What would you say to a 10 (almost 11) year old DD if she decided she was a vegetarian?

[Anonymous]

I'm a vegetarian myself (and gluten free). My son (13) has allergies to nuts, milk and eggs.
Nanny suggested that if my DD was "old enough" to decide she wanted to be a vegetarian, she was also old enough to plan her own meals.
She is not too thrilled about having to cook two dinners.
I can help with precooking meals, but I don't cook every day and there are days when the nanny makes dinner.
I don't feel like DD should be responsible for her meals, as I do not expect my son to make his dinner.
They can both still have the same starch (couscous, pasta, rice) and vegetables, but it's the protein part that is in question.


How would you go about resolving this?

[Anonymous]

Why can't your son eat the same thing as your daughter on the days that the nanny cooks?

[Anonymous]

Support your DD in her decision and teach her how to make her own meals. There is nothing wrong or unhealthy about being a vegetarian. You DD would easily make brown rice and throw in some red or black beans for a complete protein.


That said - vegetarianism lasted two weeks with my DD around that same age. If I had fought it it would have lasted months but I supported it and she stopped when she realized she couldn't eat pepperoni pizza at a sleepover.

[Anonymous]

At 10, almost 11, this is the perfect time for your daughter to learn how to cook some simple vegetable proteins such as omelets. At the very least, she can microwave a veggie burger or a cup of canned beans. In a pinch, your daughter can have a cup of greek yogurt or a couple hardboiled eggs as her protein on the nights that the nanny cooks.

FWIW, my older DD became a vegetarian around this age. She is now a young adult and still doesn't eat meat. She loves Amy's vegetarian entrees which are in the freezer aisle at any grocery store --even Shoppers!

[Anonymous]

Your nanny is lazy!! Get a new nanny! 10-11 is too young for meal preparation. Seriously, fire your nanny. Fucking lazy!!

[Anonymous]

I'd have her try it out and make her take an active role in researching, shopping for, and making healthy , balanced meals.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why can't your son eat the same thing as your daughter on the days that the nanny cooks?

This. No one needs to eat meat 7 days a week.

What do you all eat on the days that all of you eat together?

[Anonymous]

Why can't your daughter eat what you eat? If you don't eat with the kids, make a double portion and have the nanny serve it to her the next day.

I think 10-11 is a great age to start learning to cook, but not to have responsibility for all her meals.

[Anonymous]

Feed your daughter what you eat and find a new nanny.

[Anonymous]

Why wouldn't you expect your DS to cook for himself but would expect your (younger) DD to do so? Is it because he's a male?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why can't your son eat the same thing as your daughter on the days that the nanny cooks?

OP here.
He loves his meat. Nanny usually bakes chicken, sometimes they would have grilled steak, chicken wings in hot sauce, etc. Then either pasta/rice or couscous and for vegetables they usually have green beans sautéed with a bit of soy sauce, roasted brussel sprouts, kale chips, little vegetable salad, etc.
There are weeks when nanny cooks 3 times a week. My son hates the idea of tofu and is allergic to milk protein, eggs and nuts.
My nanny's typical schedule is 2 hours before school and two hours after school.
Before school she makes them breakfast, lunches, unloads (and loads) dishwasher, lets the dogs out, gets laundry going and straightens out the kitchen.
After school she makes sure homework is done and drives them to karate 3 times a week. Times vary, so sometimes they eat before and sometimes after. She stays longer when I have meetings. It gets hectic sometimes with the amount of time they have for homework + dinner before karate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your nanny is lazy!! Get a new nanny! 10-11 is too young for meal preparation. Seriously, fire your nanny. Fucking lazy!!

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn't you expect your DS to cook for himself but would expect your (younger) DD to do so? Is it because he's a male?

OP here.
Let me clarify. I don't expect either one of them to cook their dinner.
And I'm pretty sure it's the protein part for my daughter that my nanny was talking about. The rest is fine for both. Maybe it's because she is not familiar with being a vegetarian and has no experience cooking vegetarian meals. Who knows.
I'm going to talk to her about it, but I'm trying to get some general ideas of what others would do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why can't your son eat the same thing as your daughter on the days that the nanny cooks?

Perhaps because many healthy options for vegetarians include nuts or eggs?

[Anonymous]

I'd make extra and freeze some leftovers. I'd have each kid learn a couple easy dishes. Vegetarian kid can learn to scramble some eggs, or to make black beans and rice, or to microwave a veggie burger. Omnivore kid can learn to stick some salmon under the broiler, or fry up a hamburger. Then they have options when the nanny cooks something that only works for one kid.