Vegetarian daughter

[Cajunmomma]

My 14 year old daughter became a vegetarian about 4 months ago. I'm so proud of her resolve and philosophical approah to this, and I want to give her as much support as I can, but I don't know a whole lot about vegetarianism. I am concerned about her calorie intake, although the weight she's lost to this point isn't a problem. Can you all help me with recipes (simple ones, please) or book recommendations?

[Kelakemama]

What I had for lunch- children too!

I love brown rice. It's full of the good stuff and protien.

Today I made brown rice(I always make a bunch to keep iin the icebox for quick meals). Then I sauteed broccoli, green onion, silced carrots, sliced mushrooms, minced garlic and a TINY bit of minced fresh ginger. Splash some tamari or soy sauce, and you've got a healthy and yummy lunch or dinner.

All of my ingredients are organic also.

[Erin Pavlina]

Cajunmomma,

Check out my site on vegan parenting (www.vegfamily.com). I have recipes up there, books to read, etc. And if you have any questions at all, let me know. I'd be happy to help in any way I can. My husband and I have been vegan for 5 years and our daughter, Emily, has been vegan from birth. All is well over here.

[youngyogamama]

My whole family is vegetarian and very healthy. One cookbook that has fantastic meals that pleases carnivores and herbivores alike is called "Feeding the Whole Family" (advertised in Mothering). Good luck. Christine

[Becca]

There's a neat book called Becoming Vegetarian, that is full of great information about diet etc - it's written by two dieticians I think. It has sections on teenage veggies, tons about getting all the right vitamins and minerals etc. It also has a few good recipes in the back, and lots of meal ideas - even sample menus complete with nutritional breakdowns etc.
There's another by the same authors called Becoming Vegan, that would also be an excellent resource, even if she's not vegan.
Blessings, Becca

[m&m]

my dh used to be a vegetarian for over 10 years until he found out that it was not the best for his body type. But, before this he made many delicious vegetarian recepies that I actually liked too.

one is to take firm tofu and crumble it in your hands and mix it into spaghetti sauce and veggies.

the others are too complicated to get into here... one's for chili, the other lasangna, another for stir frys... etc.

Good luck

[bebe luna]

2 great vegetarian cookbooks-
1. World Vegetarian, by Maddur Jaffrey
2. The Moosewood Cookbook
Both have many tasty and diverse recipes.
I was raised a vegetarian since birth (I am now 25, and eat fish and chicken, very infrequently.). There should be no problem getting sufficient calories from a veg. diet. Most vegetarian protein is easier to digest and assimilate than animal proteins.
Some great staples to a veg. diet-
brown rice, yogurt (unless she is also vegan), plenty of steamed vegis, TVP granules (add to spaghetti sauce and chili), tofu, seitan, rice milk, nuts & nut butters, beans & legumes, oats, soy protein powder, vegi burgers.

[josie143]

granola bars

does any mamas out there have any recipes for granola bars im not quite sure where to post this ??? any help would greatly be appreciated

[PikkuMyy]

Josie, you are in the right forum but posting it on another person's thread about a different topic is against internet etiquette and also won't get you answers, esp. as this is a VERY old thread. I know you weren't sure.

What you need to go is just go from the MDC forum homepage, scroll down to Nutrition and Good Eating section and click on the "Vegetarian and Vegan Living" link. Then start a "new post" by clicking on the blue button at the top of the list of threads, and ask your question. Hope that helps!

[cathe]

There is a great books for teens called "The Vegetarian Manifesto". I reviewed it for VegFamily a while back - here's the link: http://www.vegfamily.com/book-review...-manifesto.htm . You might like it as well as it could help alleviate your concerns.

A fun cookbook for your daughter is:

Pretend Soup by Mollie Katzen


For you about your nutrition questions, check out:

Disease-Proof Your Child by Joel Fuhrman
THe China Study
The Family Nutrition Book by Dr. Sears

They will all reassure you about the healthiness of a plant based diet and give you some nutrition guidelines.

[cathe]

Oh - how funny. It just dawned on me what you said PikkuMy - that this is a very old thread . . .

Josie - I think we have had requests for granola bars before. If you go to the main Nutrition and Good Eating forum and do a search, you will probably find some recipes.

[celia]

Just wanted to say for supporting your daughter so whole-heartedly!!! DH and I only eat meat maybe once every few months-- my mom is TERRIFIED we may become vegetarians (GASP!!). So now every time we eat at her house she makes beef and tries to get DD to eat it ( I don't argue with her cause so far DD refuses to put any meat in her mouth anyway). I know it's simply ignorance on her part. She loves us and thinks we're doing something unhealthy... but still. I would love if she reacted more like you are to your daughter's decision.