Vegan dd hates pulses

[DharmaDisciple]

E is now 11 and has been raised vegan like all of us. The problem is that she is liking less and less of what we eat. She eats no fruit but lives on salted popcorn. We make all our meals from fresh and buy in no processed food. She won't even eat pasta unless it's the right shape. She hates all pulses and many grains, hates onion and garlic (all the things I love)

I'm really worried she'll get an eating disorder. I want her to eat healthily, but not have a food battle. But if I cook her chips and beans my youngest (2) will want some as well- I just don't want to have this as a basis for our diet. I have considered going vegetarian, but there would still be little difference with what she would eat unless it comes out of a packet (which would cost too much to buy) Any ideas what to do? Do I just let my children eat junk food or do I continue to offer wholesome food at the table?

[Girl Named Sandoz]

Hey there,

first let me suggest this website:
www.vegfamily.com

It is all about raising vegan children, vegan pregnancy, vegan teens etc - in short, being a vegan family (microcosmic and macrocosmic ). I am a diary writer there...
You will find some great advice on vegan nutrition for teens and there are also message boards where you will find good advice.

IMO, your daughter is going through a typical "teen" phase... does she like tofu, tempeh, seitan etc? All great ways to get protein! And you can get them in shapes/ textures that look more like typical "teen" food (hamburgers, sausages etc.).

See you over at vegfamily for some more discussion!

[OceanMomma]

I have / had this problem with dd#1 who is now 17. I just didn't give her any junk. She ate everyone elses. I think I stuffed up really by making food my battle with her. She still does not eat meat. Is massive on dairy. Strangely enuf she still eats tofu raw out of the packet, but only while none of her friends are around

She did the whole eating disorder thing as it is a massive attention getter. Plus left home recently to live with the boyfriend. I decided to just go for calories & get her stuff she will eat. Like pizza, organic chocolate, home baked cookies, chips ( with organic potatoes ), vitamins pills that fizz & pop, tofu.... She will eat green salad with vinagrette. Aoli is also a big fave. Feta cheese but it has to be goats. Fresh strawberries & raspberries too. Freshly squeezed orange juice. I hide red lentils in things like pasta sauce or pumpkin or tomato soup but not so many as she'll notice them. She'll eat wholewheat pita bread as well. Freshly cooked bread with butter. Vegan chocolate mousse. Marinated roasted veges.....It's just a matter of finding out what she will eat then adapting a meal around it so everyone else can have dinner too. Getting her to help cook may help so she gets to make herself something healthy. Get her a cook book like the Voluptuous vegan & get her to make you all one meal a week from it but make that the only restriction you put on the meal she cooks.

I know a woman who is in her late 20s who was raised by an organic gardening no sugar & junk Mom who still eats good food. I asked her how come she still eats decently. She told me that she thinks that it is cell memory. Her body grew up with decent food so she has found that she gets ill if she eats junk. So maybe it's just a phase they have to go thru ? I know when dd#1 went away for 10 days about a year ago they went on this boat around New Zealand. There were 40 teenagers. One girl other than her was a vegetarian & she was the other first vege dd had met who has been vege from birth ( sad but true ) Anyways she ate veges & all those sort of healthy things so her & dd got into the kitchen & made all sorts together. So maybe company will help so she doesn't feel like the wierd one out. Yet again I'm back to the whole commune thing!

Edited coz I forgot to say dd has never been into meat substitutes - except there is one brand of vege sausage I can get her to eat here with mustard. I think I saw some else like maybe Sierra who had been brought up vege say the same thing.

[amy mama]

I would like to gently inquire if maybe your daughter is already struggling with food/body issues? Often, extremely picky eating is a sign of someone who is already in the beginning stages of a more serious problem. Hopefully I'm way off base.

[hydrangea]

BTW, in the USA we use the word legumes for pulses. I'm just pointing this out in case anyone else wanted to answer but wasn't sure what pulses were.

My children are much younger so I'm not much help. Good luck!

[bebe luna]

I was raised vegetarian... as well as no junk, no sugar, etc.. I was soooo picky, especially through preteen and teen years. it drove my mom crazy! All I liked to eat was bagels, cheese, pasta, juice... I avoided all vegis, most fruits, nuts, beans, whole grains...but I got over it! I took a few years from 17-21 eating meat, but never could eat it often... Now at 28 I am almost vegan (I eat fish), eat 90% organic, very healthy, very clean, lots of vegis, whole foods diet... my son is vegan...
I think it's common w/ kids to be picky or even rebellious. Don't give it too much attention or worry. Keep the foods you want your kids to eat in the house, make the meals you believe in, and let her make the food choices she wishes to make... your examples and provision of healthy foods will effect her, and most likely when she's older and more sensible she will make healthy balanced choices.
I would provide her w/ a good multi vitamin or EmergenC for kids drinks, just so you know she's getting enough vitamins and minerals.