposure can change their minds.

From what you've said she wants to bed veggie for animal welfare reasons not because she doesn't like meat.

Best thing to do is to support her being veggie and cook her what she will eat perhaps including her in cooking meal planning and shopping will open her up to more foods.

I'm currently not veggie but we only have meat 2 a week max (been veggie on and off for 15 years) I don't eat fake meat substitutes as they are horrible processed things that generally taste/smell yuk!

Would you consider maybe all the family going veggie for a while so she's doesn't feel like she's being really awkward.

I know it will take time for her to "learn" to like new things, however we are on a budget so cannot buy/make things that are 90% likely going to be thrown away.

Dp would not be happy going veggie. I would if I had more experience, but I'm a pretty novice cook and can't really cook without a recipe and even then we've never really been ones for "fancy" food (by fancy I do include mozzarella, spinach, ricota, houmous etc lol) Its just not something we were brought up with ourselves (working class here)

However I am going to try and introduce things bit by bit when possible

(I do however agree with dd about houmous being yak!)

To put a new slant on this. We were in town yesterday and dd really wanted a Frozen Anna dress from the Disney store. I said no, its way too much (£30) so she said thatif i were eto get her it she'll start to eat meat. (I said no obviously) This has confirmed to me that it has nothing to do with animal welfare and all to do with her being a fussy begger. So from now on she eats what she's given or nothig at all, I'm too busy to runa round after her.

Oh and she has not tried any of the veggie things I have made for her in the last month or so.