Recipies for a new, 11-year-old vegetarian

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ignore all the “make her find her own recipes” and “why let this happen” posters. Geez, I hate cooking, but I would not stop my kid from wanting to be healthy.

I suggest trying different types of vegetarian chili. A lot of them are easy to make, and they can be frozen in individual portions for when you need something for other nights.

We often do pasta with a meat on the side. We do not even have vegetarians in our household, just different preferences for pasta/ meat ratio

Stir-fry can be pretty kid friendly. You could just cook the meat separately.

My son will eat yellow Goya rice and black beans (I add cumin, onion, and garlic). It’s the side I use when I know he might not like the main dish. Very easy and hearty enough to work as a main dish.

Look at the post for a mezzo menu. That would work well, as a lot of those items are or can be vegetarian.

You might also want to start looking at protein content of breads, pastas, even snacks. They can range by a lot, so buying a higher protein content version will help ensure your kid gets enough protein.

I was one of the posters that said "encourage your dd to help plan" not as a punishment but, as a learning tool. If the dd found some recipes they could cook it together and bond. What's wrong with that?

Teaching your child to cook = good
Making your child learn to cook because they decided to be vegetarian = bad

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is great! I was 12 when I made the decision to become vegetarian. My mom happily adapted recipes for me but thought it was a phase. I am still in that phase 50 years later!

At least she doesn't have to cook for you. My kid also wanted to become a vegetarian until she realized she would be eating vegetables and then she stopped. I would have fully supported this btw ( veggies)

This made me laugh. Thnx

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD has decided to become a vegetarian. She'll happily eat bread/cheese/pasta, and I've tried to make some bean/lentil recipies. But anything kid-friendly that you're kids loved?

Your daughter shouldn’t liens he is in the path to being a junk food vegetarian. There’s really no such thing as “kid friendly” by American standards when it comes to being vegetarian. When you look at her plate is is primarily vegetables? Her carbs should come from legumes and while grains. You also have to keep an eye on her calcium levels and eating cheese won’t cut it. You need to get iron supplements or you will set her up for osteoporosis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Why would you allow an 11 year old to become a vegetarian?

Why wouldn't you? Mine have been vegetarian since birth. Oh the horror. Our pets are vegetarian too.

This is terrible. Most pets are not meant to be vegetarians. What pets are you talking about? That sounds insane, frankly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ignore all the “make her find her own recipes” and “why let this happen” posters. Geez, I hate cooking, but I would not stop my kid from wanting to be healthy.

I suggest trying different types of vegetarian chili. A lot of them are easy to make, and they can be frozen in individual portions for when you need something for other nights.

We often do pasta with a meat on the side. We do not even have vegetarians in our household, just different preferences for pasta/ meat ratio

Stir-fry can be pretty kid friendly. You could just cook the meat separately.

My son will eat yellow Goya rice and black beans (I add cumin, onion, and garlic). It’s the side I use when I know he might not like the main dish. Very easy and hearty enough to work as a main dish.

Look at the post for a mezzo menu. That would work well, as a lot of those items are or can be vegetarian.

You might also want to start looking at protein content of breads, pastas, even snacks. They can range by a lot, so buying a higher protein content version will help ensure your kid gets enough protein.

I was one of the posters that said "encourage your dd to help plan" not as a punishment but, as a learning tool. If the dd found some recipes they could cook it together and bond. What's wrong with that?

DP Here. It’s just annoying when OP asks for recipe ideas and people hassle her about how she should parent her kid. Why can’t people just be satisfied with offering recipes in the food forum?

Because the anti-vegetarian, anti-vegan posters have mental problems.

[Anonymous]

Haven't seen vegetarian chili yet. It's just as good as regular chili IMO.

[Anonymous]

We make something we call the many-berry salad — spring mix (or could be spinach and/or arugula), balsamic vinaigrette (with garlic & mustard), (candied) pecans or walnuts, goat cheese (plain or herbed), and whatever mix of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries we have on hand.

Fruit and salads/greens are easy ways to get the tomato/cheese/carb loving vegetarian to branch out (BTDT).
Roasted veggies (broccoli, carrots, green beans, cauliflower, cherry or grape tomatoes, kale, onions, fennel) also worked well. And all of these are quick/easy/integrate well as part of more omnivorous meals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ignore all the “make her find her own recipes” and “why let this happen” posters. Geez, I hate cooking, but I would not stop my kid from wanting to be healthy.

I suggest trying different types of vegetarian chili. A lot of them are easy to make, and they can be frozen in individual portions for when you need something for other nights.

We often do pasta with a meat on the side. We do not even have vegetarians in our household, just different preferences for pasta/ meat ratio

Stir-fry can be pretty kid friendly. You could just cook the meat separately.

My son will eat yellow Goya rice and black beans (I add cumin, onion, and garlic). It’s the side I use when I know he might not like the main dish. Very easy and hearty enough to work as a main dish.

Look at the post for a mezzo menu. That would work well, as a lot of those items are or can be vegetarian.

You might also want to start looking at protein content of breads, pastas, even snacks. They can range by a lot, so buying a higher protein content version will help ensure your kid gets enough protein.

Just FYI the yellow rice has chicken in it - I don't know if you or your son care about that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We make something we call the many-berry salad — spring mix (or could be spinach and/or arugula), balsamic vinaigrette (with garlic & mustard), (candied) pecans or walnuts, goat cheese (plain or herbed), and whatever mix of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries we have on hand.

Fruit and salads/greens are easy ways to get the tomato/cheese/carb loving vegetarian to branch out (BTDT).
Roasted veggies (broccoli, carrots, green beans, cauliflower, cherry or grape tomatoes, kale, onions, fennel) also worked well. And all of these are quick/easy/integrate well as part of more omnivorous meals.

These are great ideas. I also like the baked potato with fixins option - I made a lot of veggies in cheese sauce, but you can make them without the cheese, can add some meat for those who partake, etc. Swap out sweet potatoes for the regular baking potatoes for a healthier option.

Last night I made buffalo cauliflower and it was easy and delicious. Not usually a main dish but it was satisfying enough that two of us - me and my meat eating husband - had it for our whole meal, with some cut up peppers and celery on the side.

Veggies and hummus is the easiest possible meal you could have - you can make your own hummus and pita if you're feeling ambitious.

I really like this homemade veggie burger recipe: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/best-black-bean-burgers/

I think I might have gotten it from someone on DCUM, actually.

[Anonymous]

A lot of meatless dishes here, but isn't being a vegetarian more complicated than just avoiding meat? Don't you need to substitute something for the protein in meat? Combine to make complete proteins etc? Especially for growing kids. Or am I wrong?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is great! I was 12 when I made the decision to become vegetarian. My mom happily adapted recipes for me but thought it was a phase. I am still in that phase 50 years later!

Among my DD friends around 11 or 12 years old there are so many brand new vegetarians! I wonder what it is about this age?

Possibly they're old enough to realize the environmental, ethical and health implications of eating meat once they get to that age.

+1 that's when I became a vegetarian. And I still am! (Mostly).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of meatless dishes here, but isn't being a vegetarian more complicated than just avoiding meat? Don't you need to substitute something for the protein in meat? Combine to make complete proteins etc? Especially for growing kids. Or am I wrong?

If she's just vegetarian, not vegan, it won't be hard to get enough protein. Dairy and eggs have a ton. For vegans it's a little harder and you have to think about a lot of legumes (black beans, tofu, etc) without overloading on soy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We make something we call the many-berry salad — spring mix (or could be spinach and/or arugula), balsamic vinaigrette (with garlic & mustard), (candied) pecans or walnuts, goat cheese (plain or herbed), and whatever mix of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries we have on hand.

Fruit and salads/greens are easy ways to get the tomato/cheese/carb loving vegetarian to branch out (BTDT).
Roasted veggies (broccoli, carrots, green beans, cauliflower, cherry or grape tomatoes, kale, onions, fennel) also worked well. And all of these are quick/easy/integrate well as part of more omnivorous meals.

These are great ideas. I also like the baked potato with fixins option - I made a lot of veggies in cheese sauce, but you can make them without the cheese, can add some meat for those who partake, etc. Swap out sweet potatoes for the regular baking potatoes for a healthier option.

Last night I made buffalo cauliflower and it was easy and delicious. Not usually a main dish but it was satisfying enough that two of us - me and my meat eating husband - had it for our whole meal, with some cut up peppers and celery on the side.

Veggies and hummus is the easiest possible meal you could have - you can make your own hummus and pita if you're feeling ambitious.

I really like this homemade veggie burger recipe: https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/best-black-bean-burgers/

I think I might have gotten it from someone on DCUM, actually.

Veggies and hummus is a wonderful snack. I'm vegetarian and I would never just serve guests or my family a plate of veggies and a scoop of hummus and call it a meal.

OP I applaud you supporting your daughter. The worst thing that could happen is she discovers some new veggie recipes.

Soups and dals are great in fall and winter.

This red lentil soup is really good and I add a splash of apple cider and my kids love it. I serve it with some toasted naan and a side of fruit or some cheese.
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016062-red-lentil-soup-with-lemon?smid=ck-recipe-android-share

I'll make a vegetable minestrone soup and use chickpea or lentil pasta instead of regular pasta. I serve it with homemade focaccia.

These zucchini meatballs are great with spaghetti or in a meatball sub.

https://www.skinnytaste.com/zucchini-meatballs_20/

[Anonymous]

PP that shared the zucchini meatballs recipe. I wanted to add that since you are only cooking for one vegetarian many of these items can be frozen and pulled out when needed. So I make large batches of veggie burgers and soups and then defrost as necessary. It makes it a lot easier for those nights you don't want to be thinking about how to make a meal vegetarian friendly.