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From:	Hrundle (38.118.49.41)
Subject:	Daughter won't eat meat... and other stuff. Any suggestions?
Date:	March 18, 2010 at 7:15 am PST

Okay, I am not a vegetarian. But honestly, I don't care if I eat meat or not. If I end up not buying/cooking it anymore, I am fine with that. Most foods I like don't have mat in them anyway, so it doesn't matter so much. But I don't actively eliminate it from my diet. I hope that makes sense.

I am posting in a vegetarian forum because I am hoping you can help me figure out some vegetarian foods my growing daughter might eat. I also hope you don't mind and outsider asking for advice.

Here's the background.

My 5-year-old daughter has decided she doesn't like to eat meat because, in her words, "it's mean to eat animals."

I am not sure how she concluded that, but am not going to force her to eat meat, as it seems to be an ethical issue for her. I mean she cried the day she figured out that chicken meat came from chickens for example. So this isn't a matter of a stubborn child, it really does bother her on an emotional level. But she is stubborn and picky too.

But at the same time, I am worry about getting her the proper nutrition. I've tried buying "Boca" stuff for us to eat (which tastes fine to me) but she won't eat it, even when I explain it's not made form any animals (she will try it and say it's yucky).

She won't drink milk, but she will eat cheese and yogurt and I sometimes make her hot tea that's 1/4 tea and 3/4 milk--she'll drink that (I drink a lot of tea, so I think she gets that from me, lol).

She hates almost all vegetables and I only can seem to get her to eat carrots and potatoes (with a lot of protest). Anything green... forget it. She will eat some beans, but won't eat things like hummus or those soybeans, etc. She hates food that's mixed together (like stews, chili, etc) and asks me to "separate it".

So basically I am down to her eating fruit (including tomatoes and avocados--which some people call veggies) and breads. I've been giving her supplements, but I don't think that's the best way to get nutrition. I can deal with the no meat thing, I can substatue other stuff, I know. But she won't eat that other stuff either.

I have a book called "Veginomicon" (hope I spelled that right) that was recommend to me by a vegan friend of mine. It's got some great recipes in it, but so far she only likes the cookies.

Now that I've given the story, I ask that you please don't judge me since I am not a vegetarian. I am coming to you for help in helping my daughter be a vegetarian if that's what she thinks is the right thing to do. I am coming to you as fellow parents because I am hoping as vegetarians, you have a lot of knowledge and experience about veg diets, children, and picky eaters.

Do any of you have recipes or ideas that are vegetarian, nutritious, and kid friendly? I've heard of doing things like baking veggies into muffins and such, but have had little luck finding such recipes (even using Google).

Thanks!

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