Introducing meat in a vegetarian family

[Anonymous]

Peruvian chicken?

I think the concerns about digestive upset are overblown. My son is a vegetarian, but he went to a country where that was going to be a logistical hassle, and for two weeks he ate meat. It was fine. And going back to a vegetarian diet afterward was fine, too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Peruvian chicken?

I think the concerns about digestive upset are overblown. My son is a vegetarian, but he went to a country where that was going to be a logistical hassle, and for two weeks he ate meat. It was fine. And going back to a vegetarian diet afterward was fine, too

I do too. 14 years vegetarian and ate a steak. It was like one five minute episode of mild upset and then all fine. I'd just ask him what he's interested in trying and give him that. Peruvian chicken is a solid idea.

[Anonymous]

Does he actually want to do this?? I tried this as a 20 year old after being a vegetarian most of my life. I wanted to be more “flexible” because I traveled a lot. I was so repulsed by pretty much every kind of meat, including chicken and fish, that I just couldn’t do it. I did start with a lighter fish and then try chicken and was ill. I tried several times. I couldn’t do it. I’m disgusted just thinking about it now.

That was 20 years ago. I continued traveling and living abroad and politely declining meat. I had two kids who are omnivores. It hasn’t really affected my life. This really should come from him, if he wants to do it.

[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 would’ve been deeply upset if my parents tried this. And nowadays, dietary preferences and allergies are incredibly common ALL over the world.

As I shared, I tried it on my own, even in the less vegetarian friendly days of my youth, and all it made me feel was ill and nauseated. I can’t imagine if my parents had tried to force this on me.

[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 would’ve been deeply upset if my parents tried this. And nowadays, dietary preferences and allergies are incredibly common ALL over the world.

As I shared, I tried it on my own, even in the less vegetarian friendly days of my youth, and all it made me feel was ill and nauseated. I can’t imagine if my parents had tried to force this on me.

+1

I'm flashing back to negotiating with my mom about how many bites of meat I had to eat at dinner. I never liked beef, pork, or chicken. It's not a matter of being rigid. I just don't find meat appetizing.

He's getting protein and other nutrients with lentils, beans, and veggies. You know there are people who live long, healthy lives without animal protein. Why embark on this campaign? If anything, you're coming off as the rigid one, who has decided that a common diet is some sort of problem.

[Anonymous]

From a food safety point of view, it's probably safer for a guy who has never cooked to stick to his tried-and-true vegetarian diet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Peruvian chicken?

I think the concerns about digestive upset are overblown. My son is a vegetarian, but he went to a country where that was going to be a logistical hassle, and for two weeks he ate meat. It was fine. And going back to a vegetarian diet afterward was fine, too

I do too. 14 years vegetarian and ate a steak. It was like one five minute episode of mild upset and then all fine. I'd just ask him what he's interested in trying and give him that. Peruvian chicken is a solid idea.

I think that if a kid with ASD and rigidity has a bad first experience they are unlikely to try again. So, even if your experience was 5 minutes, I’d want to avoid it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would start with white fish, not chicken.

+1 to this
+1 there aren't healthy fast food restaurants
OP tell us what he currently eats if you want more advice.

[Anonymous]

If he is "special needs" is he going to college and will be living away from home? What accommodations are you expecting from the college?

[Anonymous]

Start with an assortment of Asian dishes. Biryani, panang curry, pho. All delicious with chicken. Then expand out to Peruvian chicken, the occasional fast food item (my DS claims Wendy's nuggets are tasty) etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you know how to do feeding therapy with him? I had an OT teach me over about ten sessions. Start with a few bites of rotisserie chicken from Costco.

I still stand by suggestion of feeding therapy if you haven’t tried it, but i would switch to frozen Indian meals. Why frozen? Because they’re very predictable and will likely be available in his college town. If he learns to eat the butter chicken at one specific Indian restaurant at home, that might not help if the Indian restaurant at college makes it differently.

[Anonymous]

Op again. My son is in middle school and not going to college for a few years now. He thinks being a vegetarian is restrictive, particularly when we vacation. He'll eat Chipotle 3 times a day if possible, during that time. He just thinks he is doomed to be a vegetarian since he is not used to anything else. I'm trying to gradually expand his options. Not forcing anything on him. I know that one bad experience will make him swear off it for the rest of his life and hence making this effort to find the right options.
At home, he eats a healthy diet. He eats yogurt, eggs and beans, rice, vegetables etc. He is active and skinny. (This is genetics. One side of the family is skinny.) Maybe meat will help him gain some weight as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op again. My son is in middle school and not going to college for a few years now. He thinks being a vegetarian is restrictive, particularly when we vacation. He'll eat Chipotle 3 times a day if possible, during that time. He just thinks he is doomed to be a vegetarian since he is not used to anything else. I'm trying to gradually expand his options. Not forcing anything on him. I know that one bad experience will make him swear off it for the rest of his life and hence making this effort to find the right options.
At home, he eats a healthy diet. He eats yogurt, eggs and beans, rice, vegetables etc. He is active and skinny. (This is genetics. One side of the family is skinny.) Maybe meat will help him gain some weight as well.

Just fyi, meat consumption has not helped my skinny kid gain weight. But high-quality pastured meat is a healthy part of his diet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op again. My son is in middle school and not going to college for a few years now. He thinks being a vegetarian is restrictive, particularly when we vacation. He'll eat Chipotle 3 times a day if possible, during that time. He just thinks he is doomed to be a vegetarian since he is not used to anything else. I'm trying to gradually expand his options. Not forcing anything on him. I know that one bad experience will make him swear off it for the rest of his life and hence making this effort to find the right options.
At home, he eats a healthy diet. He eats yogurt, eggs and beans, rice, vegetables etc. He is active and skinny. (This is genetics. One side of the family is skinny.) Maybe meat will help him gain some weight as well.

If he already loves Chipotle, then get him a bowl or burrito with grilled chicken. Done.

It doesn’t get easier than that.

[Anonymous]

I’m biased but vegetarianism is really not “rigid” or considered extreme anymore. It’s becoming common to eat less meat for health and environmental and ethical reasons, all over the world. It’s always good to expand your kids’ palate but in this particular way, I just don’t get it.

If you’re really intent on this, I guess I’d start with a white fish— chicken (to me) is still very “meaty.”