Introducing meat in a vegetarian family

[Anonymous]

Op here. Eating chicken is not going to help him overcome his rigidity. It’ll add one more thing to his repertoire of acceptable food. He eats a healthy mix of whole grains, beans, lentils and vegetables at home made the Indian way . But that’s cause he is familiar with it. He will not eat brocolli, cauliflower or mushrooms. It’s very difficult to find balanced vegetarian food on the go without these.
I’m hoping to improve his range to help him eat healthy when he is on his own.
I’m looking for names of dishes I can order.

I was planning to start with chipotle burrito bowl with a small portion of chicken.
To the white fish commentator: what’s the name of the dish I should order. Fish and chips?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Eating chicken is not going to help him overcome his rigidity. It’ll add one more thing to his repertoire of acceptable food. He eats a healthy mix of whole grains, beans, lentils and vegetables at home made the Indian way . But that’s cause he is familiar with it. He will not eat brocolli, cauliflower or mushrooms. It’s very difficult to find balanced vegetarian food on the go without these.
I’m hoping to improve his range to help him eat healthy when he is on his own.
I’m looking for names of dishes I can order.

I was planning to start with chipotle burrito bowl with a small portion of chicken.
To the white fish commentator: what’s the name of the dish I should order. Fish and chips?

Does he eat vegetarian chipotle burrito bowls now? If so, this isn't a bad idea.

I wonder if an Indian restaurant that serves meat would be a good place to start. Often meat cooked in an Indian way is very soft, and there might be familiar spices and tastes.

If you choose to do fish, a restaurant that serves grilled fish tacos would be a good choice. I probably wouldn't start with something deep fried like fish and chips.

[Anonymous]

Op again. How do I know what fish is used in grilled fish? Should there be anything specific I should be looking for?

[Anonymous]

I was vegetarian for 14 years and broke it with chick fil a nuggets. Yes it’s fast food but they also have high protein and relatively reasonable fat and calories.

[Anonymous]

You can’t eat restaurant meat, it’s bottom of the barrel. You need grass fed meat otherwise it will upset his stomach.

[Anonymous]

I’m unclear as to why you feel you need to introduce meat. A vegetarian meals are available everywhere and so common and easy to accommodate as opposed to a vegan diet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Serious question: how will eating chicken help him "cope once he is on his own" better?

I'm not a vegetarian, but I don't see why your son can't eat beans and pulses, and possibly some organic eggs or cheese if he wants, for protein? I would think this would be healthier? Can you concentrate on teaching him to cook balanced vegetarian meals?

I lived in South Asia for a few years for work and really liked the vegetarian meal options: such variety and flavor. I don't think your son is missing anything essential, and worry that a young man who wasn't taught to cook balanced meals on his own but has now been encouraged to eat fast food chicken might fall down an unhealthy rabbit hole of fast food and unhealthy eating when he is on his own.

+1. Especially if you/he don’t plan to cook meat, the cheaper options are going to be unhealthy. What problem are you trying to solve? That is relevant. Not enough options if he goes to a rural college, needs to gain weight/muscle, etc etc? FWIW, I don’t think meat is needed, but it would be helpful to know.
- raised Indian vegetarian, now an omnivore, in a nuclear family composed of both.

[Anonymous]

Start with butter chicken at an Indian restaurant.

Other easy to eat non-veg outside of home/restaurant is chicken nuggets. Any fast food place will have it.

Start with chicken and eggs first. Add crispy bacon as the next thing.

My suggestion to you would be introduce foods from Indian, Thai, Chinese restaurants because non-veg is used sparingly even in the meat dishes. There is enough other ingredients to transform the taste of the meat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m unclear as to why you feel you need to introduce meat. A vegetarian meals are available everywhere and so common and easy to accommodate as opposed to a vegan diet.

+1
I think kid is going away to college and mom is panicking.. I would suggest start with easy things like chicken nuggets and fish fingers. All of these are fried food and generally more palatable.

[Anonymous]

What about chicken biryani? Or goat biryani? Start with that. Ask the restaurant to make it boneless.

[Anonymous]

Brocolli soup, fried cauliflower, stuffed mushrooms.

Get him eating these first.

[Anonymous]

I would start with a chicken and vegetable curry since that’s something mostly familiar to him.

[Anonymous]

My suggestion is to cut it up small and use it in the place you are currently using other legumes in your cooking - start there with flavors he's already adjusted to.

Agree with others, chicken nuggets are easy and everywhere.

The good news is chicken is so bland and can really be added to anything. Once he likes it, he'll like it in anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m unclear as to why you feel you need to introduce meat. A vegetarian meals are available everywhere and so common and easy to accommodate as opposed to a vegan diet.

+1
I think kid is going away to college and mom is panicking.. I would suggest start with easy things like chicken nuggets and fish fingers. All of these are fried food and generally more palatable.

I was imagining that kid was much younger, and OP was looking down the road.

If kid is in high school, or a recent graduate, then OP needs to ask him if he would like to try meat, and what in particular he'd like to try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Eating chicken is not going to help him overcome his rigidity. It’ll add one more thing to his repertoire of acceptable food. He eats a healthy mix of whole grains, beans, lentils and vegetables at home made the Indian way . But that’s cause he is familiar with it. He will not eat brocolli, cauliflower or mushrooms. It’s very difficult to find balanced vegetarian food on the go without these.
I’m hoping to improve his range to help him eat healthy when he is on his own.
I’m looking for names of dishes I can order.

I was planning to start with chipotle burrito bowl with a small portion of chicken.
To the white fish commentator: what’s the name of the dish I should order. Fish and chips?

What about paneer and tofu? I get the sofritas bowl at Chipotle and it tastes pretty good.