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!
Susan Jeune says
Great idea!
Although not vegan, my husband and I are 80-90% plant strong and enjoy the loads of veggies/ww pasta, grains/legumes I serve at dinner and whole grains and fruits at breakfast—but I am at a loss when it comes to school lunches for my soon-to-be second grader. My son loves our plant-strong/whole foods diet but when it comes to school lunch variety with enough protein in it, I’m stumped. Please help! (I’ve recently noticed horizontal ridges/lines on my son’s toenails and am suspecting he may be protein deficient—hence the protein strong school lunches mention above). Thanks!!
Jodie says
Fabulous idea, Dreena! And such perfect timing … I am pregnant with my first, and vegan with a partner who is “almost vegan” – our definition of that is that he eats vegan happily when I make meals, however he incorporates some organic free-range chicken and freshly caught fish 1-3 x per week into his diet. Major areas of assistance:
– sample meal plan for what your kids eat (I don’t want to feed my kids separate kid foods, my hope is that they’ll eat what we eat (which is so often made from your cookbooks, thank you!)
– nutrition facts on things like calcium, protein, can a kid be an athlete as a vegan?, etc.
– social situations (birthday parties, BBQ’s, etc.) and how to deal (if dairy is the only thing there, is there a chance I should let them have it on those rare occasions?)
– hybrid vegan families advice – this may not be your experience as your whole immediate family is vegan, but from comments above, it seems like there are many families where the male partner is not a vegan, so tips in this area would be helpful (we are considering letting our kids choose to try “Dad’s free-range chicken” on the special occasion he eats it, to avoid rebellion later, although I’m hoping our kids choose vegan eventually).
– tips for reasons why we eat the way we do – beyond we don’t eat animals, since my partner does occasionally – green plant-food makes you stronger like Popeye, perhaps? 🙂
Looking forward to seeing the series! Best of luck!
Tonya says
This is a great idea! Please please please run with it! Ever since I started breastfeeding my son I stopped consuming all dairy myself. The thought of consuming an animal’s breast milk just grosses me out now. This has also made me question all animal products, so I have jumped in with both feed and started researching food, which I how I found you and your cookbook LTEV. I make all of my son’s food, so he has not had any animal’s products. However, my husband isn’t sold on this “no animal products” thing. He says he doesn’t think that we can meet our son’s needs without giving him meat/dairy. So having nutritional facts on the food I prepare would be helpful. The other things I struggle with is the time it takes preparing (throwing meat on the grill is SO easy so unless I have things prepared, my husband will just throw meat on the grill for a fast dinner). Also, I need help with food variety so we just aren’t eating salads/beans/rice every meal. And finally I need help preparing foods that are soft enough for my son to eat and use his fingers (he refuses to eat from a spoon right now). I just discovered that if I make a chunkier puree and freeze it and then cut it into finger size pieces he will eat the puree frozen. : ) He is also teething! Thank you for all that you have taught me so far. I’m really looking forward to your specialized help in raising my son vegan!
Tonya says
P.S. My son’s blood work is showing him to be anemic. This has given my husband even more reason to say we need to give him meat/dairy. So right now I really need guidance on 11 month old age appropriate foods rich in iron, that can be eaten as a finger food.
Jessica says
Hi Tonya,
I am just another reader but felt compelled to respond to your comment. I have two toddlers and we eat vegan about 90% of the time. I totally connected with your post and sense how much you want to do what is best for your son and feel confident in your choices. It’s hard when our husbands or other family members bring up concerns. I want to strongly recommend Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s book, Disease Proof Your Child. http://www.amazon.com/Disease-Proof-Your-Child-Feeding-Right/dp/0312338082 . You may already have it but just in case you don’t I thought I’d put it out there. It gave me a lot of confidence and really gave my husband some peace of mind. Lastly, around 11 months, one of my kids favorites was Ezekiel bread toasted with a generous amount of hummus spread on it and cut into bite sized pieces. My son loved hummus so much he ate it by the handful. 🙂 Hummus is a staple we have on hand often. I have even found vegan eating to be faster and easier than cooking with meat. I can throw together hummus a whole lot faster than dealing with meat. And keeping cans of chickpeas in the pantry much easier than having fresh meat. Best wishes!
Jessica says
I recently discovered your blog and I am over-the-moon excited about this post (and of course your answers!). I have an 18 month old and a 3 year old. W e eat 90/10 vegan. Some cheese and eggs here and there and freedom when we eat outside of home. I have plenty of ideas for healthy cookies, muffins, breakfast, etc. By far, my biggest struggle is with greens. My kids are tired of green smoothies. The novelty of smoothies has worn off long ago and they last about 2-3 sips and move on. (I’m a decent smoothie maker with a Blendtec). 🙂 Kale chips are good too but I’m wondering what else I can do with greens. My 3 year old son is a somewhat picky eater and really only likes carrots and sweet potatoes. He picks even zucchini (so bland and mild!) out of soups etc. Any ideas? So, here is my list of areas I’d love some help in:
1. Greens
2. Other vegetables
3. Easy main dishes
Thank you!!!
Heather says
My problem is LUNCH! My kids are tired of PB&J. They take their lunch to school (I know it is summer now, but school approaches). There is no fridge at school. So it has to be able to hold up in Texas. I put ice packs in their boxes, but even that doesn’t always help. Even strawberries melt sometimes. I need sometime to do besides PB&J. Oh, and did I mention they are a little picky and won’t eat hummus. 🙂 I tried that one. Dinner has been a breeze. Breakfast is done with ease. It is lunch that is the trial for me and those little babies. My kids are 13, 10 and 6. The 13 year old is not a problem it is the other ones.