Most of you know that I don’t post many personal details about our children on my blog. I’ve discussed it here. I occasionally share photos (as with today’s post) that show them as part of our family, but without identifying their faces and features. For the most part, I like to keep them anonymous so that they have their own life journeys apart from my blogging as an author.
Still, I AM a vegan mom of three strapping vegan girls! And, I realize that this is a unique perspective as a vegan author and blogger, and that I have useful information and experiences to share. I receive e-mails and comments daily about vegan parenting. So I know you are searching for more information and insight – either as vegans moving into parenthood… or parents moving into veganhood!
Last week I was struck with the idea to do a series on feeding vegan children. I should mention that I do share many family-friendly tips in my cookbooks, especially in Let Them Eat Vegan. There is an entire section in the back of the book called “Powering the Vegan Family” and “The Plant-Powered Lunchbox”. Plus, I sprinkle advice and tips all through the recipes. But, after a brief discussion on facebook (as well as numerous e-mails these past few weeks), I decided it was time to consider a “Feeding Your Plant-Powered Children” series – here, on my blog.
If I start this series, I need information from YOU. I need to know… what pieces of the puzzle you are missing, what stresses you, what is difficult, what is too time-consuming? I’d like to have a “Feeding Vegan Kids Wish List” of sorts. Tell me where you need help! Is it recipes? Day to day tips? Meal planning and preparation ideas? Social situation advice? Help with ingredient groups (ex: nuts or beans)? Lunch strategies? Snack ideas?
Tell me – What information would YOU like to tap into from this vegan mom of three?
My intuition tells me I am on track with this idea. I will run with this series if the response here is strong. I am off to Summerfest this week, and will work on ideas once I return. So, please comment if this is something you’d like. And, equally important – please share this idea to recruit more feedback. The buttons are above to share to pinterest, fb, etc, so get the word out – so I can get the word in!
Lisa says
I am a vegan but have 2 meat-loving men in my life. My 16yr old son is 7ft tall and eats non stop. He eats salads, etc. but I need foods that will fill him up longer than 30 min. My husband is over 300 lbs. They will both eat what I make for myself but I need more variety and menu options. Thanks so much for all you do.
Natalie says
Good point. I find it hard to satisfy my hubby’s big appetite too
~Kris says
like a couple of the comments mentioned above… fast meals (week nights are so busy, esp during the school year, but even in the summer too), as well as lunchbox meals that are not weird that my kids classmates will be making fun of them at lunch.
~Kris says
oh, and ideas for easy sleep away stuff.
between girl scout camp this past weekend, the lock-ins we have during the year – ideas for items that could be brought should what is offered not be suitable
Susan says
What would help me the most are ideas for meal planning with children (one 17 months and one 4 years old) and ideas for helping my 4 year old get into food outside of nuggets and mac n cheese.
Ha! I just read the above comment… yes. That’s us trying to wean off of junk food. The cow milk battle was long and there were some casualties along the road, but we’re finally to a place where the 4 year old accepts and asks for almond milk. So I know it CAN be done, I just have to get there.
I REALLY appreciate your help in this. It’s a challenge, but the more healthy vegans we can raise up the better chance we have of seeing our children’s generation live happy healthy LONG lives. I really want that for my girls.
Susan says
Fast meals… we need fast meals on occasion. Things I can keep on hand to whip up something to feed them on a late night.
Thanks again!
Kimberly says
I’m always on the lookout for lunchbox-friendly foods that aren’t too “weird”, for lack of a better word. After a year of sending lunch with my six-year-old, I feel like we’ve exhausted most of the go-to lunch ideas and he’s become pretty picky (it probably has something to do with what he sees his friends eating). The school is nut-free which makes things particularly difficult since many of our favourite things to eat are full of nuts (and he’s completely gone off sunflower seed butter).
He’s currently eating a container full of strawberries and grapes, a single serving of apple sauce and his drinking box of chocolate soy milk every day for lunch — I’m thrilled he’s eating so much fruit but the meal doesn’t seem particularly balanced. I try to make sure that over the course of the day he’s getting enough to eat but it’s challenging.
Natalie says
This is a good point too – my 2.5 year old is a grazer. He doesn’t really meals and he sure doesn’t eat a balance of things some days. One week he ate hummus and cereal. Another day he may gorge on broccoli at supper. Does it matter if every meal is balanced?
Janae @ Bring-Joy says
You’re on to something here! I get lots of emails too, about this, & haven’t gotten around to doing anything substantial. Funny thing is, maybe because all my kids have eaten vegan since birth (except oldest who was only 12 months when we went vegan), they don’t know any different, so I don’t really have any problems or issues with vegan food & my kids. We’ve had our challenges with picky eaters (but what kid doesn’t go through that stage at one point or another) but again, I don’t have the struggles that some parents do, where they’re trying to wean their kids off mac & cheese & chicken nuggets.
I’d say the most popular question I get is: What do you feed your kids? I think many people just have a big ? in their brains when they think of vegan “kid” food. Personally, I think what we feed our kids shouldn’t be all that different from what we’re feeding ourselves, but I totally understand how kids can be picky & harder to cook for & have slightly different nutritional needs since they’re growing like weeds!