Vegan teen wwyd

[Claybury]

18DS decided out of the blue to follow vegan diet. He has no cooking skills and no desire to learn or engage with me in the kitchen. What should I do

1. let him eat what he wants out of the normal foods we have as a family ( which would not be a balanced vegan diet )
   
2. go out of my way to cook separately for him
   It is a nuisance as he won't eat family meals but if he was willing to meal plan and cook for himself I wouldn't mind. Problem is he appears in the kitchen at 6pm hungry saying 'what can I eat ?' He cannot comprehend that meaks especially vegan food take more than 5 minutes planning.
   In his favour I will add he will eat almost anything - he's not remotely fussy.

[BertrandRussell]

And look at mil threads to see what future dils think of mothers who "don't teach their sons to cook". fils get off a it free surprisingly enough.......

[Claybury]

Lljkk- nah I cooked the lentils. I have been cooking a pan of vegan - lentil- chickpea whatever slop a couple of times a week which he can eat for a couple of days and I might have once. I have been trying to compromise but I don't feel I should go out of my way to accommodate his veganism seeing as it is his choice and he is 18.
Blu- I have been doing as you say, avocados and humous galore. He hasn't really spoken much at home since he was 13.
As round says, hopefully he'll get to uni and have new influences....

[cdtaylornats]

Remind him Vegan = no beer unless its on this list
www.camra.org.uk/factsheets/-/asset_publisher/tsssSmaAGkUE/content/vegan-and-vegetari-1?_101_INSTANCE_tsssSmaAGkUE_redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.camra.org.uk%2Ffactsheets%3Fp_p_id%3D101_INSTANCE_tsssSmaAGkUE%26p_p_lifecycle%3D0%26p_p_state%3Dnormal%26p_p_mode%3Dview%26p_p_col_id%3Dcolumn-3%26p_p_col_pos%3D1%26p_p_col_count%3D2&redirect=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.camra.org.uk%2Ffactsheets%3Fp_p_id%3D101_INSTANCE_tsssSmaAGkUE%26p_p_lifecycle%3D0%26p_p_state%3Dnormal%26p_p_mode%3Dview%26p_p_col_id%3Dcolumn-3%26p_p_col_pos%3D1%26p_p_col_count%3D2

[rogueantimatter]

How about giving him the vegetable accompaniments you're cooking with your chicken, meat, fish etc and put nuts and seeds on the table for him to eat with them? Or heat up bought falafel? Obviously that won't work if you're having curry/pasta in a sauce or similar . Sigh

I'd buy milk alternatives which have added b12 and calcium.

Nut and seed butters are easy to use - there are loads apart from peanut butter; pumpkin seed, almond, cashew etc Also hummus.

I don't eat dairy or eggs (intolerant) but I eat more meat than I'd like to (fish is a problem as are pulses) so I sometimes mix a spoon of hemp protein powder (available from many supermarkets) in a tiny amount of water and neck it if I'm having (vegetable) soup. (I don't enjoy it) I also buy seaweed seasoning (very nutritious) and also packets of seaweed sheets (from waitrose) to eat as a snack. The latter are quite nice but have virtually no calories so only a contribution to his nutrition not his calorific requirements.

I think I'd be inclined to try to insist that he learn how to make lentil soup - it's so easy and freezes beautifully.

(DD (then 18) lived with a bf who decided to become veggie with the intention of going vegan. She was supportive but lamented his apathy when it came to cooking. Also he decided that anything bought from proctor and gamble or lever was unethical but rarely ever did the shopping....He got thinner and tired and lethargic and she broke up with him after a while. Apparently she knows loads of vegans her age)

I sympathise with your dilemma.

[whois]

Ok since he hates cooking and isn't fussy.... what about this?

huel.com/

It is 100% vegan, nutritionally complete i.e. it can replace lal his meals. All he has to do is weigh out or scoop out the amount of powder he wants to equal the amount of calories he thinks he needs, and mix it with water in a blender (do not hand mix, its gross like that). Dinner in about 3 mins.

Something like £1.50 a meal so cheap too :-)