DD's Diet

[Guest guest]

, " mainvillefamily "

<mainvillefamily wrote:

>

> My dd (11 in September) is the only vegetarian in the house (the

rest

> of us were just too weak, lol) -- she's been a lacto-ovo vegetarian

> for almost a year now, and has never wavered in her decision.

>

> BUT, she's kind of " picky " . I hate to use that word b/c I don't

want

> to label her as such (I don't want her to think " I'm a picky eater

so

> I don't have to eat that or try something new " ) She won't eat bell

> peppers, onions, fresh spinach or any other fresh greens, cabbage,

> tomatoes, zucchinin, squash, sweet potatoes, most dried beans and

> other veggies that I cook.

>

> She will eat, broccoli, corn, pinto beans (usually only refried -

> she " sometimes " eats the dry beans I've cooked), green beans, baby

> carrots and lettuce. I'm sure there are a few other things. While

> she likes lettuce, she isn't crazy about salads. She'll eat them,

> but it can be a mild arguement to get her too. he doesn't like

> anything w/ tomato sauce or spaghetti sauce (except pizza)

>

> She eats pasta, rice, and couscous. But I feel like she's just not

> eating enough of the right things. I feel like she needs more

> veggies in her diet. She's happy to eat fettucini alfredo and a

> boiled egg or two everyday -- but even that isn't healthy to eat

> everyday! There is very little variety in her diet and I'm worried

> she's not eating enough protein and other essential vitamins.

>

> She does take a multi-vitamin, but who knows how much of that is

> actually absorbed, plus I want her to get the majority of her

> nutrients from food!

>

> I don't want to argue w/ her over it, but I do want her to eat

> better. The family has always supported her, always, but I just

> cannot keep making her a separate meal (I already make a separate

> meal for my 2 yr old if there is something we're eating w/ dairy in

> it b/c he's allergic). So I don't want to have to make 3 different

> meals every time we eat!

>

> I dont' want to sound selfish like I'm not catering to her, because

I

> am --- but for example, last night I made rotini in veggie broth

with

> sauteed fresh spinach, mushrooms and tomatoes (sauteed in olive oil

> w/ a little lemon juice) and left the chicken on the side for her

dad

> and brothers, served it w/ homemade foccacia (w/ olive oil and

basil

> dressing/dip) and a side of fresh steamed broccoli -- so of

course

> all she wants to eat is the broccoli and foccacia! She wouldn't

> touch the noodles b/c she doesn't like mushrooms and tomatoes! I

> told her if it was that big of a deal she shoud just pick them out,

> then it's " well I don't like the spinach either " .

>

> Seriously, I thought that was a great vegetarian meal (w/o the

> chicken of course which like I said was on the side) -- but she

> just " thinks " she doesn't like mushrooms (although she'll eat them

> when she doesn't know they're in something) and thinks she doesn't

> like tomatoes or spaghetti sauce (even though that's whats on

pizza) -

> so she won't even give it a chance.

>

> I believe food battles are totally non-productive and

create " eating

> stress " , I don't want meal time to be a source of anxiety for her

> thinking " what is mom going to argue w/ me about at this meal " . I

> don't want her to avoid meal time, or to think of food as the

enemy.

> I believe meal time is a family affair and food should be enjoyed.

> The dinner table is my favorite place in the house and the entire

> family sits down to dinner every night together. Meal time is

> important to me, time that we take out of our day to spend with

each

> other w/o worrying about the hassles of the world! But lately,

it's

> just not that way!

>

> I don't want to argue w/ her - but her diet HAS to improve. I

> include her in the meal planning and she says, " Sure, I'll try

that "

> but the minute she looks at a new dish, she already decides she

> doesn't like it!

>

> I love her dearly and want to encourage her eating choices (for her

> it is moral and spiritual), but I am also concerned that she is not

> eating properly!

>

> Any advice on how to handle this or how to balance her diet (w/o

> having to cook a separate " major " meal each mealtime)? Any advice

is

> appreciated!

>

> Thanks,

> Stacee

>

I notice you didn't mention fruit. Does DD eat much fruit?

Also, I hope she has no weight issues or thinks she has. It sounds to

me, Stacee, that you are doing everything you possibly can, and you

are more than catering to a myriad of tastes. Personally, I would

involve your dear daughter directly in the cooking experience. Let

her help and be creative. She will be more likely to eat, if she has

a hand in the preparation, and you will be spending quality time on a

one to one level. You are so fortunate to have a child with well

developed moral and spiritual beliefs.

May you both be richly blessed, Jack

[Guest guest]

, " maxium62001 "

<maxium62001 wrote:

>

> I notice you didn't mention fruit. Does DD eat much fruit?

> Also, I hope she has no weight issues or thinks she has. It sounds to

> me, Stacee, that you are doing everything you possibly can, and you

> are more than catering to a myriad of tastes. Personally, I would

> involve your dear daughter directly in the cooking experience. Let

> her help and be creative. She will be more likely to eat, if she has

> a hand in the preparation, and you will be spending quality time on a

> one to one level. You are so fortunate to have a child with well

> developed moral and spiritual beliefs.

> May you both be richly blessed, Jack

>

 

Yes, she eats a good deal of fruit. Not a lot of variety - but she

eats canteloupe, watermelon, apples, mandarin oranges, clementines, and

a few other things. She's not really into berries or bannanas though.

 

No, she has no weight issues. She's actually just about perfect, lol,

not too skinny and not too big.

 

She does help w/ the cooking, but she's funny about it, she'll help

make anything (except meat) but won't eat it. Like, she likes to cut

mushrooms b/c it's fun - but she won't eat them. She's goofy =)

 

I bought her a vegetarian cookbook a while back that she's kind of

ignored (apparently too many veggies, lol), but I got a new one from

the library also. I told her to pick a few recipes and she is going to

learn to cook them. Hopefully that will help =) So even on the nights

the family is eating meat, she can make her own meal -- then we'll both

be happy =)

 

And yes, I am very fortunate, thank you. She has always been (and

always will be) such a sweet, thoughtful, smart, intelligent child!

 

Thanks,

Stacee